Wikipedia

Drain Gang

Drain Gang (formerly known as Gravity Boys, Shield Gang and GTBSG) is a Swedish hip-hop collective formed in 2013, consisting of the rappers Bladee, Ecco2k, and Thaiboy Digital, and the producer Whitearmor.[3][2] The group rose to be one of the top Swedish music collectives in the mid-late 2010s, gaining prominence for their influence in shaping the underground rap scene and cloud rap genre as well as collaborative projects with fellow Swedish artists Yung Lean and producers Gud and Yung Sherman.[4]

Drain Gang
One of the logos associated with Drain Gang
One of the logos associated with Drain Gang
Background information
Also known asSmög Boys, Gravity Boys, Shield Gang, GTB, GTBSG, DG, D-9, SG
OriginStockholm, Sweden
Genres
Years active2013–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Yung Sherman
Websitehttps://trashisland.gtb.sg/

History

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2004–2012: Background

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From left to right: Bladee, Ecco2k, Thaiboy Digital and Whitearmor

Future members Bladee and Ecco2k met as classmates in 2004 and became childhood friends when they were around 10 years old. The duo performed as the grindcore duo Krossad in 2008 when they were both thirteen.[5]

Producer Whitearmor had been releasing music online under several artist names, notably DJ Creep and DJ Cannabiz on SoundCloud.[6] Thaiboy Digital, whose family moved from Thailand in 2003, met producer Vattenrum through a shared pop and rock music class they took in the early 2000s.[7]

Around 2011, Bladee and Ecco2k met Whitearmor through mutual friends and Vattenrum introduced Thaiboy Digital to the rest of the group.[7]

2013–2016: Early releases

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The five of them began releasing music and freestyles as part of a larger music collective called Smög Boys. However in 2013, members Thaiboy Digital and Whitearmor came up with the idea of creating a music collective of their own. The group first assumed the name Gravity Boys before changing to Gravity Boys Shield Gang (GTBSG), Shield Gang, and later Drain Gang[8] with the members frequently using and referencing these names interchangeably.

The collective's first work GTBSG Compilation was released on 12 August 2013.[9] The compilation mixtape contained 12 singles released throughout 2013 by the members. The project contained primary production credits from Whitearmor as well as Curtis Heron, DJ Smokey, Josh Diamond, and Yung Sherman. It was released for free online via Bladee's Twitter account as well as the official SoundCloud account.[10] 6 music videos were released within the same period of the compilations release for tracks including "bankaccount" by Thaiboy Digital[11] and "Bleach" by Bladee and Ecco2k.[12] The music videos for the tracks "I Will Make You Bleed," [13] "HOLDMEDOWNLIKEGRAVITY,"[14] and "Carwash"[15] were created by Ecco2k while Bladee created the video for the track "My Magic is Strong"[16].

The track "bladeecity" ft. Yung Lean was first released on 1 July 2013 on SoundCloud, before featuring on the GTBSG Compilation mixtape. it is notable for being the earliest officially released collaboration between Bladee and Yung Lean. In the same month, Bladee was featured on Yung Lean's single "Plastic Boy" produced by Vattenrum with Ecco2k credited for producing the accompanying music video released later that year.[17]

Bladee's first mixtape Gluee was released in 2014, featuring Thaiboy Digital, Ecco2k, and BONES, and produced by Whitearmor, Yung Sherman, Curtis Heron, and Blank Body.[18][19]

Thaiboy Digital's first mixtape, Tiger (also known as ส), was released in 2014.[20][21] The mixtape was released in the midst of a 2 year long struggle with the Swedish immigration that began in 2013 when the artist turned 18. In 2015, despite Thaiboy's appeals and Yung Lean posting a Change.org petition, he was deported from Sweden due to visa issues.[22] Immediately after his deportation, Thaiboy and then-manager Emilio Fagone immediately began the process to apply for a Swedish work visa.[22] Through the internet, he managed to continue collaborating with the other members from his new home in Bangkok.[23] The music video for the track "Diamonds" ft. Yung Lean was uploaded on Yung Lean's official YouTube channel on 1 March 2015 directed and created by Swedish video director Marcus Söderlund.[24]

2016–present: Signing into Year0001

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In 2016, all Drain Gang members signed contracts with Year0001, a Stockholm-based record label co-founded in 2015 by Oskar Ekman and Emilio Fagone (Yung Lean's manager from 2013).[25] Bladee's debut official studio album Eversince was released on 25 May 2016. Eversince was produced entirely by Whitearmor with additional production credits from members of Australian-based collective Ripsquad and Hitkidd.[26] The Eversince Tour was the group's first tour as headliners with Bladee, Ecco2k, and Whitearmor performing at all eight dates in November and December 2016.[27]

On the meaning of the group's "Drain Gang" name, Bladee stated in a 2018 interview with i-D magazine:[28]

Drain is about loss and gain; it could be good or bad — you could be drained of energy or you could drain something to gain energy. There’s financial, emotional and physical drains, for example — you could just be draining your bank account at the store. It doesn’t have to be deep. Basically, if I’m talking about ‘eating the night’ that means I drain it for its essence. Everything me and my bros do is connected to that concept — we might drain some blood for good fortune.

