British-American rapper 21 Savage released his third solo studio album this week, titled American Dream. The album is his first solo venture in over five years and follows his chart-topping 2022 collaborative effort with Drake, Her Loss. The latest outing from the rapper is sure to please fans, featuring murderous lyrics, witty wordplay, and impeccable beat selection. Here's a comprehensive guide to American Dream and a review of the material within.
The Album Connects To An Upcoming Film
American Dream isn't just a musical outing. The album also serves as a companion piece to an upcoming feature film of the same name, starring Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin. The trailer for the film was released days before the album and doubles as a music video for the opening track "All of Me." The film likely tackles 21's early days as a street-wise youth facing criminal persecution in Atlanta. At this time, we have very little information about the film's plot, and this is only speculation.
This is further illustrated in American Dream with narration from 21's mother. This narration bookends the album's intro and outro tracks with inspiring words about her dreams for her son's success and happiness. Despite these inclusions, the album lacks a cohesive through-line that thematically ties the material back to the premise promised by the title and imagery.
Lyrical Structure & Themes
The overall aesthetic of American Dream may lead listeners to assume that the project is a meditation on the state of poverty or immigration in 21's life. However, these concepts are rarely addressed and never fleshed out. Instead, the album serves as a loose assortment of tracks that cover topics such as gang activity, loyalty, romantic relationships, and flexing on apps with expensive possessions.
The closing track, "dark days," is best at synthesizing concise ideas about the experience of Black Americans facing poverty and gang violence. It features compelling lyrics such as, “You say you love your switch, but it don't lovе you back. You can hug that block all night, it ain't gon' hug you back.” The track provides thought-provoking illustrations of 21’s American experience, shedding light on his growth as an artist.
Historically speaking, 21 Savage is at his best lyrically when addressing mindless topics like expensive cars and loaded weaponry. But as the artist continues to mature in his sound and reach for more serious topics, he frequently falls short of finding anything significant to say about them.
The Featured Guests Brought Their A-Game
Though it is mildly disappointing to see no Childish Gambino inclusions on the record, American Dream touts an all-star list of guests who provide excellent contributions to the album's overall sound. Doja Cat stuns with her trademark blend of melody and humor on the track "n.h.i.e.." There, we see her using the word "ad-lib" as an actual ad-lib. Further, Young Thug briefly but notably appears on the track "pop ur sh**." Unfortunately, it underwent censorship due to the rapper's ongoing RICO case. The case seeks to utilize his lyrical content as evidence of actual crimes.
Meanwhile, Travis Scott raps like his bills are due on the track "née nah," offering a rare glimpse into his energetic lyrical capabilities in place of his usual vocal passages, which are often drowning in autotune. Similarly, Summer Walker delivers a heavenly vocal performance on the track "prove it." Finally, Metro Boomin appears on a myriad of tracks to provide unparalleled cohesive production. This proves that Metro and 21 have some of the best collaborative chemistry in the game.
Conclusion
21 Savage may not win over any haters with his latest endeavor, but fans will surely have this LP on repeat all year long. The album features some of his most ambitious work yet, layered atop production that steals the show at every turn. Releasing the album at the top of the year was a bold choice, considering the American Dream film isn't set to release until July. However, the timing may be a perfect way to ensure this record continues to get spins throughout Summer 2024 and beyond.