Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as 21 Savage, is a rapper based in
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...
, United States. Born in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, he moved to Atlanta with his mother at age seven. He became known after releasing two mixtapes in 2015, before attaining international attention with the release of the collaborative
EP ''
Savage Mode
''Savage Mode'' is a collaborative extended play by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on July 15, 2016. The EP was self-released. The EP received acclaim from critics, with ''Rolling Stone' ...
'' (2016) with
Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
...
; its singles "
X" (featuring
Future) and "
No Heart" peaked within the top 40 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and 21 Savage's profile also later increased with a guest feature on
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
's 2016 single "
Sneakin'.
He then signed a
recording contract with
Epic Records in January 2017.
21 Savage's debut studio album, ''
Issa Album'' (2017), peaked at number two on the U.S.
''Billboard'' 200 and its lead single "
Bank Account
A bank account is a financial account maintained by a bank or other financial institution in which the financial transactions between the bank and a customer are recorded. Each financial institution sets the terms and conditions for each type of ...
" reached number 12 on the Hot 100. He then released the collaborative album ''
Without Warning'' (2017) with
Offset and Metro Boomin, with the song "
Ric Flair Drip
"Ric Flair Drip" is a song by American rapper Offset and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was included on their collaborative studio album with 21 Savage, '' Without Warning'' (2017). Upon the album's release, it charted at number 71 ...
" peaking at number 13 on the Hot 100, though that particular song did not feature him. 21 Savage featured on
Post Malone
Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his variegated vocals, Malone has gained acclaim for blending genres and subgenres of hip ...
's 2017 single "
Rockstar
Rock Star or Rockstar may refer to:
Films
* ''Rock Star'' (2001 film), an American film starring Mark Wahlberg
* ''Rockstar'' (2011 film), an Indian Hindi-language film by Imtiaz Ali
* ''Rockstar'' (2015 film), an Indian Malayalam-language fi ...
", which reached number one on the Hot 100 and nominated for
Record of the Year
The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without reg ...
and
Best Rap/Sung Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance (awarded as Best Rap/Sung Collaboration until 2017, and Best Rap/Sung Performance from 2018 to 2020) is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and original ...
at the
2019 Grammy Awards
The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys hosted. During her opening monologue, Keys brought out Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and fo ...
.
His second album, ''
I Am > I Was'' (2018), became his first U.S. number one album and spawned the hit song "
A Lot" (featuring
J. Cole), which won
Best Rap Song
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rap music genre. Honors in several c ...
at the
2020 Grammy Awards
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on January 26, 2020, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from October 1, 2018, to August 31, 2019. Ali ...
. 21 Savage's highly anticipated third album, ''
Savage Mode II
''Savage Mode II'' is a collaborative studio album by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2, 2020, and was previewed through a trailer with narration by Morgan Freeman. The album ...
'' (2020), a sequel collaboration with Metro Boomin to their 2016 EP, debuted atop the ''Billboard'' 200, and spawned the U.S. top 10 singles "
Runnin" and "
Mr. Right Now" (featuring
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
). In 2022, 21 Savage would be featured on Drake's song "
Jimmy Cooks
"Jimmy Cooks" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage. It was released on June 17, 2022, from Drake's seventh studio album ''Honestly, Nevermind''. The song is the only track from the album to have a guest appe ...
" from his album ''
Honestly, Nevermind
''Honestly, Nevermind'' is the seventh studio album by Canadian rapper and singer Drake, which was surprise-released on June 17, 2022, through OVO Sound and Republic Records. The album includes a sole guest feature from 21 Savage, and product ...
'', where it debuted at number one on the Hot 100, making it 21 Savage's second number one on the chart and his first number-one debut.
21 Savage was arrested by
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ICE's stated mission is to protect the United States from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration tha ...
(ICE) on February 3, 2019. Officials revealed his status as a British citizen who entered the U.S. in July 2005 and unlawfully overstayed a
H-4 visa
An H-4 visa is a United States visa issued to dependent family members of H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to allow them to travel to the United States to accompany or reunite with the principal visa holder. A dependent family m ...
that expired in 2006.
