Earlier this month, before 21 Savage released his new album American Dream, he hyped up the project with a trailer for a movie. It was called American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, starring Donald Glover and Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin portraying the rapper at different points in his life.
However, 21 has a bit of a history with trickery, like when he and Drake did a mock Vogue cover to promote their album Her Loss. So, what’s the deal with the American Dream movie?
Is The 21 Savage ‘American Dream’ Movie Real?
It’s not, no.
Savage made the reveal in an interview with Shannon Sharpe on a new episode of Club Shay Shay (as Complex notes). Sharpe asked if the movie was coming out soon, and Savage let the cat out of the bag, answering, “Nah, that was a parody.”
Sharpe was insistent that Savage’s life story actually could make for an interesting movie, though, to which the rapper replied, “I feel like it could be one day. They would hate on it now, though. Because they gon’ be like, ‘What the f*ck 21 Savage deserve a story for, a movie about him for? What he did?’ You know how they do.”
So, American Dream: The 21 Savage Story isn’t real, but we’ll always have the trailer, which you can revisit above. Also check out the full interview with Sharpe below.
21 Savage’s new album american dream arrived amid strange circumstances. It had no pre-release singles and was attached to a 21 biopic that left many fans more confused than excited. Despite that, the album performed quite well. american dream churned out 133k copies in its first week numbers that only a handful of rap albums released in 2023 managed to achieve. The Billboard 200 went through almost half of 2023 without a rap album topping the chart until Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape did it. With his new album, Savage assured there wouldn’t be such a streak this year. american dream debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard 200.
His new album isn’t the only one to debut high though. Kali Uchis also released her new album ORQUEDIAS to commercial and critical success. The album reached Kali’s highest point ever on the Billboard 200. It debuted at number 2 after pushing 69k, her highest-ever tracking sales week. The other high-profile rap album released earlier this month was Kid Cudi’s INSANO. Despite hype behind the project and some massive features, it couldn’t score a top-10 debut. The album turned up right outside of the top 10 placing at number 13 in its first week.
21 Savage is no stranger to the top of the Billboard 200. His first solo project to debut at number 1 was i am > i was back in 2018. Since then he hit number one with back to back collaborative albums. Both Savage Mode II with Metro Boomin in 2020 and Her Loss with Drake in 2022 topped the chart in their first weeks.
Savage also landed two songs in the top 10 of the Hot 100. “redrum” and “nee-nah” with Travis Scott and Metro Boomin landed at number 5 and 10 respectively on the songs chart. do you think of 21 Savage’s new album debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200? What about Kid Cudi’s INSANO failing to even crack the top 10 in its first week? Let us know in the comment section below.
21 Savage is back like he never left on his new album american dream, at least when it comes to his newest solo effort’s first-week sales. Moreover, new reports online indicate that the project sold 131K album-equivalent units in its first week, landing it at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. As such, fans may notice that these are the exact same sales numbers that his previous solo studio LP, i am > i was, sold in its first week over five years ago. Perhaps listeners and the media will portray this as a disappointment, but it’s more indicative of 21’s consistency quality and exposure-wise since 2018.
Furthermore, it’s nonetheless great to see that this album connected with a lot of people, both casual fans and die-hards alike. If you’ve been on hip-hop Twitter at all for the past couple of years, you know that some listeners have strong 21 Savage fatigue. This is because of his prolific features, collaborative full-lengths, and a firm adherence to the style that he’s most known for. But the “née-nah” MC still proves on this album that he can evolve, and we’ll see whether any track from it becomes a particular hit.
On that last point, it feels like american dream is much more of an album experience, similar to i am > i was. At least that tracklist had the massive hit “a lot,” whereas this new album doesn’t have that stellar standout commercially and critically… yet. After all, cuts like “redrum” could easily gain more steam as the year draws on, as the current era’s focus on virality means that release dates don’t matter when determining the hottest tracks today. Either way, 21 Savage should be very proud of what he and his team accomplished here, and these numbers show the fruits of their labor.
Meanwhile, with the Slaughter Gang boss’ biopic on the horizon (if it wasn’t just a rollout facade), this is another factor that could extend american dream‘s shelf life. No matter what you think about these numbers, one thing is for sure. It’s great to have hip-hop succeeding and impressing early in 2024, and setting up that momentum for the rest of the year. On that note, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on 21 Savage.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Like its namesake, 21 Savage‘s new album American Dream is full of glorious contradictions. In one moment, he maintains his fatalistic, sardonic outlook toward the street violence he’s depicted so eloquently throughout his career. In the next, he’s reflective, ruminating on the “Dark Days” following his incarceration for overstaying his childhood visa. There are competently executed love songs alongside groan-inducing fart jokes. In other words, 21 Savage is back like he never left — mostly because he didn’t.
