21 Savage is one of the fastest-rising stars in rap music right now, which means it was the perfect to give a candid interview to one of the music industry's most respected media outlets.
The emcee spoke with Rolling Stone about a variety of topics, including the concept of "mumble rap." A sub-genre that has formed over the last couple of years, Savage isn't too happy about being put into that category. "I don't feel like nobody who they say [is] mumble rap mumbles," he retorted. "They don't understand my slang or my accent. They don't know how to categorize it, 'cause it's art. They're just trying to bring it down."
Elsewhere in the interview, he spoke about the current state of U.S. politics, specifically how racism and police brutality has helped shape many a political outlook. "Most of the time I just talk about me or what I experience," he said. "Now I be trying to talk about other things that other people can relate to [...] I don't think people really understand how hard it is to be black. Especially when you coming from nothing. [...] We killin' each other and everybody else killin' us too. We poor. And the world hates us."
It's a refreshingly honest take from a rapper who isn't afraid to let his opinions be known, in his music or otherwise.