He was granted bond on February 12 and released the next day, pending the outcome of an expedited deportation hearing, which was initially scheduled for April 9, but was later postponed indefinitely,
with 21 Savage's lawyers stating he was legally residing in the U.S. for several years prior to the 2005 H-4 visa.
Early life
21 Savage was born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
on October 22, 1992, at
Newham University Hospital
Newham University Hospital is an acute general hospital situated in Plaistow in the London Borough of Newham. It is managed by Barts Health NHS Trust.
History
The hospital was built to replace Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End in Stratfo ...
in the
Plaistow area of London,
the son of Heather Carmillia Joseph and Kevin Cornelius Emmons. His parents are both British nationals
British nationality law prescribes the conditions under which a person is recognised as being a national of the United Kingdom. The six different classes of British nationality each have varying degrees of civil and political rights, due to the ...
with Caribbean origins; his mother's family is from Dominica, and his father's is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines () is an island country in the Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea w ...
. His father and twin sisters, dance choreographers Kyra and Jayda Davis, continue to live in London, where his father works for Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council is the local authority for the City of Westminster in Greater London, England. The city is divided into 20 wards, each electing three councillors. The council is currently composed of 31 Labour Party members and 23 Cons ...
, while his paternal grandfather was Haitian.
21 Savage's parents separated early in his life, and he moved at age seven with his mother to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...
.[ In June 2005, at the age of 12, he returned to the United Kingdom for his uncle's funeral, stayed for a month, and then went back to Atlanta on an ]H-4 visa
An H-4 visa is a United States visa issued to dependent family members of H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to allow them to travel to the United States to accompany or reunite with the principal visa holder. A dependent family m ...
on July 22, 2005, which allegedly expired a year later.[ 21 Savage's mother then began a relationship with Dr. Amsu Anpu, an ]endocrinologist
Endocrinology (from ''endocrine'' + '' -ology'') is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental events ...
and British expatriate, with whom she had more children. He had a brother Quantivayus ("Tay-Man") who died in a shooting after an attempted drug deal
The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs through ...
.
In seventh grade, 21 Savage was banned permanently from every school in DeKalb County School District
The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is a school district headquartered at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, near Stone Mountain and in the Atlanta metropolitan area. DCSD operates ...
for gun possession. This led him to begin attending schools around the Atlanta metropolitan area before being sent to a juvenile detention center. 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. After dropping out, he joined a local street gang affiliated with the wider Bloods
The Bloods are a primarily African-American street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. It is identified by the red color worn by its members and by particular gang symbols, includ ...
gang and became a full-time drug dealer,[ mainly selling ]cannabis
''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...
. 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. In 2011, when he was 19, his "right-hand man" Larry was killed in a shootout. In 2013, during an attempted robbery on his 21st birthday, 21 Savage was shot six times by rival gang members and his best friend Johnny was killed.[
]
Career
2014–2015: Early releases, ''The Slaughter Tape'', and ''Slaughter King''
Following the death of his friend in a shootout on his 21st birthday, 21 Savage began rapping. His music career was originally subsidized by his deceased friend's uncle, who gave him money for studio time in 2013. On November 12, 2014, 21 Savage's debut single, "Picky", produced by DJ Plugg, was released. It was later included on his debut mixtape, '' The Slaughter Tape'', which was released on May 25, 2015. The release made him what '' Interview Magazine'' called an "underground hero in Atlanta".
On July 2, 2015, 21 Savage released a collaborative EP, ''Free Guwop'', with Sonny Digital
Sonny Corey Uwaezuoke (born March 5, 1991), better known by his stage name Sonny Digital, is an American record producer, rapper, and DJ. . It is a tribute EP to fellow rapper and influence Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, ...
. On December 1, 2015, 21 Savage released his second mixtape, '' Slaughter King''.