While American Dream is the Atlanta-by-way-of-London rapper’s first full-length solo effort since 2018’s I Am > I Was, he’s kept busy with a string of collaborative projects and EPs that have not only seen him preserve his popularity but also sharpen his skills as a songwriter and as a rapper. The second Savage Mode with Metro Boomin celebrated and built on 21’s newfound notoriety from winning a Grammy with J. Cole in 2019, while Her Loss saw him apprentice himself to Drake, one of the highest-profile artists in hip-hop.
If Drake gave the younger rapper any pointers on securing his longevity in the public eye, he’s certainly put them to use. Where many rappers of his disposition and origin would be content to wear the mask of stony stoicism in the face of both personal and professional setbacks (not to mention, maintaining the image of a cold-eyed trap assassin), 21 has increasingly let his guard down over the past few years, revealing both a goofy sense of humor and a surprisingly sensitive side. His burgeoning vulnerability has endeared him to his audience even more, despite the ostensible incongruity with his music’s subject matter.
It also helps to anchor the ever-broadening array of tools and topics 21 employs on American Dream. While tracks like “Redrum” and “Dangerous” traverse well-worn territory for the lanky Atlantan, they coexist fairly cozily alongside latter-half ballads such as “Prove It” and “Just Like Me” with Burna Boy. 21 sounds equally convincing while threatening to turn “turn bullies to ashes” on “Dangerous” as he does lamenting that “you got accounts, but you don’t hold yourself accountable” over a jealous-but-justifiably-promiscuous lover on “Just Like Me.” (He also deserves some credit for making “accountable” rhyme with “banister” thanks to that peculiar southern drawl.)
It helps when he continues to utilize some of rap’s more engaging production, courtesy of hitmakers like Cardo (“Should’ve Wore A Bonnet”), London On Da Track (“Redrum”), OG Parker (“See The Real”), and of course, Metro Boomin, who contributes five beats. All five of those songs feature standout verses from guest rappers Lil Durk, Young Thug, and even Travis Scott, although the latter still bears an unfortunate lyrical resemblance to his disgraced mentor. The best of the guest spots come from Doja Cat on “N.H.I.E.,” who continues her recent hot streak with added flair — which was possibly inspired by Tierra Whack. Ad-lib!
However, while it’s fun to hear the supposedly remorseless serial killer play around with new sounds and stretch his creative muscles, the hook on “Pop Ur Sh*t” is so bad, you might have to grit your teeth to get to Thug’s verse — then immediately hit “skip.” Meanwhile, thoughtful songs like “Letter To My Brudda” and “Dark Days” almost make you wish that Savage would actually stretch further because he proves so insightful when he exposes his vulnerabilities that his therapeutic observations nearly threaten to undermine the murderous shenanigans.
American Dream could seem like a paradoxical hodgepodge of split personalities, but instead, it becomes a poignant metaphor for the concept of the American dream itself. While 21 Savage’s rags-to-riches narrative practically embodies the idealized, bootstrap-pulling success story that the nation’s leaders love to pat themselves on the backs over, the details reveal the failures and hypocrisies inherent to the system, as well. After all, no one should be forced to drag themselves out of poverty in the first place. That Savage did so while contemplating violence as a mundane fact of life when he could have been doing more all along is so on the nose, it hurts.
American Dream is out now on Slaughter Gang/Epic. You can get it here.
After releasing his highly-anticipated third studio album, american dream, 21 Savage is treating fans to an exclusive merch collection that captures the essence of his career. The 25-item collection features a range of streetwear, including bucket hats, hoodies, baseball jerseys, and vinyl options showcasing the rapper’s latest musical masterpiece.
The american dream merch line is a carefully curated capsule, blending fine art with streetwear aesthetics. Artists Andrew Agutos and Estéban Whiteside contribute paintings and sketches, infusing the collection with unique visuals. Specific themes like the “American Dream Baby Onesie” and “Should’ve Wore a Bonnet” highlight Savage’s narrative. At the same time, items like the “Metal Dice” and “Leather Bucket Hat” prominently feature the rapper’s signature dagger insignia, reinforcing his distinctive brand identity. Fans can now dive into this exclusive collection, experiencing a tangible connection to 21 Savage’s artistic vision.
British-American rapper 21 Savage released his third solo studio album this week, titled American Dream. The album is his first solo venture in over five years and follows his chart-topping 2022 collaborative effort with Drake, Her Loss. The latest outing from the rapper is sure to please fans, featuring murderous lyrics, witty wordplay, and impeccable beat selection. Here’s a comprehensive guide to American Dream and a review of the material within.
