Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as21 Savage, is an American and British rapper.[1] Born inLondon and raised in Atlanta, he began his recording career in 2013 and released three independent mixtapes to regional acclaim. His breakout project—the collaborativeextended play (EP) with record producerMetro Boomin titledSavage Mode (2016)—peaked at number 23 on theBillboard 200. Its lead singles, "X" (featuringFuture) and "No Heart" both peaked within the top 40 of theBillboard Hot 100. Later that year, he saw further recognition for hisguest appearance onDrake's single "Sneakin'".[2][3][4] He then signed arecording contract withEpic Records in January 2017.[5]
21 Savage's debut studio album,Issa Album (2017), peaked at number two on theBillboard 200, while its lead single, "Bank Account" peaked at number 12 on theBillboard Hot 100.[6] That same year, he released the collaborative albumWithout Warning (2017) with Metro Boomin and fellow Georgia-based rapperOffset, and guest appeared onPost Malone's 2017 single "Rockstar", which peaked atop theBillboard Hot 100 and received two nominations—Record of the Year andBest Rap/Sung Performance—at the61st Annual Grammy Awards.[7][8] His second album,I Am > I Was (2018), became his first to debut atop theBillboard 200 and spawned the single "A Lot" (featuringJ. Cole),[9] which wonBest Rap Song at the62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[10][11] The following year, he and Metro Boomin released a sequel to their breakout EP withSavage Mode II (2020), which also debuted atop theBillboard 200[12] and spawned the top ten-singles "Runnin" and "Mr. Right Now" (featuring Drake).[13] He guest appeared on Drake's 2022 single "Jimmy Cooks", which marked his first song to debut atop the Hot 100 and second to do so overall.[14] Later that year, he and Drake released the collaborative albumHer Loss (2022), which saw continued success as his third project to peak theBillboard 200.[15] His third album,American Dream (2024), became his fourth consecutive chart-topping project, and spawned theBillboard Hot 100 top-ten songs "Redrum" and "Née-Nah".[16]
21 Savage was arrested byU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 3, 2019. Officials revealed his status as a British citizen who entered the U.S. in July 2005 and unlawfully overstayed anH-4 visa that expired in 2006.[17] He was granted bond on February 12 and released the next day, pending the outcome of an expedited deportation hearing,[18] which was initially scheduled for April 9, but was later postponed indefinitely,[19] with 21 Savage's lawyers stating he was legally residing in the U.S. for several years prior to the 2005 H-4 visa.[20] In 2023, 21 Savage became a lawful permanent resident of the United States and received hisgreen card; he is eligible forcitizenship in 2028.[21][22]
Abraham-Joseph's parents separated early in his life, and he moved at age seven with his mother toAtlanta, Georgia.[30][31][32] In June 2005, at the age of 12, he returned to theUnited Kingdom for his uncle's funeral,[33] stayed for a month, and then went back to Atlanta on anH-4 visa on July 22, 2005,[34] which allegedly expired a year later.[17][35][36] Abraham-Joseph's mother then began a relationship with Dr. Amsu Anpu, anendocrinologist and fellow British expatriate, with whom she had more children.[37] He had a brother, Quantivayus ("Tay-Man"), who died in a shooting after an attempteddrug deal.[38]
In seventh grade at Stone Mountain Middle School, Abraham-Joseph was placed on probation for gun possession. Following a probation violation in the eighth grade, he was expelled from theDeKalb County School District.[39][40][41] This led him to begin attending schools around theAtlanta metropolitan area before being sent to a juvenile detention center.[42] After being released from the juvenile detention center, he completed eighth grade through an alternative program before finishing a semester of high school, but dropped out in his freshman year following multiple exclusions that he said "exhausted" him.[43] After dropping out, he joined a local street gang affiliated with the widerBloods gang and became a full-time drug dealer,[2] mainly sellingcannabis.[43] He also regularly took part in other criminal activities, including robbery and car theft, although he was only arrested once after contraband was found in a car he was driving.[44] In 2011, when he was 19, his "right-hand man" Larry, was killed in a shootout.[43] In 2013, during an attempted robbery on his 21st birthday, Abraham-Joseph was shot six times by rival gang members, and his best friend Johnny was killed.[19][45]
Career
2013–2015: Early releases,The Slaughter Tape, andSlaughter King