On 9 December 2016, Thaiboy Digital and Bladee released the collaborative EP titled AvP which featured production credits from Whitearmor and Yung Sherman.[29] The music video for the single "Still in Search of Sunshine" was released on 3 December, six days before the EP release, and was shot by Ecco2k.[30]

In 2017, Bladee, Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital released their collaborative album D&G, featuring production from member Whitearmor, and frequent collaborators Gud, Yung Sherman, Woesum, and Ripsquad.[31]

In December 2017, Bladee also released the mixtape Working on Dying, which was a collaborative album with the Philadelphia producer collective Working on Dying. The entire project was produced by Working On Dying, with Whitearmor contributing additional production. The project contains features from Yung Lean, Black Kray (a frequent collaborator of both Bladee and Working On Dying), and Ecco2k, while Thaiboy Digital provided additional vocals on a few tracks.[32] The project is heavily influenced by tread music, a trap subgenre created by Working on Dying.[33]

In spring of 2018, Bladee released the album Red Light,[34] the follow-up to his 2016 debut album Eversince.[35] The release was celebrated with a special concert at the O2 Academy Islington in London on 16 May 2018.[36]

In 2018, Bladee released Icedancer, his third mixtape and ninth project. The mixtape was produced by RipSquad and features collaborations with Yung Lean, Cartier'GOD, and Thaiboy Digital.[37]

In 2019, the group released a collaborative album titled Trash Island. Whitearmor served as the executive producer, while Ripsquad and German producer Mechatok returned to contribute additional production.[38] The album was partially recorded and produced in Bangkok.[39] The album was a surprise release, as no announcement was made on YEAR0001's nor the group's various social medias.

On 27 November 2019, Ecco2k released E, his first full-length project, executively produced by Gud and Whitearmor.[40]

In 2020, Bladee released three full-length studio albums, the first of which being Exeter. Released in April, it was executively produced by frequent collaborator and Sad Boys member Gud.[41] This was the first time that Gud executively produced one of Bladee's albums. The project contains elements of genres like cloud rap, art pop, trap, and alternative R&B.

Bladee's second album of 2020 was 333. Released in July, it was executively produced by Whitearmor. Gud, Mechatok, Ripsquad member Lusi, and Swedish musician Joakim Benon all contributed additional production to the album.[42]

The Fool is Bladee's fifth studio album, being another surprise release. All songs on the project are produced by Lusi along with other producers such as Loesoe, who appears several times on the album.[43] The album's artwork and track listing were leaked on 14 May 2021, with a planned release date of 11 June.

In late 2021, the group announced a 2022 Drain Gang world tour, consisting of 23 performances across Europe and North America.[44]

In 2022, Bladee and Ecco2k released a collaborative single titled "Amygdala" produced by Mechatok.[45] A collaborative album by Bladee & Ecco2k, entitled Crest, was released unannounced in March of the same year. The album, containing the single "Girls just want to have fun", which had previously been released as a miscellaneous single in 2020, was produced entirely by Whitearmor.[46] Later that year Whitearmor released his solo debut, a full-length instrumental album titled In The Abyss: Music for Weddings.[47]

Influence

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British magazine Dazed stated that the hyperpop music genre had become a catch-all for various acts including Drain Gang.[48] In 2022, they stated that "Drain is officially a genre".[49] Drain Gang inspired the genre "draincore," later renamed to digicore.[50][51] According to Pitchfork, a fan of Drain Gang is colloquially referred to as a "drainer".[52][53]

Collaborative discography

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  • GTBSG Compilation (2013) (Bladee, Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital)
  • AvP (2016) (Bladee and Thaiboy Digital)
  • D&G (2017) (Bladee, Ecco2k and Thaiboy Digital)
  • Trash Island (2019) (Bladee, Ecco2k, and Thaiboy Digital)
  • Crest (2022) (Bladee and Ecco2k)

