How to Make Drill Music in the Style of Cash Cobain

Drill music originated in Chicago in the early 2010s and quickly crossed the ocean, becoming a mainstream genre worldwide.

We've already seen it evolve into different styles like UK Drill and Jersey Drill.

But now, a new wave is taking over: Sexy Drill, the sound that combines that gritty, triplet bounce of traditional Drill music with smooth R&B vibes.

This sound is blowing up right now, thanks to New York rapper-producer Cash Cobain, who’s already made his mark in the industry with collaborations alongside Drake, Don Toliver, Big Sean, 6LACK, and many others.

In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to make Sexy Drill music — from creating vintage, dark R&B chord progressions to nailing that signature Drill drum bounce.

Ready to tap into the new wave of New York Drill? Let’s get slizzy.

Step 1: Making an R&B Chord Progression

While Cash often samples popular R&B songs to produce his beats, we’re going to show you how to create those smooth R&B chord progressions from scratch.

This way, you’ll have full control over your sound and can bring your own unique vibe to the Sexy Drill genre.

Start by setting your BPM around 130-160 and pick a key you’re comfortable with.

For this example, let’s work in the key of C# minor. Lay down a basic chord progression like this:

i - i - iv - III - v7

In C# minor, this translates to C#m - C#m - F#m - E - Abm7:

Now, to give it that R&B flavor, you’ll want to extend these chords.

Extending a chord means adding additional notes to the basic triad (the root, third, and fifth) to create richer, more complex harmonies that are characteristic of R&B.

For example:

• The C#m chord can be extended to C#m7/9 by adding the 7th (B) and the 9th (D#).
• The F#m chord can be extended to F#m7/9 by adding the 7th (E) and the 9th (G#).
• The E major chord can be extended to Emaj7/9 by adding the 7th (D#) and the 9th (F#).
• The Abm7 chord stays as is since it already carries that smooth 7th sound, but you can experiment with adding a 9th or 11th to taste.

These extended chords create that lush, dreamy vibe that’s perfect for Sexy Drill, adding depth and emotion to your progression.

By using 7ths, 9ths, and major 7th chords, you transform a basic chord progression into something that sounds much more sophisticated and soulful.

If you want to dive deeper into crafting R&B chords, check out this article on the 7 Best R&B Chord Progressions for Soulful Music, or use our AI-powered chord generator to quickly create a chord progression in the style you want and then export it as MIDI.

Additionally, you can process your chord progression with a lo-fi effect, like Memory by Cymatics or RC-20 by XLN Audio, to give it a more vintage feel.

Pro Tip: To give your loop an authentic R&B vibe, try adding a royalty-free vocal sample over your chords. Slice it up to your taste, and then apply a filter to cut out the low and high frequencies, creating that classic "old telephone" effect.

In case your loop still feels like it’s missing something, try layering a complementary or counter-melody using another instrument. Stick to the notes in the C# minor scale to keep everything in harmony with your chords.

Step 2: Layering Bass

Select a Reese bass one-shot or a synth preset with a strong, distinctive attack.

Copy and paste the MIDI from your chord progression into your bass track.

Then, use the lowest notes from your chord progression to build your bass line.

If necessary, transpose the bass notes up or down an octave to fit better with the rest of your track.

Pro Tip: To make your bass more prominent, especially on mobile devices, try adding a saturation effect to your synth bass. You can also boost the frequencies around 1kHz by a few dB to ensure the bass cuts through the mix.

For an even more impactful sound, try layering your Reese bass with a classic Spinz 808.

Step 3: Adding Drums

Now that you’ve got your chords and bass in place, it’s time to program the drums.

Here’s how to build that signature Sexy Drill drum pattern:

1. Start with the Hi-Hats:

Begin with a classic triplet Drill hi-hat pattern:

Place the hi-hat notes in a triplet rhythm throughout the bar. Add some hi-hat rolls for extra bounce.

2. Add the Snaps:

Position the first snap on the third beat of each bar, then place the second snap on the fourth beat.

This placement emphasizes key moments in the rhythm, giving the beat a steady pulse and enhancing the groove.

3. Add the Kick Drum:

For the low end, drop in the kick drum. Place the kicks at the start of the 1st and 2nd bars, then add a few more hits to sync up with the hi-hats.

4. Add the Stomp:

Finally, include a famous Drill stomp one-shot to give the beat more punch and weight.

Position the stomp on the downbeat to give the track that extra knock, making sure it lands with the kick for maximum impact.

Step 4: Arrangement

To give your Sexy Drill track a solid structure, you can use a classic song arrangement:

Verse - Chorus - Verse - Chorus (A-B-A-B)

Start with a verse to set the tone, then move into the catchy chorus to hook your listeners. Repeat this pattern to maintain interest and energy throughout the track.

If you want to experiment with different arrangements, try using our free song structure generator tool. It’s a great way to explore various song structures and see how they work with your Sexy Drill beat.

Summary

For Sexy Drill music, simplicity is the key.

Use smooth, dark chord progressions to set the mood and keep your beat straightforward.

Spend more time picking the right sounds and balancing the levels of your drums, bass, and melodies.

A perfect Sexy Drill beat is the one where each sound sits in the right spot and allows room for vocals to shine, so try to keep it simple.