2016–2017: ''Savage Mode'', ''Issa Album'', and ''Without Warning''
In June 2016, 21 Savage was named as one of the "Freshman Class" of 2016 by '' XXL''. On July 15, 2016, 21 Savage released his joint EP ''Savage Mode
''Savage Mode'' is a collaborative extended play by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on July 15, 2016. The EP was self-released. The EP received acclaim from critics, with ''Rolling Stone' ...
'' with Atlanta-based record producer Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
...
. The EP gained international success and peaked at number 23 on the ''Billboard'' 200, which became their highest charting EP to date. In November 2016, he was on the cover of ''The Fader''. The ''Savage Mode'' single " X" featuring Future was confirmed by ''Billboard'' as going platinum in the US, being 21's first platinum record. On January 18, 2017, 21 Savage announced that he had signed to Epic Records.
In 2017, his debut studio album, '' Issa Album'', debuted at number two on the US ''Billboard'' 200. Its lead single, "Bank Account
A bank account is a financial account maintained by a bank or other financial institution in which the financial transactions between the bank and a customer are recorded. Each financial institution sets the terms and conditions for each type of ...
", peaked at number 12 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Later that year, he was featured on Post Malone
Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his variegated vocals, Malone has gained acclaim for blending genres and subgenres of hip ...
's single "Rockstar
Rock Star or Rockstar may refer to:
Films
* ''Rock Star'' (2001 film), an American film starring Mark Wahlberg
* ''Rockstar'' (2011 film), an Indian Hindi-language film by Imtiaz Ali
* ''Rockstar'' (2015 film), an Indian Malayalam-language fi ...
", which peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and broke numerous records. It became 21 Savage's first number-one song and was later certified Diamond by the RIAA.
On October 31, 2017, a collaborative studio album by 21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin titled '' Without Warning'' was released. ''Without Warning'' debuted at number four on the US ''Billboard'' 200 and received generally positive reviews from critics. Its lead single, "Ric Flair Drip
"Ric Flair Drip" is a song by American rapper Offset and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was included on their collaborative studio album with 21 Savage, '' Without Warning'' (2017). Upon the album's release, it charted at number 71 ...
" peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
2018–19: ''I Am > I Was''
In April 2018, 21 Savage had a guest appearance on Young Thug
Jeffery Lamar Williams (born August 16, 1991), known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is considered to be an influential figure of his generation, with his music impacting the modern sound of hip ...
's extended play '' Hear No Evil'' along with fellow rappers Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated Flow (rapping), flow in her rapping, alter e ...
and Lil Uzi Vert
Symere Bysil Woods ( ; born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. They are characterized by their facial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous fashion, ima ...
. Later that month, he also appeared on the single "Outstanding" by SahBabii. On March 21, 2018, he was featured on the single "Rover 2.0", which is part of BlocBoy JB's '' Simi'' mixtape. In the following month, he was featured on Ty Dolla Sign
Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained major recognition in 2010 for his feature on Ameri ...
's "Clout", which was part of the deluxe edition of his album '' Beach House 3''.
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's ''Without Warning'' album. However, it turned out to be the cover for Metro's debut solo album, ''Not All Heroes Wear Capes
''Not All Heroes Wear Capes'' (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on by Boominati Worldwide and Republic Records on November 2, 2018. The album features guest appearances from ...
''.
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 goat emojis. The next day, 21 Savage took to Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
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". He announced a new date of December 21, 2018. The track-list was leaked by record producer Louis Bell
Louis Russell Bell (born May 27, 1982) is an American record producer, vocal producer, songwriter, and mixing engineer. Bell's work includes production for Post Malone, Camila Cabello, Halsey, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, 5 Seconds of Summer, ...
via his Instagram story on December 13, 2018. 21 Savage released his second studio album ''I Am > I Was'' on December 21, 2018, with features from Travis Scott, Post Malone
Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his variegated vocals, Malone has gained acclaim for blending genres and subgenres of hip ...
, Childish Gambino, Offset, J. Cole, Gunna, Lil Baby
Dominique Armani Jones (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to mainstream fame in 2017 following the release of his mixtape ''Perfect Timing''. *Alt URL* * His deb ...
, Project Pat
Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia.
Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
, Yung Miami, and Schoolboy Q
Quincy Matthew Hanley (born October 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q (stylized as ScHoolboy Q), is an American rapper. In 2009, Hanley signed to Carson-based independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and in late ...
. None of those acts, however, are credited as artists on the album. ''I Am > I Was'' debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, earning 131,000 album-equivalent unit
The album-equivalent unit, or album equivalent, is a measurement unit in music industry to define the consumption of music that equals the purchase of one album copy. This consumption includes streaming and song downloads in addition to traditio ...
s (including 18,000 pure album sales), making it 21 Savage's first US number one album. It was led by " A Lot", featuring vocals from J. Cole. The song peaked at number 12 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and earned 21 his first Grammy award. Through 2019, 21 Savage released only one song named "Immortal
Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life.
Immortal or Immortality may also refer to:
Film
* ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film
* ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film ''The Wisdom of ...
".
2020–present: ''Savage Mode II'', ''Spiral'' soundtrack, and ''Her Loss''
In February 2020, 21 and longtime collaborator Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
...
hinted at the release of a sequel to their ''Savage Mode
''Savage Mode'' is a collaborative extended play by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on July 15, 2016. The EP was self-released. The EP received acclaim from critics, with ''Rolling Stone' ...
'' extended play called ''Savage Mode II
''Savage Mode II'' is a collaborative studio album by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2, 2020, and was previewed through a trailer with narration by Morgan Freeman. The album ...
''. On September 28, 2020, a teaser trailer for ''Savage Mode II'', directed by Gibson Hazard was released, with a narration from Morgan Freeman, announcing the release date of October 2. The collaborative album peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 and included two top-ten singles, " Runnin", and " Mr. Right Now", featuring Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
.
21 was featured alongside Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...
on DJ Khaled
Khaled Mohammed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, record producer and rapper.
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station 99 Jamz, a ...
's April 2021-released single "Let It Go
"Let It Go" is a song from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney's 2013 computer-animated feature film ''Frozen (2013 film), Frozen'', whose music and lyrics were composed by husband-and-wife songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert L ...
" from Khaled's twelfth studio album, '' Khaled Khaled''. On May 14, 2021, he released an EP titled '' Spiral'', serving as the official soundtrack to the film '' Spiral: From the Book of Saw''. The same day, he was featured on the track "My Life My Life may refer to:
Autobiographies
* ''Mein Leben'' (Wagner) (''My Life''), by Richard Wagner, 1870
* ''My Life'' (Clinton autobiography), by Bill Clinton, 2004
* ''My Life'' (Meir autobiography), by Golda Meir, 1973
* ''My Life'' (Mosley a ...
" off of J. Cole's sixth studio album, ''The Off-Season
''The Off-Season'' is the sixth studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on May 14, 2021, by Dreamville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records. The album was executive produced by Cole, Moss, Ibrahim Hamad, and T-Minus. It ...
''. The track peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
announced a collaboration studio album with 21, '' Her Loss'', releasing on October 28, 2022.
Musical style
Called "one of the last real street niggas left making music" by frequent collaborator Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
...
, 21 Savage's music is heavily autobiographic with an emphasis on violent and criminal aspects of his past, including murder and drug dealing. Vocally, he is known for his "trademark villainous monotone drawl
A drawl is a perceived feature of some varieties of spoken English and generally indicates slower, longer vowel sounds and diphthongs. The drawl is often perceived as a method of speaking more slowly and may be erroneously attributed to laziness ...
". His musical style is influenced by Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip hop group, they would eventually go on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album ''Mystic Stylez'' ...
.
Philanthropy
In early August 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, 21 Savage hosted the "Issa Back to School Drive" (named after his album '' Issa Album'') in his home neighborhood in Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
. 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
A bank account is a financial account maintained by a bank or other financial institution in which the financial transactions between the bank and a customer are recorded. Each financial institution sets the terms and conditions for each type of ...
") on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show
''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' (often shortened to ''Ellen'' or ''The Ellen Show'') is an American daytime television variety comedy talk show that was created and hosted by its namesake Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it was pro ...
