Green’s Dictionary of Slang

drummer n.2

[? the ‘beating’ he administered]

a thug who robbed drunks, often after helping them to oblivion with a knockout draught.

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[UK]Bell’s New Wkly Messenger 9 Mar. 6/2: The several descriptions of London thieves are [...] pitchers, or those who do so by passing off one thing for another; drummers, or those who do the same by stupefying persons with drink.
[UK]H. Mayhew Great World of London 46: Those who hocus or plunder persons by stupefying; as [...] ‘drummers,’ who drug liquor; and ‘bug-hunters,’ who plunder drunken men.
[UK]H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor IV 25: ‘Drummers,’ or those who render people insensible a. By handkerchiefs steeped in chloroform. b. By drugs poured into liquor.
[UK]Sl. Dict.
[Aus]Sydney Sl. Dict. (2 edn) 3: Drummer - One who hocuses his victim for the purpose of robbing him.

SE in slang uses

In phrases

give the drummer some (v.) [the drumming of one hand upon another]

(US black) ritual palm slapping that forms a greeting between blacks or between blacks and knowledgeable whites.

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[US]R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 17: Not giving us five. Not giving the drummer some.