Following the death of his friend in a shootout on his 21st birthday, 21 Savage began rapping.[44][46] His music career was originally subsidized by his deceased friend's uncle, who gave him money for studio time in 2013.[2] On March 1, 2013, 21 Savage's debut single, "I Can't Get Enough" was released.[47] His debut mixtape,The Slaughter Tape, which was released on May 25, 2015.[48] The release made him whatInterview Magazine called an "underground hero in Atlanta".[2]
On July 2, 2015, 21 Savage released a collaborative EP,Free Guwop, withSonny Digital.[49] It is a tribute EP to fellow rapper and influenceGucci Mane. On December 1, 2015, 21 Savage released his second mixtape,Slaughter King.[50]
2016–2017:Savage Mode,Issa Album, andWithout Warning
In June 2016, 21 Savage was named as one of the "Freshman Class" of 2016 byXXL.[51] On July 15, 2016, 21 Savage released his jointEPSavage Mode with Atlanta-based record producerMetro Boomin. The EP gained international success and peaked at number 23 on theBillboard 200, which became their highest charting EP to date.[52] In November 2016, he was on the cover ofThe Fader.[53] TheSavage Mode single "X" featuringFuture was confirmed byBillboard as going platinum in the US, being 21 Savage's first platinum record.[54] On January 18, 2017, 21 Savage announced that he had signed toEpic Records.[55]
In 2017, his debut studio album,Issa Album, debuted at number two on the USBillboard 200.[56][57] Its lead single, "Bank Account", peaked at number 12 on theBillboard Hot 100.[58][59] Later that year, he was featured onPost Malone's single "Rockstar", which peaked at number one on theBillboard Hot 100 and broke numerous records. It became 21 Savage's first number-one song and was later certified Diamond by theRIAA.[8][60][61][62][63]
On October 31, 2017, a collaborative studio album by 21 Savage,Offset, and Metro Boomin titledWithout Warning was released.Without Warning debuted at number four on the USBillboard 200[64] and received generally positive reviews from critics. Its lead single, "Ric Flair Drip" peaked at number 13 on theBillboard Hot 100.[65][66]
In April 2018, 21 Savage had a guest appearance onYoung Thug's extended playHear No Evil along with fellow rappersNicki Minaj andLil Uzi Vert.[67] Later that month, he also appeared on the single "Outstanding" bySahBabii.[68] On March 21, 2018, he was featured on the single "Rover 2.0", which is part ofBlocBoy JB'sSimi mixtape.[69][70] In the following month, he was featured onTy Dolla Sign's "Clout", which was part of the deluxe edition of his albumBeach House 3.[71]
On October 31, 2018, 21 Savage posted on his Instagram a picture of a man in silhouette jumping in the air in the direction away from a large blaze. In the bottom right corner of the picture there was a "Parental Advisory" notice, as there oftentimes is on the cover of rap releases. 21 Savage also tagged Metro Boomin in the post. For these reasons, some speculated it to be a sequel to 2017'sWithout Warning album. However, it turned out to be the cover for Metro's debut solo album,Not All Heroes Wear Capes.[72]
On December 6, 2018, 21 Savage posted cover art for his album,I Am > I Was, on Instagram, which features a blurred out image of himself, captioning the image with a number of goatemojis.[73] The next day, 21 Savage took toTwitter and his Instagram story to apologize that he "forgot" to release the album, saying on Twitter: "Dam I forgot to drop my album my bad y'all".[74] He announced a new date of December 21, 2018.[75] The track-list was leaked by record producerLouis Bell via his Instagram story on December 13, 2018.[76][77] 21 Savage released his second studio albumI Am > I Was on December 21, 2018, with features fromTravis Scott,Post Malone,Childish Gambino,Offset,J. Cole,Gunna,Lil Baby,Project Pat,Yung Miami, andSchoolboy Q.[78][79] None of those acts, however, are credited as artists on the album.I Am > I Was debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200, earning 131,000album-equivalent units (including 18,000 pure album sales), making it 21 Savage's first US number one album.[80][81] It was led by "A Lot", featuring vocals from J. Cole. The song peaked at number 12 on the USBillboard Hot 100 and earned 21 Savage his first Grammy award.[82][83] Through 2019, 21 Savage released only one song named "Immortal".
2020–2023:Savage Mode II,Spiral soundtrack, andHer Loss
In February 2020, 21 Savage and longtime collaboratorMetro Boomin hinted at the release of a sequel to theirSavage Mode extended play calledSavage Mode II.[84] On September 28, 2020, a teaser trailer forSavage Mode II, directed by Gibson Hazard was released, with a narration fromMorgan Freeman, announcing the release date of October 2.[85] The collaborative album peaked at number one on theBillboard 200, debuting wit 171,000 first week sales.[86] The album included two top-ten singles, "Runnin", and "Mr. Right Now", featuringDrake.
