On Sunday evening (Jan. 21), 21 Savage clinched his fourth Billboard 200 No. 1 album with the discharge of his third solo LP, american dream. The long-awaited blockbuster set arrives over a half-decade after his sophomore effort, 2018’s i’m > i used to be, and might be the masterwork that etches Savage’s identify as a generational star for years to come back.
Whereas a obvious time lapse between solo albums would derail most artists’ footing, 21 remained constant, darting out scene-stealing options and indelible full-length collaborative initiatives, together with 2020’s Savage Mode II with Metro Boomin and 2022’s Her Loss with Drake. And even earlier than debunking the legendary sophomore curse, 21 was a stringent rookie with unyielding allure, detonating the mixtape scene in 2016 when teaming with Metro on Savage Mode heaters corresponding to “No Coronary heart” and “X.” Granted, Savage’s whimsical wordplay was not fairly but top-tier, as he hurled traces that made backpackers grimace. Nonetheless, on the similar time, his information had been immediate headbangers amongst the youthful era and ear sweet for clubgoers.
A primary instance of Savage’s genius got here in 2017 with “Financial institution Account.” With Metro Boomin helming the manufacturing, Savage scripted a minimal-yet-sticky hook that turned a chant-along for money-hungry go-getters and led to his largest Billboard Sizzling 100 hit at the moment, the music peaking at No. 12. Savage’s playground wit and “much less is extra” mantra made his verses extremely digestible and downright enjoyable. Even if you happen to look to his options, like one Put up Malone’s Sizzling 100 chart-topper “rockstar,” Savage’s immediately unforgettable one-liners, “Your wifey say I’m lookin’ like an entire snack,” or “Sweeter than a Pop-Tart, you recognize you aren’t laborious,” helped the poker-faced rapper develop into a peerlessly entertaining star.
When paired with Offset on With out Warning or Drake on Her Loss, 21 is a chameleon who blends effectively no matter his co-star and is uncomplicated in his strategy. He can simply function a dependable wingman when carving out membership bangers or the antagonizing heel when sparring with the opps. And whereas his quick-witted verses might be playful and in jest, 21 can simply juxtapose these efforts together with his harrowing road tales, which made 2018’s i’m > i used to be a step in the suitable route. Songs like “letter 2 my momma,” “all my buddies” and his Grammy award-winning collaboration “quite a bit” with J. Cole exemplified Savage’s introspectiveness and free-flowing ruminations as a deep thinker.
Together with 21 growing his depth lyrically, his penchant for chopped-up soul samples and progress as a songwriter – each already obvious in i’m > i used to be – reaches a brand new degree on american dream. Whereas 21’s lust for bed room theatrics (“Sneaky”) and road raps (“Harmful”) stays at an all-time excessive on his third album, he digs deeper and presents extra on the cinematic set. After struggling by means of a years-long saga concerning his immigration standing, Savage makes use of bits and items of his trials and tribulations to set the desk for american dream, together with getting his mom to talk on their journey to America within the album’s intro and outro. Wealthy samples, together with Rose Royce’s “Hoping on a Star” for 21’s “All of Me,” are the backdrop for his tales of a turbulent upbringing and his conflicted combat between good and evil. “I seen loads homicides and nonetheless saved my focus,” he spits.
The album standout, “Letter to My Brudda,” is a passionate push by 21 that facilities round deceit and disappointment for his comrades and reveals a extra subtle author versus earlier years. “They’ll stand on couches with you, however gained’t stand on enterprise,” he raps in dismay. The album’s outro might be 21’s most gripping displaying: “Darkish Days” sees him encouraging the youth to remain in class and never threat their lives for short-term acquire, rapping: “You say you’re keen on your swap, however it doesn’t love you again/ You possibly can hug that block all evening, it ain’t gon’ hug you again.”
And when Savage reaches into the R&B world, it’s not that a lot of a stretch, as he matches seamlessly with whichever singer joins his escapades: The second half of american dream thrives off ’90s soul samples with Summer season Walker (“Show It”) and Brent Faiyaz (“Ought to’ve Wore a Bonnet”). And, in fact, his murderous streak on the charts stays intact, courtesy of his No. 5-debuting Sizzling 100 single “Redrum,” which is already his highest-peaking unaccompanied hit on the chart.
Stat-wise, 21 already measures up effectively together with his turn-of-the-’20s contemporaries, together with Lil Child, Lil Uzi Vert, Gunna, Lil Durk, and Playboi Carti, together with his 4 Billboard 200 No. 1 albums and Grammy win for greatest rap music in 2020. He has the respect of rap luminaries corresponding to Jay-Z and Nas, with the latter reeling him in for a characteristic in 2022 with “One Mic, One Gun,” disproving Savage’s incapacity to mesh with the older era. His discography is pristine, boasting a number of the greatest collaborative initiatives within the final decade, and his characteristic run is simply as torrid as when he first entered the rap ecosystem, particularly after final yr’s showings with Travis Scott (“Topia Twins”) and Rod Wave (“Turks & Caicos”).
Although Savage has unlocked many ranges up to now in his younger profession, he nonetheless has but to succeed in the standing of superstars like Drake, J. Cole, Future, or Younger Thug for many rap followers. A part of the problem stems from Savage not having a consensus traditional album. Although american dream places Savage on the suitable path to succeed in the mountainous heights earlier than him, he must buckle down, proceed to ease up on the cartoonish punchlines and create extra moments like “Brudda” and “Darkish Days” to have that magnum opus. And although it’s nice to have the star energy and cosigns 21 has on his resume, whether or not it’s a Drake collab album or a Put up Malone document, 21 might want to churn out extra solo hits to show that he doesn’t need assistance and may stand alone — like “Redrum,” whose robust debut and optimistic momentum proves he’s getting off to a great begin there.
Earlier than 21 can develop into the face of the brand new era, although, he nonetheless should develop his willingness to develop into a formidable performer. After touring with Drake and J. Cole, the most important query can be can he maintain his personal as a headliner and nearer. Whereas he has the anthems to ship an electrical displaying, he wants the suitable power and consistency to develop into an all-around risk for years. Additionally, whereas he has proven strides lyrically, it’ll be very important for 21 to proceed to develop in that pocket, whereas sustaining that crossover means.
The greats have been capable of hold their essence and edge, all whereas barreling by means of the doorways of mainstream with their hits. If he can develop these abilities, then he’ll be the Savage he all the time wished to be.