Last night one of the biggest streamers in the world and one of the biggest rappers in Philly hosted a livestream titled “N3on X Skrilla in Zombieland” from Kensington’s open air drug market. This stream was not on YouTube or Twitch, but rather on the lesser known steaming channel Kick.
N3on, Kick, and Skrilla all have problematic reputations and exist beyond the mainstream media apparatus. Skrilla is a rapper that has gained notoriety for his brazen attitude and viral online videos from Kensington, where he sometimes offers a sympathetic look into the reality of drug use and other times seems to be exploitative. Skrilla is an imperfect messenger for an imperfect story. On yesterday’s live stream Skrilla could be seen drinking a purple substance from a baby bottle and popping pills he referred to as “twenties” as N3on joked that the substances were “juice” and “allergy medication.”
N3on’s actions through the years have made him one of the less sympathetic characters from the online live streaming world, but he is only twenty years old. Early in his streaming career, N3on faked his death for clout, he’s had dozens of embarrassing and cringeworthy moments where he instigates a problem and then sheepishly runs away, and he’s been a lightning rod for controversy.
The livestream went how you’d expect a livestream featuring a high rapper and a frightened 20 year old to go. Skrill, whose 2024 album is titled “Zombie Love Kensington Paradise” has undeniable influence in Kensington. Although he’s rough around the edges, he engages addicts with humanity and playfulness that you don’t see often – but the harsh nature of the Kensington environment makes even that playfulness look horrifying. There are videos of Skrilla administering Narcan to those in need, and there are also videos of Skrilla paying addicts to demean themselves.
Skrilla handed two people $20 and told them to share it. The people asked for more money, so Skrilla checked them and told them to be grateful. Skrilla and N3on had two other people compete in a foot race for cash, one fell down and the other ran away. The content is difficult to watch. Viral clips from this livestream permeate the TikTok and Instagram timeline.
Hundreds of young people showed up to Kensington Ave last night, the livestream garnered thousands of views at the moment and the clips have been seen millions of times.
The event was such an ordeal that the cops came and broke up the crowd on a Monday night. In another viral clip, Skrilla is being told to leave the area by a policewoman and he gives her both a hug and kiss on the forehead. Shortly after, Skrilla addresses the viewing audience and says “It’s crazy that they (Philly Police) do all this shit when I come out, but they don’t do this shit when the fiends out here… they leave the fiends out here fucked up, they leave em’ out to die, it’s fucked up they leave them out here to die.”
The stream itself was neither entertaining nor educational for anyone who lives in Philadelphia. Skrilla is a multi-layered and controversial figure, but he has brought more exposure to the realities of Kensington than any other major figure. Under Skrilla’s Instagram post announcing this livestream, Meek Mill commented “yall shoulda did this last night lol” – implying that he would be interested in pulling up to Kensington Ave on a Monday night.
Kensington is the largest open-air drug market in the country, and Skrilla is the national face of it. There are multiple vlogs of Skrilla escorting young vloggers through Kensington and YouTube documentaries about Skrilla being “the Mayor of Kensington.”
It’s unclear whether or not Skrilla’s involvement and relationship with Kensington is good or bad, but it’s certainly something to look out for.
Philly Plain Dealer 
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