21 Savage first debuted on to the Hot 100 in 2016 via features on Drake and Meek Mill songs, who were still beefing at the time. Coincidentally, both those songs debuted on the same week. He became much more a chart presence in 2017, as he got his first hit. Bank Account peaked at #12 during the summer last year, and suffice to say it was not exactly popular with critics. He also produced a collab album along with Metro Boomin and Offset, where the one song that was a hit off the album didn't have him on it. Also, he was featured on Cardi B's hit song Bartier Cardi.
His biggest hit to date is from a feature on Post Malone's rockstar. The song was an 8 week #1 song in late 2017, and finished at #55 on that year-end list. To date, it holds many accolades including:
- #5 on the 2018 year-end list
- #88 on the greatest of all time list
- #4 most streamed song ever on Spotify globally
- #1 most streamed song in the U.S. and Canada on Spotify
- Longest running Spotify global #1
Which brings us to today, where his latest album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, making it his first #1 album. Is the album actually any good? Well, let's get right into it.
Overview
So aside from rockstar, I hadn't really liked anything 21 Savage had done all that much. Sure, some of his Metro Boomin collabs were good, but I credit that more to Metro than Savage. But the album is called "i am > i was", or "I am greater than I was", so perhaps he's improved?
Actually, he has. Like a lot. Overall on this album, he demonstrates better flows and (occasionally) better lyricism than he did on Issa Album. But he still isn't perfect and sometimes falters on these songs. Additionally, there's some legitimately very strong guest features from people such as Post Malone and J. Cole here. However, people like Lil Baby and Gunna are still here so its not all perfect. But another highlight of this album is the production, mostly courtesy of Metro Boomin. While Metro isn't the world's best producer, he can make some solid beats. So overall this album was a huge improvement for 21 Savage.
Individual Track Reviews
1. a lot: So this is the big hit off the album huh? Well, the sample here blends with the beat really well. The hook is a bit repetitive, as 21 Savage repeats the phrases "a lot" many times. The lyrics are interesting, as half of it is him bragging about how he has a lot of money, but the other half is him talking about personal stuff thats actually not terribly written. Savage's flow overall here is decent. J. Cole is also here. His verse is really good, aside from the 6ix9ine reference. But overall, great song. 5/5
2. break da law: Oh god Metro Boomin what happened? I really liked the collabs between Metro and Savage on Not All Heroes Wear Capes. But the beat here just doesn't sound that good. Also any lyrical depth 21 Savage had in the last song is basically gone here. 1.5/5
3. a&t: The beat here isn't any better than the last track. In fact, its a bit worse. The song features a female rapper who isn't Cardi B or Nicki Minaj (revolutionary). Anyways, this Young Miami person on the hook isn't very good. Though her verse isn't that bad, her voice is really bad on the chorus. And mixed with that terrible beat, I'm feeling a 0.5/5 here.
4. out for the night: This isn't half bad. It feels pretty generic compared to the other songs I've heard so far, and I prefer the version of the song that has Travis Scott in it, but the original is still pretty solid. 21 Savage has proven himself to be a pretty good rapper so far throughout this album, as he's able to ride this beat very well. Solid song, 4/5.
5. gun smoke: I could do without what sounds like police sirens in the background. Savage's flow isn't terrible, but its not his best. And seeing how like over half the hook is just "gun smoke", this is pretty forgettable, if not actively terrible. 2.5/5
6. 1.5: So half of 21 Savage's verse is about how he hates cuddling. Weird thing to rap about but ok. The hook succeeds at what many hooks here succeed at: being mindlessly catchy. Offset is also here, and his verse is great. He's one of the best trap rappers currently out there, so that shouldn't surprise anyone. The beat here is also pretty nice. 4/5
7. all my friends: Oh hi Post Malone. Last time we saw these two together was in rockstar. And this isn't nearly as good as that song. Honestly, this is one of Savage's weaker performances, mostly due to the more sad beat, compared to the more energetic beats on some of the other songs. But Post Malone certainly makes up for it in his hook and verse. Also I find 21 Savage referencing his line in rockstar about having a 12 car garage but only six cars by saying now he has six more cars to be pretty funny. 4.5/5
8. can't leave without it: The piano here is pretty weird. It just kinda dies at the end of each measure. Not necessarily bad, but weird. What is bad is our two featured rappers: Lil Baby and Gunna. These two just aren't good rappers, and they aren't good here. They drag an otherwise decent song to a 1.5/5.