'', 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." Four months later, he donated $10,000 to Atlanta's Continental Colony Elementary School to fund an anti-bullying campaign.
On July 1, 2020, 21 Savage announced he was launching a free online financial literacy
Financial literacy is the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources. Raising interest in personal finance is now a focus of state-run progr ...
education program for kids and teenagers stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, 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 mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to provide free tablets and WiFi to underserved students in Atlanta.
Personal life
21 Savage and his mother are both adherents of the traditional West African religion Ifá. In June 2017, he started dating model Amber Rose
Amber Rose Levonchuck (born October 21, 1983) is an American model and television personality. She first gained attention after she appeared in the music video for Young Jeezy and Kanye West's single " Put On". In 2008, Rose began a high-profil ...
, but had separated in May 2018.
In October 2017, he began taking flying lessons in a Cirrus SR20
The Cirrus SR20 is an American piston-engined, four- or five-seat composite monoplane built since 1999 by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota. The aircraft is the company's earliest type-certified model, earning certification in 1998.
It was t ...
single-engine aircraft.
In November 2020, 21 Savage's half brother, Terrell Davis ("TM1Way"), was stabbed to death in Lambeth, London
Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area ...
.
He is a fan of English Premier League team Arsenal.
Legal issues and controversies
Drug conviction
21 Savage was convicted of felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is located in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,066,710, making it the state's most-populous county and its only one with over o ...
.
Weapons
In 2018, 21 Savage reportedly started a movement called "Guns Down, Paintballs Up" which was intended to reduce gun violence by suggesting the use of paintball guns
A paintball marker, also known as a paintball gun, paint gun, or simply marker, is an air gun used in the shooting sport of paintball, and the main piece of paintball equipment. Paintball markers use compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) ...
instead of lethal firearms. The head of the Detroit Police Department
The Detroit Police Department (DPD) is a municipal police force based in and responsible for the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1865, it has nearly 2,500 officers, making it the largest law enforcement organization in Michigan.
Histo ...
, 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. The movement has been linked to several cases of property crime and homicide. 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.
Controversy arose after 21 Savage pulled out a firearm during a pool party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...
on June 10, 2018. 21 Savage had been given the firearm by a friend after seeing an opposing crew member also pull out a pistol.
Lyrics
"ASMR", a song from 21 Savage's second studio album ''I Am > I Was'', caused some controversy with its lyrics. The lyrics included the line, "We been gettin' that Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
money, everything is kosher." The lyrics came under fire for perpetuating negative Jewish stereotypes when LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is widely considered one of the greatest p ...
shared an Instagram story quoting the track. 21 Savage later apologized, saying on Twitter, "The Jewish people I know are very wise with there 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."
Arrest on 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 the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ICE's stated mission is to protect the United States from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration tha ...
(ICE) after a vehicle was pulled over that contained him and his cousin, Young Nudy
Quantavious Tavario Thomas (born December 17, 1992), known professionally as Young Nudy, is an American rapper. Thomas is best known for his mixtapes ''Slimeball'' (2016), ''Slimeball 2'' (2017), and '' Slimeball 3'' (2018), and his collaborativ ...
, and two other men. Young Nudy and the two other men had been targeted in an operation involving charges of aggravated assault and violation of the Georgia Gang Act.
21 Savage later alleged that he was personally also targeted in the operation.
After his arrest, ICE revealed that 21 Savage is a British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
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
An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...
'' magazine had reported in an interview with Seth Rogen
Seth Aaron Rogen (; born April 15, 1982) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian and filmmaker. Originally a stand-up comedian in Vancouver, he moved to Los Angeles for a part in Judd Apatow's series '' Freaks and Geeks'', and then got a part o ...
in April 2018 that the rapper's birthplace was Atlanta, Georgia, and in a 2016 interview with ''XXL Magazine
''XXL'' is an American hip hop magazine, published by Townsquare Media, founded in 1997.
