ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: 21 Savage
ALBUM: Savage Mode
RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2016
Atlanta born and based trap rapper Shayaa Abraham-Joseph, better known as 21 Savage, was born on October 22, 1994. He is one of the newest and upcoming artist of his genre who was mentored by the sounds of such legends as Gucci Mane and rap icon Future.
21 Savage is from Atlanta’s urban area of Glenwood where his name originates from as he grow up on the 21st street. In his Glenwood days, he would spend most of them on the wrong side of certain situations. He admits to being expelled from Pantherville Middle for bringing a gun to school and also leaving high school well before his expected graduation date. This was the beginning of his street life, the end of it was not so glamorous as well as he witnessed the murder of his best friend and was shot himself six times. This event is noted as the end of his street life and what turned him into wanting to make music and more importantly wanting to make money.
He emerged on the music scene last year with the release of his video “Skrrt Skrrt” and the release of one his most popular songs “Red Opps”. These tracks would lay way for his first mixtape, ‘The Slaughter Tape’. The Atlanta rapper was later introduced to well-known producer Sonny Digital; together they released a collaborative EP, entitled “Free Guwop”, paying homage to an ATL rap legend. With these works along with his second mixtape ‘Slaughter King’ 21 Savage had amassed a massive following. That following would attract the attention of super producer Metro Boomin’ which would lead to his first major work, ‘Savage Mode’ which was just released in the summer of 2016.
A self-proclaimed existentialist, 21 Savage was taught at an early age that life was a series of causes and effects. He accepts those things that happened to him and plays them as a part of the game he has been a part of for so long. His lyrics mirror the struggle that he comes from, one that he vows to never forget. One of his biggest things is to remain true to who he is and who had his back when he didn’t have anything. This life rule allows him to stay connected with not only those people from his past but his fans as well, as he feels most rappers make it and then become divas. Although most of the effects of his past are negative, the effects of his present are obviously a turnaround from where he came from. The last two years of work would not go unnoticed as he received notoriety being selected as a part of the XXL 2016 Freshman Class.
21 Savage is currently on the HIHORSE’D tour with Young Thug.