9. asmr: I don't like this song at all. I don't like 21 Savage whispering. I don't like how he mentions Jewish money, then immediately talks about rats and ghettos. The beat is generic and bad Metro Boomin. Overall, this is easily the worst song here. 0/5
10. ball w/o you: So this song opens up with a jazz piano, and also immediately a trap beat is thrown over it. Those two things just don't mix well. Also 21 Savage occasionally decides to pause and stop rapping, which just highlights the really awkward beat even more. His autotune falsetto sucks ass as well. Not really a fan of this one. 0/5
11. good day: Fun. A song all about 21 Savage murdering people. Its not like the subtext, its very much the text. Look up the lyrics. However, ScHoolboy Q is a good rapper. And he's able to ride this weird warped beat pretty decently. So while he redeems it slightly, its still not good. 0.5/5
12. pad lock: At this point in the album, I feel like I've heard this same basic song before. It's just 21 Savage riding a decent beat. 2/5
13. monster: Wow that hook is grating. Even a really good Childish Gambino verse can barely save this. Even 21 Savage isn't terrible in his verse, but the hook is one of the low points of the entire album. There's some weird high pitched voice layered behind Savage that just doesn't sound good. 2/5
14. letter 2 my momma: Quite the title. But in all actuality, this is a pretty sweet tribute to his mother. Even if he does go off topic at points, the meaning behind it is really nice. I think the couplet of lines "I’m the one that stole the cookies out the jar, I'm the one that went and stole the neighbors car" nicely shows the appeal of the song. 4.5/5
15. 4L: This isn't a good album closer. I feel like letter 2 my momma would've worked better as one. All this is is empty flexing over a generic beat. This just doesn't feel like the rest of the album, and the fact that its pushing five minutes doesn't help. 0.5/5
Final Thoughts
Rating: 6/10 (Decent)
Best Songs: a lot, all my friends, letter 2 my momma
Worst Songs: asmr, ball w/o you
So aside from rockstar, I hadn't really liked anything 21 Savage had done all that much. Sure, some of his Metro Boomin collabs were good, but I credit that more to Metro than Savage. But the album is called "i am > i was", or "I am greater than I was", so perhaps he's improved?
Actually, he has. Like a lot. Overall on this album, he demonstrates better flows and (occasionally) better lyricism than he did on Issa Album. But he still isn't perfect and sometimes falters on these songs. Additionally, there's some legitimately very strong guest features from people such as Post Malone and J. Cole here. However, people like Lil Baby and Gunna are still here so its not all perfect. But another highlight of this album is the production, mostly courtesy of Metro Boomin. While Metro isn't the world's best producer, he can make some solid beats. So overall this album was a huge improvement for 21 Savage.
Individual Track Reviews
1. a lot: So this is the big hit off the album huh? Well, the sample here blends with the beat really well. The hook is a bit repetitive, as 21 Savage repeats the phrases "a lot" many times. The lyrics are interesting, as half of it is him bragging about how he has a lot of money, but the other half is him talking about personal stuff thats actually not terribly written. Savage's flow overall here is decent. J. Cole is also here. His verse is really good, aside from the 6ix9ine reference. But overall, great song. 5/5
2. break da law: Oh god Metro Boomin what happened? I really liked the collabs between Metro and Savage on Not All Heroes Wear Capes. But the beat here just doesn't sound that good. Also any lyrical depth 21 Savage had in the last song is basically gone here. 1.5/5
3. a&t: The beat here isn't any better than the last track. In fact, its a bit worse. The song features a female rapper who isn't Cardi B or Nicki Minaj (revolutionary). Anyways, this Young Miami person on the hook isn't very good. Though her verse isn't that bad, her voice is really bad on the chorus. And mixed with that terrible beat, I'm feeling a 0.5/5 here.
