Lil Mabu, the New York drill rapper, spits arrogant and forceful verses centered on urban street conflicts and antagonism toward law enforcement. Initially emerging through a string of melodic pop-trap tracks during his teenage years, he shifted his approach on projects such as the 2022 mixtape Double M's, which included appearances from drill artists Dusty Locane and Sha Ek. His rapid-fire 2023 single "Mathematical Disrespect," running just under 90 seconds, exploded online and entered the Billboard Hot 100; subsequent releases included "Rich Scholar" and the Fivio Foreign collaboration "Teach Me How to Drill."
Matthew DeLuca, born in 2005 to affluent parents, studied at the Collegiate School in Manhattan. He launched independent output under the name Lil Mabu in 2019 and drew early online notice for somber emo-rap cuts such as 2020's "Heartbreaking" and "Miss Me." The following year he moved toward harder drill sounds on "Move It" and later tracks including "Demon Time" and "King of the World." Double M's showcased Brooklyn and Bronx drill rappers such as Dusty Locane, Sha Ek, and DThang; the Locane-assisted "No Snitching" gained viral traction on TikTok, while further singles encompassed "Wicked Witch," "Throw" featuring DD Osama, and "Trip to the Hood," which confronted his own privileged upbringing. The 2023 track "Mathematical Disrespect" marked his breakthrough, landing on charts across multiple countries. June saw the arrival of "Rich Scholar," which referenced a New York Post piece on his advantaged background, followed by "At What Cost?" and his second Billboard-charting single, "Mr. Take Ya B*tch" with Chrisean Rock. Late December brought "Teach Me How to Drill," again alongside Fivio Foreign.
