"Runnin" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper

21 Savage Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as 21 Savage, is a rapper based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Born in London, he moved to Atlanta with his mother at age seven. He became known after releasing two m ...

and American

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

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. R ...

. It was released on October 2, 2020, as the opening track from their collaborative album '' Savage Mode II''. The "haunting" song samples

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...

' 1976 song "

I Thought It Took a Little Time ''Diana Ross'' is the seventh studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on February 10, 1976 by Motown Records. It is her second self-titled record after '' Diana Ross'' (1970). It reached #5 in the USA (4 R&B) and sold over 700,000 ...

", with 21 Savage delivering lethal threats to his enemies in a casual fashion. The official video sees 21 take a victory lap through the streets of his hometown, celebrating his Grammy award for " A Lot". It was serviced to US rhythmic radio on October 13, 2020, together with "

Mr. Right Now "Mr. Right Now" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin from their collaborative album ''Savage Mode II''. It features Canadian rapper Drake, who garnered attention for his verse in which he alludes ...

" as the dual lead singles from the album. Debuting and peaking at number nine on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, it is Metro Boomin's highest charting song as a lead artist; it was also 21 Savage's highest charting song as a lead artist until the release of "

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 ...

" with

J. Cole Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his d ...

and

Morray Morae Ebony Ruffin (born September 9, 1992), known professionally as Morray, is an American rapper and singer from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He received widespread recognition in 2020 with his debut single "Quicksand" and released his debut ...

, which debuted and peaked at number two.

Composition and lyrics

"Runnin" is a "soulful" and "spooky" track, with Metro Boomin converting a sample of

' 1976 song "

" into a "haunting" loop, built around an "ominous" set of drums. Lyrically, the song sees 21 Savage return to "the real, ultra-violent subject matter that brought him to the forefront of hip hop", as he delves into his "lethal tendencies", delivering lines about his arsenal of weapons and posing threats to enemies who refuse to stay in their place. The fast-paced beat coupled with 21's

flow Flow may refer to: Science and technology * Fluid flow, the motion of a gas or liquid * Flow (geomorphology), a type of mass wasting or slope movement in geomorphology * Flow (mathematics), a group action of the real numbers on a set * Flow (psych ...

"denotes that he can 'run' with the track". As with other tracks on the album, the song features narration by

Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director, and narrator. He is known for his distinctive deep voice and various roles in a wide variety of film genres. Throughout his career spanning over five decades, he has received ...

, who poses the question: "Are things better or worse the second time around?"

Critical reception

Rap-Up ''Rap-Up'' is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the ...

'' and '' Complex'' both regarded the song as a standout from the album, with ''Complex''s Jessica McKinney favoring the chorus, which, she stated, "while monotone, sends chills through the speakers". Noting the song's soul sample, Micah Peters of The Ringer said in contrast to 21 Savage's second album, '' I Am > I Was'', "Runnin' slithers back into someplace deep and murky, and crackles with the manic energy needed to adequately soundtrack a weekend's madness".

Revolt Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

's Jon Powell stated: "Presumably, the three-and-a-half minute long gesture is a statement to remind his listeners that he's 1 Savagestill the same man from the critically-acclaimed ''Slaughter'' mixtapes". Similarly, Dhruva Balram of ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' opined that "Runnin" follows the album's " elegiac theme, with Boomin's haunting production tailor-made for Savage's casual cadence and flow as he paints grisly scenes with a calm demeanour". In their album review, '' Consequence of Sound''s Rashad Grove wrote: "On 'Running', Boomin's dark, haunting production is tailor-made for Savage's rhythmic cadences, casual flow, and unapologetic rawness".

Music video

The official music video premiered less than a day after the album's release. It was shot in August 2020, as the video's intro displays: "On January 26th, 2020, Savage won the grammy for best rap song. On August 26th, 2020, him & Metro brought the grammy to Atlanta". In the visual, 21 Savage takes a tour through his hometown

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 ...

, while showing off his first Grammy award, which he won in January 2020 for

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 ...

for " A Lot". Sharing the celebration of his win and symbolizing motivation, 21 lets the trophy travel through the hands of various local residents; as noted by ''

'', one woman holds the Grammy in her hand while twerking on the hood of a car, while a skateboarder jumps over it. Metro Boomin, meanwhile, pays homage to rap duo

Three 6 Mafia Three 6 Mafia is an American Hip hop music, 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 ''Mys ...

, sporting their name on his shirt and wearing a MAGA-inspired hat, which reads "Make DJ Paul and Juicy J Three 6 Mafia again".

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Metro Boomin 2020 singles 2020 songs 21 Savage songs Metro Boomin songs Songs written by 21 Savage Songs written by Metro Boomin Song recordings produced by Metro Boomin Songs written by Michael Masser Songs written by Pam Sawyer Epic Records singles Republic Records singles