The massive success of 21 Savage has been predicted by the Atlanta community for quite some time. On his first official project The Slaughter Tape, he already had beats from the likes of Zaytoven and Metro Boomin.
The come-up of 21 Savage is quick by typical hip-hop standards, and after Savage Mode came out this past summer, his presence in the game became inescapable. But despite the appearance of a rapid rise, 21 Savage really did put in that work, and make some of the hardest, most addictive songs of the last few years. Savage Mode was really the arrival destination of the rapper's hours in flight.
Dip into the gallery to re-visit 21 Savage's pre-Savage Mode videos. How does 21's old shit compare to his new shit? Breathe out a couple phrases into the comments below, and let a website know.
"How To Ball"
This is the first 21 Savage music video that's easily available on the ethers of the internet. If we're wrong about that let us know. This shit dates back to March 2014, a simpler time, before 21 even had a knife between the brows.
"Picky"
"Picky" was officially 21 Savage's debut single, and a clip of this music video (it doesn't seem to exist anywhere else) can be seen at the end of this interview video below. This is the first the world sees of 21's infamous knife. You can skip ahead to "Picky" if you'd like at 5:40, or stick it out for the entirety of the interview.
"Red Rag, Blue Rag (Feat. Yung Booke & Freaky D$MG)"
In 21 Savage's first video with other rappers on the song, the Decatur spitter gives a whole lot of indication that he's blowing up in ways that these other rappers ain't. Also, seeing the "No Heart" rapper at 0:21 as the only person not dancing in a crowd of dancing homies is a pleasure to see, for 21 Savage fans and foes alike.
"Skrrt Skrrt"
The video for "Skrrt Skrrt" marks 21's transition into the smooth, sinister sonics that would mark Savage Mode, filtered voices and all. Watch out for a naked ass twerking in the kitchen, covered in sweat. It don't get realer than this.
"H20"
With a beat from Sonny Digital, 21 didn't need another human being in the video for "H20" to make this thang pop off. 21 seems to be in his happy place whipping water in the kitchen, and the sight of it might just be our happy place.
"Million Dollar Liq (Feat. ManMan Savage)"
Featuring his dawg ManMan Savage, 21's "Million Dollar Liq" is the rapper's ode to his bigger-than-rap ambitions. From the porch-side of Atlanta, 21 Savage predicts a million dollar heist that scores him a bad bitch - let's not rule out Kylie Jenner as the subject at hand.
"Air It Out (Feat. Young Nudy)"
You haven't seen this many gunshots in a single music video, and you know it. It has to be one of the only clips we've ever seen where the shells make contact with the camera lens. This song is a departure from the lowkey stylings of Savage Mode.
"Dirty K (Feat. Lotto Savage)"
In "Dirty K," 21 Savage takes aim at those who resent his fast come-up, and been rapping all they life but never made a hit. Bringing along the homie Lotto Savage, 21 knows he's the rapper next up at this point - he's just waiting a little longer for the rest of the world to realize.