History
In August 1997, Harris Publications released the first issue of ''XXL''. It featured rappers Jay-Z and Master P on a double cover. In December 20 ...
'', he said he was "from Decatur, Georgia" (which is in the Atlanta metropolitan area).[
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." A ]birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a person. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensui ...
then surfaced showing that 21 Savage was born in Newham, London on October 22, 1992, which indicates that he had been 12 years old in July 2005 – not "a teen."[ Moreover, he had first entered the U.S. at the age of 7, only leaving in 2005 to attend his uncle's funeral and re-entering that same year.][ 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 the ]Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terr ...
had been aware that in 2017 he had applied for a U visa
The U visa is a United States nonimmigrant visa which is set aside for victims of crimes (and their immediate family members) who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse while in the U.S. and who are willing to assist law enforcement an ...
a type of non-immigrant visa offered to crime victims and their family members who are willing to assist law enforcement officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
21 Savage has been released from ICE's custody; however, his case is still pending. He is allowed to move around the US, but cannot travel abroad.
Theft by deception charges
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 felony theft 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.
Feuds
In early 2020, a feud between 21 Savage and American producer Young Chop
Tyree Lamar Pittman (born November 14, 1993), better known by his stage name Young Chop, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. In 2012, he gained widespread recognition within the American hip hop community for producing Chief K ...
arose after Chop insulted 21 Savage on an Instagram livestream. On April 6, while reportedly taking an Uber
Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber), based in San Francisco, provides mobility as a service, ride-hailing (allowing users to book a car and driver to transport them in a way similar to a taxi), food delivery (Uber Eats and Postmates), packa ...
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.
Lawsuits
In November 2022, 21 Savage and Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
were sued by Condé Nast
Condé Nast () is a global mass media company founded in 1909 by Condé Montrose Nast, and owned by Advance Publications. Its headquarters are located at One World Trade Center in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.
The company's media ...
, the publisher of ''Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine
** ''Vogue China'', ...
'' magazine, for using the ''Vogue'' name without permission to promote their collaborative album '' Her Loss''.
Discography
;Studio albums
*'' Issa Album'' (2017)
* ''I Am > I Was'' (2018)
;Collaborative albums
* ''Savage Mode
''Savage Mode'' is a collaborative extended play by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on July 15, 2016. The EP was self-released. The EP received acclaim from critics, with ''Rolling Stone' ...
'' (2016)
*'' Without Warning'' (2017)
*''Savage Mode II
''Savage Mode II'' is a collaborative studio album by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2, 2020, and was previewed through a trailer with narration by Morgan Freeman. The album ...
'' (2020)
* '' Her Loss'' (2022)
Filmography
In 2017, it was reported that 21 Savage was guest starred in the movie The Trap and working on his debut film, ''Issa Movie''.
21 Savage has also worked on a YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
animated
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...
mini-series named ''Year 2100''.
Tours
Headlining
* ''Issa Tour'' (2017)
* ''Numb the Pain Tour'' (2017)
*''I Am > I Was'' Tour (2019)
Co-headlining
* The Off-Season Tour
The Off-Season Tour was a co-headlining concert tour by American recording artist J. Cole, and rapper 21 Savage, in support of Cole's sixth studio album ''The Off-Season'' (2021). The tour began on September 24, 2021 in Miami at the FTX Arena, ...
(2021)
Opening act
* ''HiHorse'd Tour'' (2016)
* Beerbongs & Bentleys Tour (2018)
Awards and nominations
See also
* List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
This is a list of artists who have reached number one on the UK Singles Chart as recorded by the Official Charts Company.
Artists are listed alphabetically, solo artists are listed by surname and groups are listed by full names excluding "the" o ...
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
1992 births
Black British male rappers
Bloods
British emigrants to the United States
English people of Dominica descent
English people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent
British people of Haitian descent
Horrorcore artists
Living people
Mumble rappers
People from Plaistow, Newham
Rappers from Atlanta
Rappers from London
Southern hip hop musicians
Grammy Award winners for rap music
Epic Records artists
Gangsta rappers
Trap musicians