In April 2021, 21 Savage announced the release of his new EP,Spiral, serving as the official soundtrack to the filmSpiral: From the Book of Saw.[87] 21 Savage was featured alongsideJustin Bieber onDJ Khaled's April 2021-released single "Let It Go" from Khaled's twelfth studio album,Khaled Khaled.[87] On May 14, 2021, he released an EP titledSpiral, serving as the official soundtrack to the filmSpiral: From the Book of Saw.[87] The same day, he was featured on the track "My Life" off ofJ. Cole's sixth studio album,The Off-Season. The track peaked at number two on theBillboard Hot 100.[88] Months later, in October 2021, Abraham-Joseph appeared as a feature on the remix ofNardo Wick's "Who Want Smoke?" alongsideG Herbo andLil Durk.[89][90] The track peaked at number seventeen on theBillboard Hot 100 and was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA. On November 16, 2021, Savage appeared as a feature onDrake's "Knife Talk" alongsideProject Pat from his September 2021,Certified Lover Boy.[91] The track peaked at number four on theBillboard Hot 100 and was later certified 5× Platinum by the RIAA.[92]
On January 14, 2022, 21 Savage appeared as a feature alongsideBaby Tate onJID's "Surround Sound".[93][94] On February 4, 2022, 21 Savage was featured on the single "Don't Play That" by Chicago rapperKing Von, as the first single for the posthumous albumWhat It Means to Be King. The single was accompanied by a related music video. The tune peaked at number 40 onBillboard Hot 100, and at number 59 onBillboard Global 200.[95] On March 11, 2022, Savage appeared as a feature onLatto's "Wheelie", the third single from her sophomore album,777.[96] Months later, on June 10, 2022, Savage appeared as a feature alongsideTyler, the Creator onPharrell Williams' "Cash In Cash Out".[97] Just a week later, on June 17, 2022, 21 Savage appeared as a feature on "Jimmy Cooks", the outro track of Drake's seventh studio album,Honestly, Nevermind.[98] The track debuted at the number one position theBillboard Hot 100, marking Savage's second chart-topping single.[99] The track was later re-released as a single on October 11, 2022. Just over a week later, on October 22, 2022, Drake and 21 Savage released the official music video for "Jimmy Cooks", announcing the release of the two's collaborative studio album,Her Loss, which was released on November 4, 2022.[100] Upon release, the album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 with 404,000 units, marking Abraham-Joseph's fifth top ten entry and his third consecutive album to top the charts.[101] All sixteen tracks from the album debuted on theBillboard Hot 100, while eight of them appeared in the top ten.[102]
On January 8, 2024, 21 Savage announced that abiopic titledAmerican Dream: The 21 Savage Story was coming soon and was set to feature himself,Donald Glover andCaleb McLaughlin as the leads. However on January 24, Savage confirmed onShannon Sharpe's podcast,Club Shay Shay that the movie does not exist and its “trailer” is a parody.[121][122]
Called "one of the last real streetniggas left making music" by frequent collaboratorMetro Boomin,[129] 21 Savage's music is heavily autobiographic with an emphasis on violent and criminal aspects of his past, including alleged murder and drug dealing.[44] Vocally, he is known for his "trademark villainous monotonedrawl".[130] His musical style is influenced byThree 6 Mafia.[131]
Philanthropy
In early August 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, 21 Savage hosted the "Issa Back to School Drive" (named after his albumIssa Album) in his home neighborhood inAtlanta. The drive gave free haircuts, hairstyles, supplies, and school uniforms.
In March 2018, 21 Savage announced the creation of the 21 Savage Bank Account Campaign (named after his hit song "Bank Account") onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, he also announced that he was donating $21,000 to the cause. He stated, "I started the 21 Savage Bank Account Campaign and it's to help kids learn how to save money and make money, and open bank accounts for kids."[132] Four months later, he donated $10,000 to Atlanta's Continental Colony Elementary School to fund an anti-bullying campaign.[133]
On July 1, 2020, 21 Savage announced he was launching a free onlinefinancial literacy education program for kids and teenagers stuck at home during theCOVID-19 pandemic, saying, "I feel like it's important more than ever to give our next generation the tools to succeed in life." The program includes a partnership with Atlanta mayorKeisha Lance Bottoms to provide free tablets and WiFi to underserved students in Atlanta.[134]
In 2018, 21 Savage reportedly started a movement called "Guns Down, Paintballs Up" which was intended to reduce gun violence by suggesting the use ofpaintball guns instead of lethal firearms.[142] The head of theDetroit Police Department,James Craig, described the movement as "well-intentioned, however, misguided", after several incidents involving paintball guns later resulted in injuries, disorderly conduct involving large groups of people with paintball guns, property vandalism (e.g., of police vehicles), violent reprisals, and the mistaking of paintball guns for firearms.[143][144] The movement has been linked to several cases of property crime and homicide.[142][145] 21 Savage has not commented on the matter, although he paid for the funeral of a 3-year-old who was killed in a related incident.[142][145]
