Album Review // 21 Savage // American Dream

Epic Records

4/5 stars

Jokes about 21 Savage have long defined the rapper, at least for those that don't give him a chance. Known for his monotone voice and ad-libs, he's the kind of artist that can be hard to convince real hip-hop heads to listen to — until he puts out a song like "a lot." Suddenly, the trap rapper best known for a Post Malone radio feature ("Rockstar") was delivering personal bars over one of the best soul beats in recent memory, complete with an unforgettable J. Cole verse. Savage's prior album, I Am > I Was, largely held to that standard, offering shocking introspection over largely gritty beats and, yes, plenty of ad-libs.

We should consider ourselves lucky that the rapper continues to mature. Hinting at 21 Savage's largely publicized immigration issues, American Dream largely picks up where its predecessor left off. While it doesn't quite replicate the hook from "a lot," opening track "all of me" serves as one of the rapper's best tracks yet, sliding directly into the menacing single "redrum." But among the soul-inspired beats and harrowing raps comes a positive message on closing track "dark days:" "I know it might sound lame, but just stay in school/They got a place that they put people who don't follow rules/You probably got your mama scared, don't wanna watch the news/Ready to risk your life and freedom for a pair of shoes."