21 Savage is a man of many layers. While his name is Savage, he's proven there's depths to his character. He came into the rap game with a menacing presence. His monotone voice and lack of expression coincides with what he's been through. He's told his story in his music and interviews while addressing the violence and murder he's witnessed while in the streets. Now that he's in a better position, both financial and socially, he's able to speak on a larger matter at hand. Today, he tackles police brutality and the complexity of being black in America in the video for "Nothin New."
21 Savage's latest video is a glimpse into the struggle of being black in America. The video opens up with notable clips of Colin Kaepernick, Barack Obama and Lebron James. While Colin Kaepernick discusses the issues with both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, it later cuts to a clip of Obama speaking on Kaepernick's choice to kneel during the anthem. Then it shows the famous clip of Lebron James' unapologetic response to calling Trump a "bum."
The video also shows 21 Savage at a funeral, a clip that later unfolds into the video's message. The visuals for "Nothin New" follows a young girl whose mother is an addict and her father is in prison. It shows that same child robbing a store, before being followed by the police and getting shot and killed. It's a deep video that deals with the systemic racism in America while showcasing it through the eyes of a young girl who lived through the cycle.
"Nothin New" was a stand-out record on his album, Issa Album. It was a brutally honest effort where 21 Savage confronts racial inequality in America through his own eyes. It's also the first visual he's released off of the project since it's release in June.