The Album Connects To An Upcoming Film
American Dream isn’t just a musical outing. The album also serves as a companion piece to an upcoming feature film of the same name, starring Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin. The trailer for the film was released days before the album and doubles as a music video for the opening track “All of Me.” The film likely tackles 21’s early days as a street-wise youth facing criminal persecution in Atlanta. At this time, we have very little information about the film’s plot, and this is only speculation.
This is further illustrated in American Dream with narration from 21’s mother. This narration bookends the album’s intro and outro tracks with inspiring words about her dreams for her son’s success and happiness. Despite these inclusions, the album lacks a cohesive through-line that thematically ties the material back to the premise promised by the title and imagery.
The overall aesthetic of American Dream may lead listeners to assume that the project is a meditation on the state of poverty or immigration in 21’s life. However, these concepts are rarely addressed and never fleshed out. Instead, the album serves as a loose assortment of tracks that cover topics such as gang activity, loyalty, romantic relationships, and flexing on apps with expensive possessions.
The closing track, “dark days,” is best at synthesizing concise ideas about the experience of Black Americans facing poverty and gang violence. It features compelling lyrics such as, “You say you love your switch, but it don’t lovе you back. You can hug that block all night, it ain’t gon’ hug you back.” The track provides thought-provoking illustrations of 21’s American experience, shedding light on his growth as an artist.
Historically speaking, 21 Savage is at his best lyrically when addressing mindless topics like expensive cars and loaded weaponry. But as the artist continues to mature in his sound and reach for more serious topics, he frequently falls short of finding anything significant to say about them.
Though it is mildly disappointing to see no Childish Gambino inclusions on the record, American Dream touts an all-star list of guests who provide excellent contributions to the album’s overall sound. Doja Cat stuns with her trademark blend of melody and humor on the track “n.h.i.e..” There, we see her using the word “ad-lib” as an actual ad-lib. Further, Young Thug briefly but notably appears on the track “pop ur sh**.” Unfortunately, it underwent censorship due to the rapper’s ongoing RICO case. The case seeks to utilize his lyrical content as evidence of actual crimes.
Meanwhile, Travis Scott raps like his bills are due on the track “née nah,” offering a rare glimpse into his energetic lyrical capabilities in place of his usual vocal passages, which are often drowning in autotune. Similarly, Summer Walker delivers a heavenly vocal performance on the track “prove it.” Finally, Metro Boomin appears on a myriad of tracks to provide unparalleled cohesive production. This proves that Metro and 21 have some of the best collaborative chemistry in the game.
Conclusion
21 Savage may not win over any haters with his latest endeavor, but fans will surely have this LP on repeat all year long. The album features some of his most ambitious work yet, layered atop production that steals the show at every turn. Releasing the album at the top of the year was a bold choice, considering the American Dream film isn’t set to release until July. However, the timing may be a perfect way to ensure this record continues to get spins throughout Summer 2024 and beyond.
Do not look now, but 21 Savage might have one of the great modern rap discographies in recent memory. According to AllHipHop, his third solo studio effort american dreamwill land at number one on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. This marks his fourth project to achieve this feat. The tapes that also achieved this feat were his collaborations with Drake on Her Loss and SAVAGE MODE II with Metro Boomin. Additionally, 21’s evolution on i am > i was earned him a top placement. His release over the weekend certainly deserved that coveted spot atop the heap with incredible tracks throughout.
Songs like “all of me,” “redrum,” “née-nah” with Travis Scott, and “letter to my brudda” are just a few examples of Savage being in his bag. Stats show that 21 will move close to 150,000 units. Other hip-hop and adjacent records that cracked the top 10 include Kali Uchis’ ORQUÍDEAS and Kid Cudi’s INSANO. The Latin R&B songstress will be around the first five with nearly 63,000 and Mr. Rager hovering close to 45,000.
Even though 21 Savage did not score number one tapes with Without Warning or the introductory Savage Mode, both are still viewed in high regard. A lot of people know how talented he is. However, the narrative lately is that he is getting repetitive. The opposite is quite true in some regard with american dream. While the approach remains familiar, Savage did bring some much improved writing over his recent features. Additionally, the sample flips and the inclusion of more personal tracks were a nice change. Overall, 21 Savage is seemingly winning a lot of people back, and for good reason.
What are your thoughts on 21 Savage going number one with his brand-new album american dream? Does he possess one of the best modern trap discographies, why or why not? Will he become one of the legends of Atlanta’s trap scene when his career is over? What songs are in your rotation from the project and why? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding 21 Savage. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
21 Savage adds another layer to his latest album, american dream, with the release of the music video for the London On Da Track-produced track, “redrum.”
Directed by British filmmaker Danny Seth, the video unfolds in Brixton, Savage’s hometown in London, during his homecoming trip in December—a significant return for the artist who hadn’t been to the UK since he was 12.
