21 Savage Tickets

The bottom line of most of 21 Savage’s verses is this: while other rappers talk about the streets, 21 Savage is in them. While some of his modern trap peers go for the irreverent oddball route and others play the party-loving role, Savage’s style is best described as focused; his trademark monotone vocals never wavering from the details, whether celebratory or disturbing, of the trap life.

Born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph in London, the rapper grew up in Atlanta, Georgia from the age of seven. On his 21st birthday, he was shot six times and his best friend was killed. After that, he began rapping. He released his debut mixtape, The Slaughter Tape, in 2015; gritty and scrappy, making his name as a menacing, no-nonsense presence. He followed that up the same year with the EP Free Guwop – a collaboration with Sonny Digital – and his second mixtape, Slaughter King.

In June 2016, Savage was named in XXL’s annual Freshman Class, alongside Anderson. Paak, Denzel Curry and Lil Uzi Vert. The assessment that he was destined for big things quickly proved right. A month later, he collaborated with producer Metro Boomin on EP Savage Mode, the beginning of a fruitful relationship for the two. On standouts such as ‘No Advance’ and ‘No Heart’, Metro Boomin’s dark, atmospheric beats provide a perfect backdrop for 21 Savage’s lyricism. Single ‘X’, featuring Future, was certified triple-platinum in the US, and landed Savage a performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards. At the end of 2016, he featured on the Meek Mill track ‘Offended’ and the Drake single ‘Sneakin’'. He capped off the year with a US tour in support of Young Thug.

After signing to Epic Records in 2017, Savage released his debut studio album, Issa Album, in July. It saw him digging further into his Atlanta trap sound and developing his presence as an MC, as well as continuing his partnership with Metro Boomin. Lead single ’Bank Account’ is an essential, memorable dispatch, built on a foreboding instrumental and displaying 21’s unique vocal personality. Meanwhile, ’Close My Eyes’ is one of the rapper’s darkest moments, on which he rawly recounts the trauma that comes with gang life.

Following this release, he featured on the Post Malone single ’Rockstar’, which hit No.1 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified Diamond in the US. In October, he released Without Warning, a collaborative album with Metro Boomin and Offset on which the trio played with horror movie aesthetics.

In 2018, he made guest appearances on Young Thug and Ty Dolla $ign tracks, as well as featuring across Metro Boomin’s debut solo album, Not All Heroes Wear Capes. Savage released his second studio album, I Am > I Was, that December. Displaying an expanded musical vocabulary, it boasted an extended cast of producers, as well as features from Travis Scott, Childish Gambino and Post Malone. Lead single ’a lot’ featuring J.Cole, earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.

In 2019, he released the single ’Immortal’ and featured on DJ Khaled’s ’Wish Wish’ alongside Cardi B, and in early 2020 came Savage Mode II, his second collaborative album with Metro Boomin. The track ’Mr Right Now’ featuring Drake hit No.28 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2021, he soundtracked the movie Spiral: From The Book Of Saw, and supported J.Cole on the Off-Season Tour. In 2022, the rapper released Her Loss, a collaboration with Drake, which would become 21 Savage’s first UK No.1 album. Throughout 2023, he supported Drake on the It’s All a Blur US arena tour.