Marked by no-frills rapping and nightmarish production, Chicago drill music traveled around the globe at the speed of the internet throughout the last decade. Eventually, Brooklyn rappers tried on the style—though at first their take was little more than a sad imitation of the sinister sound established by Windy City rappers like King Louie and Chief Keef, and beat makers like DJ L and Young Chop. It took an unlikely producer from the international drill outpost of London to help the New York City borough’s street rap scene craft its own character: AXL Beats.

Arriving on the scene in late 2016, AXL combined the grim core of classic Chicago drill records with the sliding 808s and manipulated vocal samples of UK grime. He started selling his cinematic instrumentals on YouTube, and eventually became the producer of choice for Brooklyn rappers, crafting several of the borough’s signature tracks. Thanks in part to AXL’s beats, Brooklyn drill has become a self-sustaining ecosystem with its own lingo and attitude. And bold-name types are taking notice: Both Drake and Travis Scott released their own AXL-produced tracks in December.

Here are five beats that took the Londoner’s sound from the streets of Brooklyn to two of the world’s most popular rappers.

22Gz: “Suburban”

Released in December 2016, 22Gz’s “Suburban” is the first Brooklyn drill song worth a damn. AXL’s production is calm, building steadily toward chaos. He had yet to develop his own take on drill, as evinced by his dated use of church bells, a staple of the Chicago sound. But his potential shows in his timing and restraint, elevating 22Gz’s rapidfire threats and turning what could have been a rehash of a standard drill instrumental into a chilling backdrop to Brooklyn.

Sheff G: “No Suburban”

AXL’s instrumental for “No Suburban”—Sheff G’s veiled response to 22Gz’s “Suburban”—is a beautiful mess. The rhythm runs rampant, like a kid started slapping buttons on a drum machine. Sheff throws subliminals in a cool but aggressive delivery, stepping beyond Chicago imitation by showing the influence of borough legends like the Notorious B.I.G.

Headie One: “Fire in the Booth”

Headie One, arguably UK drill’s premier rapper, hopped on an AXL loosie for this 2018 freestyle. AXL abandons the disarray of “Suburban” and “No Suburban” for a sinister slow burn, like a beach after a tropical storm. The drums sound like they’re being tapped instead of banged, and a vocal sample floats in and out, adding a splash of UK flavor. AXL has essentially become an extension of Brooklyn, but he’s left his mark on his home as well.

Fivio Foreign: “Big Drip”

Aside from Pop Smoke’s “Welcome to the Party”—produced by the UK’s 808 Melo—Fivio Foreign’s “Big Drip” is the song that has carried Brooklyn drill beyond the borough most. Its mellow beat settles in a state of paranoia and unease. According to AXL, this was likely the production that inspired Drake to enlist him as a collaborator on the December single “War.” Early in AXL’s career, his beats provided the energy that the rappers didn’t, but he became Brooklyn drill’s standout when he pulled back and gave room to the larger-than-life personalities that the borough is known for.

Smoove L: “New Apollos”

Co-produced by AXL and 808 Melo, “New Apollos” is the latest Brooklyn drill standard. The melodies and plodding hi-hats channel the moment in the night before everything is about to go wrong, and the 808s give the song a UK feel, sounding like they could disintegrate a cheap speaker system to ash. Smoove L sings over the haunting beat like the son of A Boogie and Speaker Knockerz. Travis Scott and Pop Smoke released their own version of the song called “Gatti,” but “New Apollos” is superior. With traces of three cities and two continents, it’s the sound of a formerly regional style going global.