LOS DUKES : New voices in global drill, straight from Mexico.

A new frequency, from Mexico to the world

In a music scene where urban genres evolve at a relentless pace, some sounds don’t follow the trend — they set it. Los Dukes, a trio from Mexico, are not simply adding to the conversation around drill. They’re reshaping it.

Made up of Charlie011, Rokke, and Dali, Los Dukes represent a new wave of artists from Mexico stepping into a sound that, until now, hadn’t found a clear identity in their country. Their debut project, DUKES, is not an imitation. It’s a redefinition.

“We know we’re not the first ones doing drill in Mexico, but we’re the first ones making it sound this way.”

And that matters.

From local language to global sound

Drill began as a stark, unfiltered reflection of life in South London — direct, raw, and unapologetic. Over time, it evolved beyond boroughs and borders, adapting to new contexts while keeping its energy and edge intact.

Now, drill is being reinterpreted in dozens of cities worldwide. Different flows. Different codes. Same need to express what doesn’t always make it into mainstream narratives.

Mexico hadn’t quite found its version yet. Until now.

DUKES: a project with intention

DUKES, produced by Jonnath and Candid Flakko, doesn’t try to mimic established drill templates. Instead, it builds its own. The tracks move between gritty and experimental, melodic and aggressive — a hybrid form that reflects the personalities of its members.

Their first single, “London” (out May 9), sets the tone. It’s a track that knows what it’s doing — and what it’s referencing — without losing its identity. Shot by Reflex, the video strips back the excess, letting mood and message take the lead.

The full EP drops on May 24, marking not just a debut, but a statement of direction: Mexican drill isn’t arriving. It’s already here.

A reason to create

Making music is easy to judge and hard to do. And when you do it, you hear it from everyone — what to sound like, who to sound like, what works, what doesn’t. But Los Dukes didn’t wait for validation.

For them, this is personal.

Rokke sees the EP as a form of personal growth and a way to share something honest. Charlie calls it a launchpad — the best possible start to express the creative energy he’s been carrying. Dali describes it as something intimate, more than just music: a shared history between three artists who’ve known each other since school and are finally putting it into sound.

This isn’t about fitting in. It’s about pushing forward, even when the path isn’t clear. It’s about doing what you love and letting that lead the way.

The value of building together

Though Los Dukes are the face of the project, DUKES wouldn’t exist without the dozens of people who helped bring it to life — more than 20 creatives, artists, producers, designers and collaborators, each contributing something real.

Visual direction and photography were handled by Bad Gallery, whose imagery captured the raw, honest energy of the group. Hale Estudio helped define the graphic identity — from the logo to the layout — giving the project a visual language that feels as intentional as the music.

The creative direction was led by Carlos Chales, with a collaborative spirit from the start. The Dukes themselves were directly involved in shaping the visuals and creative ideas, reinforcing their belief that projects like this grow not from hierarchy, but from relationships — and from lifting each other up.

Casta joined in as both artist and creative, while Alejandro, a promising emerging voice, laid down two impactful features. Meanwhile, designer Martín Álvarez, founder of Malv, developed a line of clothing pieces that now represent the visual energy of Los Dukes — with their first official merch collection already in the works.

This is what it looks like when a team creates not for a trend, but for a vision. One where the lines between music, fashion, direction and culture aren’t just blurred — they’re working together.

What’s next

This isn’t a one-off.

Los Dukes are already thinking ahead — toward live shows, future volumes, and collaborations that cross not just borders but scenes. They’re not chasing a hit. They’re building a shared space — one that reflects what it means to be a young artist in Mexico today, inspired by the world but rooted in your own language.

Their aim isn’t to dominate. It’s to connect. To resonate. To build something others can add to.

Mexico’s sound is changing — and people are listening

DUKES doesn’t just introduce Los Dukes to the world. It introduces a version of drill that’s never been done quite like this — bold, unfiltered, and unmistakably theirs.

In an industry obsessed with output and metrics, there’s something powerful about stepping back and saying: “This is who we are. This is what we sound like. Take it or leave it.”

Mexico’s drill is here. And it’s not asking for permission anymore.

So yeah — drill started here, innit? But now it’s speaking Spanish too. Big up Los Dukes. 🇲🇽