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Brooklyn drill heads north thanks to Toronto native Lil Kizzle and his debut single “Don’t Step,” borrowing from the subgenre’s signature pounding bass and tight flows.

“Don’t step, move correct, please. Too real, give a fuck for the fake,” he raps on the chorus. The message is simple and the beat, produced by Regis Mele, is menacing. Though Kizzle is only 16, he raps with the same vigour that many of his peers developed years into their careers.

The song’s accompanying music video, directed by Lighter Juice, sees Kizzle chaotically dancing around various locations in Toronto. The cuts between shots are sharp and colourful, complementing the animated cadence that Kizzle raps with.

Kizzle lived through a tumultuous childhood that saw him enter foster care at the age of 3 and then live in a group home. He aspired to be a professional athlete during his childhood, before finding his talent in freestyling at age 11.

During the summer of 2022, independent record label Morojele Music Group signed Kizzle despite him not having any songs on streaming nor having performed a show in Toronto.