The video playfully challenges stereotypical depictions of London, opening with iconic symbols like Big Ben and red telephone booths. However, it swiftly transitions to showcase the authentic London as Brixton youth passionately rally around 21 Savage, emphasizing his undeniable connection to the city. The video captures the rapper’s triumphant return to the UK, marked by local support and a vibrant display of Brixton’s culture.
Exploring the success of 21 Savage’s album, it became intriguing to determine how much they have already earned from their new tracks. By meticulously analyzing the number of streams on popular music platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music, three most popular tracks were selected – “redrum”, “née-nah”, and “n.h.i.e.”, which collectively garnered a significant number of listens. For instance, “redrum” achieved 10,997,555 plays on Spotify and 4.8 million on YouTube Music and “née-nah” – 10 672 030 (Spotify), 1.3mln (YouTube Music). According to calculations by the comparison team from CasinospotFR, only on Spotify, the track “Redrum” generated a revenue of $43,990.22, while on YouTube Music, the same track earned $8,400.00. The total income from these three tracks on both platforms over a few days amounted to $136,355.84. We will continue to observe the further development and popularity of the album.
21 Savage’s new album american dream is off to a pretty great commercial start, reaching the No. 1 spot on Apple Music’s album charts. As such, the project is streaming very well, with plenty of tracklist highlights, lyrical gems, and layered instrumentals to dive into. We’ll see whether it keeps this performance up for the remainder of the year, and for the rest of his career in the game. Moreover, it’s still pretty early to call, but there’s a good chance folks will look at this as the ultimate Slaughter Gang album. Regardless of whether it lives up to these expectations over time, he should be very happy and proud right now.
Not only that, but this also contributes to other recent commercial metrics by which american dream is doing great. For example, HITS Daily Double recently reported the first week sales projections for the album, which might become 21 Savage’s biggest solo debut. Furthermore, it’s on pace to sell up to 150K first week; his last solo studio effort, i am > i was, sold 131K first week. If you’re curious, the 31-year-old’s collab albums between that project and this new one– those being 2020’s SAVAGE MODE II with Metro Boomin and 2022’s Her Loss with Drake– sold 171,000 and 404,000 units first-week, respectively.
However, all this success and pretty good reviews and reactions so far don’t mean that the american dream can’t change. 21 Savage recently took to Instagram to ask fans whether he should change a bar on the Young Thug collab “pop ur s**t” that is a little bit too on-brand with the song’s title. “Im happy yall like it, yall want me to change the poop bar?” he expressed on the social media platform. Another line that’s buzzing online right now is the alleged diss against Gunna on the track “letter to my brudda.”
Commercial success and potentially new lyrics aside, what did you think of american dream? Would you agree with folks like Kai Cenat that it’s at least an eight out of 10 or did 21 miss the mark a bit? Whatever the case, drop your thoughts in the comments section down below. Also, for more news and the latest updates on 21 Savage, log back into HNHH.
21 Savage’s american dream landed with a huge splash as arguably the first massive release of 2024 for the hip-hop genre– and music at large, for that matter. Moreover, it marked his solo return following 2018’s i am > i was, a statement which may ring truer today than it ever has before. In between, the Atlanta trap icon also released SAVAGE MODE II with Metro Boomin (2020) and Her Loss with Drake (2022). So, why talk about these previous releases in his catalog if we’re all focused on the 15 tracks he just dropped yesterday? Well, it’s because we have american dream‘s first week sales projections courtesy of HDD (HITS Daily Double).
Furthermore, if this album continues the pace it’s at right now, it could mark 21 Savage’s biggest solo album debut ever. To elaborate, the publication estimated that american dream is on pace to sell 130K to 150K album-equivalent units in its first week. For comparison, his 2018 project sold 131K copies first-week, so it seems like he’s in a comfortable range to commercially best himself. Still, this is solo material; the “née-nah” MC’s collab projects in between his most recent solo full-lengths, SAVAGE MODE II and Her Loss, sold 171K copies and 404K copies, respectively.
Regardless, american dream could very well debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts if it keeps up these numbers. But what do these sales matter at the end of the day when people just want 21 Savage to make the best music possible? Given that the album’s been out for less than 24 hours at press time, we’ll leave that debate open for another time. While there’s been plenty of positive reception and acclaim, some haters, and even potential disses on the LP against Gunna, all this conversation is still supplementary to how the record will age and perform throughout the year.
Meanwhile, there’s also the Slaughter Gang boss’ upcoming movie to think about, which will apparently star Donald Glover. Even though it would be amazing to see this biopic, it’s still a bit unclear whether its announcement was just a promo stunt for the album and nothing more. They did share a release date, so perhaps we’ll truly find out what’s up with it on July 4 this year. For more news and the latest updates on 21 Savage, check back in with HNHH.
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