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Drain is officially a genre: here". Dazed. 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 George, Cassidy (5 May 2023). "Drain Gang". 032c. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Brady, Keegan (19 April 2022). "Inside the Cathartic Bliss of Drain Gang, Gen Z's Emo Torchbearers". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Drain Gang – D&G". YEAR0001. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Borrelli-Persson, Laird (2 September 2016). "Is There Anything He Can't Do? Meet Stockholm's Stylish Multi-Hyphenate Zak Arogundade". Vogue. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "DJ CANNABIZ's sounds on SoundCloud". Soundcloud. 11 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  7. 1 2 Caraan, Sophie (12 November 2019). "Thaiboy Digital Is Rising from the Ashes". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Angell, Jack (17 September 2019). "Being Bladee". The FADER. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "GTBSG COMPILATION MIXTAPE FREE DL". Twitter. 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 August 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "GTBSG compilation". MediaFire. 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  11. ↑ 1sleep23 (22 May 2013). thaiboy digital - bankaccount. Archived from the original on 29 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ drain gang (2 October 2013). BLADEE & Ecco2k - BLEACH. Retrieved 20 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "BLADEE & THAIBOY DIGITAL - I WILL MAKE YOU BLEED (HD) REUPLOAD". Youtube. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 March 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  14. ↑ drain gang (10 December 2013). Ecco2k - HOLDMEDOWNLIKEGRAVITY. Archived from the original on 15 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ drain gang (31 January 2014). bladee - Carwash. Archived from the original on 16 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  16. ↑ G Tb (19 June 2013). bladee - My Magic is Strong. Archived from the original on 18 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  17. ↑ Yung Lean (9 October 2013). Yung Lean ft. Bladee - Plastic Boy. Archived from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  18. ↑ "Bladee - Gluee | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  19. ↑ "BLADEE (GLUEE)". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  20. ↑ "Thaiboy Digital - Tiger | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  21. ↑ @ThaiboyGoon (15 November 2014). "Tiger (ส) the mixtape dropping 18 November all prod. @whitearmor1 sum track blessed by @yung_gud #สสสสสสสสส" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 July 2024 – via Twitter.
  22. 1 2 Barshad, Amos (20 March 2018). "Thaiboy Digital's never-ending world tour". The FADER. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  23. ↑ Angell, Jack (26 September 2019). "Thaiboy Digital's next realm". The FADER. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  24. ↑ Yung Lean (1 March 2015). Yung Lean & Thaiboy Digital - Diamonds. Retrieved 23 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  25. ↑ "MUSIKBOLAG Kobalt i avtal med YEAR0001". Musikindustrin. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  26. ↑ Cooper, Duncan (25 May 2016). "Hear Swedish Sing-rapper Bladee's Debut Album Eversince". The Fader. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  27. ↑ GTBSGD99 (2016). "EVERSINCE TOUR". Tumblr. Retrieved 8 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ Dunn, Frankie (15 May 2018). "10 things you need to know about Bladee from Drain Gang". i-D. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  29. ↑ "Bladee + Thaiboy Digital - AvP | YEAR0001". year0001.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  30. ↑ drain gang (3 December 2016). bladee+Thaiboy Digital - Still in Search of Sunshine ☀. Archived from the original on 9 April 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  31. ↑ "Drain Gang - D&G | YEAR0001". year0001.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  32. ↑ "Bladee - Working On Dying | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  33. ↑ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (27 November 2018). "Working On Dying in real life". The FADER. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  34. ↑ "Bladee - Red Light | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  35. ↑ "Bladee - Eversince | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  36. ↑ Wang, Steffanee (2 May 2018). "Bladee debuts "Decay," our first taste of new album Red Light". The FADER. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  37. ↑ ♵☆ bladee (sponsored by RipSquaD) ICEDANCER **MIXTAPE**. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  38. ↑ "Drain Gang - Trash Island | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  39. ↑ Caraan, Sophie (12 November 2019). "Thaiboy Digital On His Debut Album, 'Legendary Member' | Hypebeast". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  40. ↑ "ECCO2K - E". e-ec.co. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  41. ↑ "Bladee - Exeter | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  42. ↑ "Bladee - 333 | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  43. ↑ "Bladee - The Fool | YEAR0001". Year0001. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  44. ↑ "Bladee, Ecco2k, Thaiboy Digital and Whitearmor announce Drain Gang world tour". The FADER. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  45. ↑ "Ecco2k and Bladee share new single "Amygdala"". The FADER. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  46. ↑ "Bladee and Ecco2k Release Surprise Album Crest". Consequence of Sound. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  47. ↑ Yalcinkaya, Günseli (13 June 2022). "Whitearmor: 'Everything I've ever wanted to say has been in the melodies'". Dazed Digital. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  48. ↑ Dazed (28 January 2022). "Goodbye hyperpop: the rise and fall of the internet's most hated 'genre'". Dazed. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  49. ↑ Dazed (22 November 2022). "Drain is officially a genre: here are five Drain Gang albums to stream now". Dazed. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  50. ↑ Sundaresan, Mano; Angel, H. D.; Angel, Mano Sundaresan and H. D. (15 March 2022). "Bells & Whistles, Vol. 9: Ends and beginnings". No Bells. Archived from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  51. ↑ "Draincore is in my DNA". Public Pressure. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  52. ↑ Garvey, Meaghan (25 February 2025). "A Rare Interview With Bladee, the Mystic Oracle of Internet Rap". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  53. ↑ Goldner, Sam. "Thaiboy Digital: Back 2 Life". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 31 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
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