21, 21, 21... When exactly did the number become a steady part of the hip-hop vernacular? It wasn't too long ago. In late 2014, 21 Savage dropped "Picky," one of the first songs he had ever recorded. The track would go on to buzz among street enthusiasts in Atlanta, and it would land on The Slaughter Tape, released in May 2015, which ensured that the early sensation surrounding the murderous street dweller was only the beginning.
In recent memory, few rappers have experienced such a sudden rise to stardom as 21 Savage. If his trajectory since 2014 is telling, then the best is still to come -- that being said in the wake of collaborations with Drake, Meek Mill, and Travis Scott as well as a joint album with one of hip-hop's best producers. His stock has risen sharply with each of the four projects he has put out, though there have been certain songs on each release that have blown up to an increasingly unprecedented degree and defined the narrative of his young career.
Even though he's got hits now, it still feels like the mystery and allure of 21 Savage is unfolding. With masochistic hearts and a sinister gaze, we eagerly await for him to present us with his world in its full savagery. "Fast forward n*gga, 2016, and I'm screamin' fuck a deal," he raps on Savage Mode's "No Heart." The authenticity of that line -- four months later -- is perhaps the most compelling evidence that he's on a path towards greatness.
"Skrtt Skrtt"
The opener on The Slaugher Tape, the project that introduced 21 Savage to the rap world, takes its title from what's become arguably the most popular ad-lib of 2016. The sound is said to mimic either a car burning rubber as it proceeds upon a sudden getaway or a fork scraping the sides of a dope-coated pot. It's latter in 21 Savage's case -- an especially rusty fork chipping away at the charred remnants of crack cocaine.
Listening to him repeat ad-libs or certain words like "dip" or "drip" with his broken high-pitched rasp is strange and rather humorous -- until he stops smiling and starts snapping. When the raps begin on "Skrtt Skrtt," his voice still has a slight shakiness, but that doesn't detract from how vivid the lyrics are, especially when they rhyme so neatly. The intensity isn't in his loudness but in the boldness of every word. "Auntie hit the dope, she said it make her fucking jaw lock / Stray bullets hitting kids while they playing hopscotch." Lines like that are so ruthless that he needs to let them simmer with at least 30 seconds of "skrtt skrtt" action.
"Red Opps"
"Red Opps" is still by far 21 Savage's most viewed music video. The song, released as part of his Free Guwop EP with Sonny Digital in Summer 2015, is still the most riotous at his live shows -- at least that was my experience upon seeing him earlier this month. Sonny Digital's beat is terrifying in its minimalism, and 21 was lucky to get his hands on it, though few rappers would be able to master all of the production's subtleties like he does.
All the rage is in the hook, with which he begins and ends the song. The short verses in between hardly digress from what's already been established, acting as much-needed buffers. "I just bought a pistol it got 30 rounds in it," goes the memorable opening line. He proceeds to gun down the whole block, and he then barely raises his monotone to declare his allegiances to the Slaughter and Murder gangs, as a thudding bass drops to provide the intensity inherent in his words. There's no need for 21 to show muscle when he's so blatantly focused on realizing his bloodlust.
"X Bitch" (feat. Future)
Savage Mode, released this summer, solidified 21 Savage as a star. And he has much to owe his co-collaborator, Metro Boomin, for the opportunities that have come his way since their joint album. Savage Mode had one guest feature, and it came from Metro's most vital collaborator, Future, who noticed the rare chemistry that was being channeled between the two young shooters. Future's goal was in no way to outshine 21, who opens the song with the memorable hook. Instead, he simply acted as an elder, more esteemed savage who has, for years now, been basking in evil thoughts and making great music as a result.
The glorious depravity is so alive when they go back and forth toward the end of the song, and one has to wonder why it feels so good. "X Bitch" introduces another layer of 21 Savage's relatability. We've all had the burning desire to stunt on an ex in such a manner -- becoming the object of their scorn and jealousy whilst still accumulating prestige in the spotlight. Most of us lack the savagery to do so.
"No Heart"
The hooks on both "No Heart" (No. 57) and "X Bitch" (No. 57) have an earworm quality that is currently sending both songs up the charts. The catchiness overshadows their complexity, though; Savage Mode is proof that 21's artistry goes way past ad-libs and gruesome catchphrases. There's something precise and scientific to his way of life, and regardless of how he reconciles his sinful ways, he knows himself.
In the first verse on "No Heart," he offers a wonderfully concise mini-bio, beginning with his expulsion from Pantherville and then outlining the heartlessness that took shape within him between middle and high school. "Fast forward n*gga, 2016, and I'm screamin' fuck a deal." It's been a grueling road for him, no doubt, but somehow, a simple one, too. He's a living, breathing human being who has risen to greatness while ditching what is usually considered a vital part of one's humanity. Did he have another choice? It doesn't matter at this point. The answer to "Young Savage why you trappin' so hard?" so evidently lies in the track's title. And that's what makes it such a memorable opening line.
"Sneakin'"
Drake feat. 21 Savage
Since Savage Mode, 21 has appeared on tracks with Travis Scott, Young Dolph, Dae Dae, Meek Mill, and Drake. Each of the songs has contributed to the immense buzz he's currently experiencing -- some, obviously, more than others. "Sneakin'" premiered on OVO Sound Radio a day after the release of Meek Mill's DC4, which included Savage next to Young Thug on "Offended." The former has already outshone the latter -- especially with the new video, the lo-fi quality of which reflects the unpolished, "red band" appeal of 21 Savage's raps.
I've seen too many pieces on "Sneakin'" being problematic -- for Drake attempting to use 21 as a pawn in his game with Meek Mill, or his efforts to cajole the industry newcomer with a new Ferrari on his birthday. Why are the two collaborating in the first place, as they seem to represent two wholly different brands of music? The answer is that none of those questions matter because the song is too damn good, especially as it's also a showcase of Atlanta sound-sculptor London on da Track. 21 has officially landed in the industry, and he can make a hot-ass song with the most "mainstream" artist in the game without sacrificing that effortless street presence that made him so appealing in the first place. If that ain't winning...