21 Savage Shares What It Was Like Being Detained By ICE

BY Erika Marie 16.1K Views
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21 Savage
He shared that he was separated from his children for two weeks, but some people had been there for years.

Whether he's singing '90s R&B slow jams in his Instagram videos or cranking out trap hits that top the charts, there is an undeniable appeal to 21 Savage. Fans thought they knew everything about the 26-year-old rapper, but when he was arrested earlier this year by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while driving around Atlanta, it came as a surprise that he wasn't the ATL star that everyone thought. We learned that the British-born artist was accused of overstaying his Visa and was taken into custody, a move that prompted many to question whether or not he was targeted because of his philanthropic and community building moves with his charity, the "21 Savage Bank Account Campaign."

The rapper covers the latest issue of Paper magazine where they detail Savage's experience and legal hurdles surrounding his arrest. Savage was advised by his counsel not to go into speak about his troubles, but the Issa Album hitmaker did talk about what it was like being separated from his family.

"I didn't see my kids for almost two weeks," 21 says of his time in detainment. "There are people in detention centers just sitting for months and even years not being able to see their families. Then some of those people just end up being sent off overnight to a place they ain't never really lived and they don't ever see their family after that."

Savage has endured quite a bit during his short life on earth, including being shot six times on his 21st birthday back in 2013. His best friend was also shot during the incident, but he didn't make it out alive. "I stay focused on moving forward and not letting stuff put me in a hole or make me feel depressed," he says of the tragedy. "I don't really dwell, but I think about the people I've lost. At the same time, I think of the moments I had with them versus them not being there."

Check out more from Savage's Paper interview here.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.