21 Savage lives up to the hype in “american dream.”

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TOP 5

5. just like me

Do you know how much money 21 Savage owes Burna Boy for making this song go?

Burna Boy and Metro Boomin are the reasons “Just Like Me” will be saved in my iTunes library. The former’s sturdy vocals borderline gave me chills, while the latter’s beat does a good job of making things shake while still maintaining this gentle R&B sound. 21’s verses on the song are OK; I just hate the parts where he says “just like me.” That s**t just sounds so off.

4. letter to my brudda

21 Savage’s letter to his brother completely differs from Stephen A. Smith’s letter to Jason Whitlock.

Personally, I really like it when rappers show us their introspective side; 21 Savage does just that in “letter to my brudda.” Over this soulful trap beat, he talks about the hustling he had to do to get to where he is today, the homies he lost, and the friends he hopes to shed. If we wiped all the blood that spilled on him from the sliding he’s done all these years, I bet this is the version of 21 that we would get daily.

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Top 5 21 Savage Albums: 21 Savage’s Best Albums, According To RGM

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3. redrum

Seeing an opera singer in the studio with 21 Savage would f**k up anybody’s mind.

Despite “redrum” being a little too long (Who the f**k makes songs that are longer than four minutes these days), I think it has almost every element you would want out of a 21 Savage song: 21 21 21 adlibs, a beat that would knock the wig off Steve Harvey, slightly terrifying vibes, violent lyrics, a catchy hook, and a bunch of fun flows. If there’s a song on this album that most people would put in their top 5 list for this album, it would be this.

2. All Of Me

N***as have to go hard on the next track if you have your mother on the previous one.

I rock with how soulful, sly, and dramatic the trap beat that drives “All Of Me” is. On some real s**t, it’s the main reason I f**k with the song. I will say this, though: 21 Savage does an excellent job of sliding on the track while hopscotching between someone who sounds thankful for his success and ready to go to jail.

1. née-nah (Ft. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin)

Travis Scott and 21 Savage both put up 47 points and no turnovers on this song.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve heard Travis Scott sound this good as a rapper before. In “née-nah,” his punchlines are crisp, he doesn’t sound as robotic, and his confidence is on another level. It’s one of his better verses of all time. 21 Savage also does his thing. I like the aggression he raps with, how competitive his lyrics are, and his easy-to-understand punchlines. The only thing I wish this song had was a hook.

Who wants to tell me what “née-nah” means in English?

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SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. american dream (N/A)

2. all of me (4/5)

3. redrum (4/5)

4. n.h.i.e. (Ft. Doja Cat) (3.5/5)

5. sneaky (3.5/5)

6. pop ur shit (Ft. Metro Boomin & Young Thug) (3.5/5)

7. letter to my brudda (4/5)

8. dangerous (Ft. Metro Boomin & Lil Durk) (3.5/5)

9. née-nah (Ft. Metro Boomin & Travis Scott) (4.5/5)

10. see the real (3.5/5)

11. prove it (Ft. Summer Walker) (4/5)

12. should’ve worn a bonnet (Ft. Brent Faiyaz) (4/5)

13. just like me (Ft. Metro Boomin & Burna Boy) (4/5)

14. red sky (3/5)

15. dark days (Ft. Mariah The Scientist) (4/5)

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OVERALL RATING

(C) (75%)

Upon listening to the opening track of this album, I initially anticipated a collection of diverse sentimental records. While you get a few here and there, for the most part, 21 is his usual heartless self. Throughout american dream, he mainly addresses his rivals, delves into his romantic life, and reflects on his distinctive come-up (I will say this, though: Do not sleep on the moments he talks about his mental health and going through hard times, as he does in “dark days.”). In terms of seeing growth from him as an artist, you’ll have to see it through his super confident deliveries and overall conviction when he lays his verses down.

As impressive as 21 Savage’s performance is on this album, I believe the production is equally exceptional, if not superior. Producers like Metro Boomin provide him with beats that maintain the essence of trap but also incorporate elements ranging from mellow R&B vibes to dramatic tones. It’s worth emphasizing that, despite the varied influences, the beats consistently retain a trap sound. The impactful beats not only give your speakers a workout but also enhance the resonance of 21’s often laid-back voice.

I like the guest appearances we get on this album. The limited number, which I appreciate, is well-curated. In particular, the dynamic between 21 Savage and Travis Scott, trading fiery verses, is something I could listen to all day. Additionally, the fusion of 21’s sound with R&B artists like Brent Faiyaz, Mariah The Scientist, and Summer Walker, along with collaborations with Afropop star Burna Boy and legally crazy woman Doja Cat, adds a cool and diverse touch to the album.

There were a few aspects of this album that I didn’t need. I found “red sky” to be a bit too experimental for my taste. The clustering of all the love songs towards the end of the album felt unnecessary. Additionally, the moments where 21 attempted to sing, especially in “see the real,” didn’t resonate with me. Lastly, the consistent use of lowercase letters in the titles, for writing purposes, was something I could have done without. If you changed these elements, I could’ve elevated the album’s grade a little.

In conclusion, I would describe this album as solid; not good or great. While 21 Savage holds his own as the star of the show, I am hesitant about its long-term appeal, as I find it lacking in depth and overall interest.

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