4. out for the night: This isn't half bad. It feels pretty generic compared to the other songs I've heard so far, and I prefer the version of the song that has Travis Scott in it, but the original is still pretty solid. 21 Savage has proven himself to be a pretty good rapper so far throughout this album, as he's able to ride this beat very well. Solid song, 4/5.
5. gun smoke: I could do without what sounds like police sirens in the background. Savage's flow isn't terrible, but its not his best. And seeing how like over half the hook is just "gun smoke", this is pretty forgettable, if not actively terrible. 2.5/5
6. 1.5: So half of 21 Savage's verse is about how he hates cuddling. Weird thing to rap about but ok. The hook succeeds at what many hooks here succeed at: being mindlessly catchy. Offset is also here, and his verse is great. He's one of the best trap rappers currently out there, so that shouldn't surprise anyone. The beat here is also pretty nice. 4/5
7. all my friends: Oh hi Post Malone. Last time we saw these two together was in rockstar. And this isn't nearly as good as that song. Honestly, this is one of Savage's weaker performances, mostly due to the more sad beat, compared to the more energetic beats on some of the other songs. But Post Malone certainly makes up for it in his hook and verse. Also I find 21 Savage referencing his line in rockstar about having a 12 car garage but only six cars by saying now he has six more cars to be pretty funny. 4.5/5
8. can't leave without it: The piano here is pretty weird. It just kinda dies at the end of each measure. Not necessarily bad, but weird. What is bad is our two featured rappers: Lil Baby and Gunna. These two just aren't good rappers, and they aren't good here. They drag an otherwise decent song to a 1.5/5.
9. asmr: I don't like this song at all. I don't like 21 Savage whispering. I don't like how he mentions Jewish money, then immediately talks about rats and ghettos. The beat is generic and bad Metro Boomin. Overall, this is easily the worst song here. 0/5
10. ball w/o you: So this song opens up with a jazz piano, and also immediately a trap beat is thrown over it. Those two things just don't mix well. Also 21 Savage occasionally decides to pause and stop rapping, which just highlights the really awkward beat even more. His autotune falsetto sucks ass as well. Not really a fan of this one. 0/5
11. good day: Fun. A song all about 21 Savage murdering people. Its not like the subtext, its very much the text. Look up the lyrics. However, ScHoolboy Q is a good rapper. And he's able to ride this weird warped beat pretty decently. So while he redeems it slightly, its still not good. 0.5/5
12. pad lock: At this point in the album, I feel like I've heard this same basic song before. It's just 21 Savage riding a decent beat. 2/5
13. monster: Wow that hook is grating. Even a really good Childish Gambino verse can barely save this. Even 21 Savage isn't terrible in his verse, but the hook is one of the low points of the entire album. There's some weird high pitched voice layered behind Savage that just doesn't sound good. 2/5
14. letter 2 my momma: Quite the title. But in all actuality, this is a pretty sweet tribute to his mother. Even if he does go off topic at points, the meaning behind it is really nice. I think the couplet of lines "I’m the one that stole the cookies out the jar, I'm the one that went and stole the neighbors car" nicely shows the appeal of the song. 4.5/5
15. 4L: This isn't a good album closer. I feel like letter 2 my momma would've worked better as one. All this is is empty flexing over a generic beat. This just doesn't feel like the rest of the album, and the fact that its pushing five minutes doesn't help. 0.5/5
Final Thoughts
Rating: 6/10 (Decent)
Best Songs: a lot, all my friends, letter 2 my momma
Worst Songs: asmr, ball w/o you
Nice post
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