"ASMR", a song from 21 Savage's second studio albumI Am > I Was, caused some controversy with its lyrics. The lyrics included the line, "We been gettin' thatJewish money, everything is kosher." The lyrics came under fire for perpetuating negative Jewish stereotypes whenLeBron James shared an Instagram story quoting the track.[146] 21 Savage later apologized, saying on Twitter, "The Jewish people I know are very wise with there [sic] money so that's why I said we been gettin' Jewish money. I never thought anyone would take offense, I'm sorry if I offended everybody, never my intention – I love all people with all my heart."[147]
In November 2020, 21 Savage's half brother, Terrell Davis ("TM1Way"), was stabbed to death inLambeth, London.[148]
Feuds
In early 2020, a feud between 21 Savage and American producerYoung Chop arose after Chop insulted 21 Savage on anInstagram livestream.[149] On April 6, while reportedly taking anUber in 21 Savage's neighborhood in an attempt to find where he lived, Chop stated that an unknown gunman fired at his car, but he was not injured. No other sources have confirmed whether or not this story is true and no gunshots were captured on the video in which he made the accusation.[150]
Controversy arose after 21 Savage pulled out a firearm during apool party on June 10, 2018.[152] 21 Savage had been given the firearm by a friend after seeing an opposing crew member also pull out a pistol.[153]
On February 15, 2019, 21 Savage turned himself in to authorities and was booked into a south Georgia jail in response to a warrant for his arrest for felonytheft by deception. This dispute surrounds a gig arranged in 2016 for which the rapper allegedly accepted a payment of $17,000 to appear at a concert, but did not appear and did not give back the money. He was released on his own recognizance, pending a court hearing on a later date to resolve the charge.[154][155]
Illegal immigration charges
On February 3, 2019, just two days after releasing the music video for his single "A Lot", 21 Savage was taken into custody by theU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a vehicle was pulled over that contained him and his cousin,Young Nudy, and two other men. Young Nudy and the two other men had been targeted in an operation involving charges ofaggravated assault and violation of the Georgia Gang Act.[156]21 Savage later alleged that he was personally also targeted in the operation.[30]After his arrest, ICE revealed that 21 Savage is aBritish national who has been in the United States unlawfully since his non-immigrant visa expired in July 2006. 21 Savage's management team expresses he has been trying to get his visa renewed since the year 2017. Before this, 21 Savage had commonly been believed to be a native of the Atlanta area – e.g.,Interview magazine had reported in an interview withSeth Rogen in April 2018 that the rapper's birthplace was Atlanta, Georgia, and in a 2016 interview withXXL Magazine, he said he was "from Decatur, Georgia" (which is in theAtlanta metropolitan area).[35][157][158][159]
A spokesperson for ICE said of 21 Savage, "His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and overstayed his visa."[160] Abirth certificate then surfaced showing that 21 Savage was born inNewham, London on October 22, 1992, which indicates that he had been 12 years old in July 2005 – not "a teen."[23][161] Moreover, he had first entered the U.S. at age 7, only leaving in 2005 to attend his uncle's funeral and re-entering that same year.[30] His attorney acknowledged that 21 Savage had overstayed the expired visa, but said that he had not attempted to hide his background, and said that theDepartment of Homeland Security had been aware that in 2017 he had applied for aU visa – a non-immigrant visa offered to crime victims and their family members who assist law enforcement officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.[36]
21 Savage was released from ICE's custody on February 13, 2019. An immigration hearing for his case was scheduled for April 9 of the same year, but postponed indefinitely due to court backlogs.[162] 21 Savage's immigration case was further delayed after he was charged with other crimes in January 2022.[163]
On October 5, 2023, rapperDrake released the single "8AM in Charlotte", on which he claimed that 21 Savage had received agreen card.[164] 21 Savage and his attorney confirmed the claim the following day.[165][166]
Lawsuits
In November 2022, 21 Savage andDrake were sued byCondé Nast, the publisher ofVogue magazine, for using theVogue name without permission to promote their collaborative albumHer Loss.[167][168]
^Aswad, Jem (February 3, 2019)."21 Savage Arrested by ICE, May Be Deported".Variety.Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2019.21 Savage – whose real name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph and has long claimed to be from Atlanta
^"ICE arrests rapper 21 Savage, says he's actually from UK".WSBTV. February 3, 2019.Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2019.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested unlawfully present United Kingdom national Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph AKA "21 Savage" during a targeted operation with federal and local law enforcement partners early Sunday in metro Atlanta.
^Caramanica, Jon (February 6, 2019)."21 Savage, American Rapper".The New York Times.Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 7, 2019.His parents both being raised in the UK with his mother's family being from the Caribbean Island of Dominica.
^abAbraham-Joseph, Shéyaa (November 3, 2016)."21 Savage Breaks Down the Lyrics to 'No Heart'".Rap Genius.Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 7, 2019.Yeah, my folks Haitian. Like, I'm Haitian. You know what I'm saying. My granddaddy Haitian.
^Rogen, Seth (April 26, 2018)."21 Savage".Interview.Archived from the original on February 6, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2019.Born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph in Atlanta, Georgia...
