After four years, duo reunite to make a stellar ‘Savage Mode 2

“Metro Boomin want some more!” says Metro Boomin in the beginning of each of his songs.

Finally! After two years, Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, better known by his stage name 21 Savage, has released his fifth studio album “Savage Mode 2,” following his success from the 2018 album “i am> i was.” 

This time, 21 Savage has collaborated with producer Metro Boomin to create a sequel to their previous 2016 project “Savage Mode.” This will be their third album together after the 2017 album “Without Warning,” which established the two as one of the top rapper-producer duos in the industry.

When 21 Savage and Metro Boomin announced the release of this album on Sept. 28 via a promotional video on YouTube, I was extremely excited given that “No Heart” and “X” from “Savage Mode” had been some of my favorite songs back in 2016. 21 Savage’s mumble flow and creative beats distinguish him from others in the music industry. 

In his video, Savage stated that he would be taking a more cinematic approach to this album by connecting each song to each other, channeling his inner creativity with both beats and lyrics. 

“Savage Mode 2” contains 15 songs, including an intro and interlude, and features top artists Drake, Young Thug, and Young Nudy. 

Savage’s new approach is on full display during “Intro,” a fiery start to the album. “Intro” set the tone for the rest of the album, beginning with an introduction by actor Morgan Freeman and a dark, eerie beat by Metro Boomin before transitioning to the classic mumble flow of 21 Savage. 

Here are my Top 5 songs from the album: 

• 5.  “Steppin on N****s: While playing through the album, one song that really caught my attention was “Steppin on N****s.” The extremely uptempo beat and the catchy lyrics reminded me of a song from the 1980s, differentiating it from the rest of the album. Although short at two minutes, it is an excellent song to change the mood from overall sinister to an upbeat vibe. 
• 4. “Slidin”: In “Slidin,” 21 Savage showcases new vocal styles, an aspect that we have not seen much of before. This new flow paired with Metro Boomin’s creative beat, really allows 21 Savage’s verses to pop. 
• 3. “Rich N****a S**t”- A song with a Young Thug feature just never disappoints. Two of my favorite artists came together to create a catchy song, filled with creative lyrics such as “Percocet got me floatin’ like a butterfly, but I’ll sting you like a bumblebee,” elevates the chorus ranks it firmly in my top-5 songs in the album. 
• 2. “Runnin”- Although many of the songs in the album tries to encapsulate an R&B flow, “Runnin” really brings me back to 2016, where 21 Savage brings back everything he is known for — the ad-libs, mumble rap and eerie vibe. The song ends with a couple lines by Morgan Freeman, who adds a different dimension to the song, bringing together the music and film industries. 
• 1.  “Mr. Right Now”:  Featuring Drake, “Mr. Right Now,”   is my favorite song in the album. In this track, Metro Boomin really shines with his beat production, using lighter instrumentals rather than the traditional trap sound he is known for. However, for me, Drake is the one who takes this song to the next level with his catchy hook. 

“Savage Mode 2” proved itself a great continuation of the original album, containing songs that will be in my playlists for months to come. I would even argue that “Savage Mode 2” has revived the recent rap game, which has been lackluster over the last couple of months.  I’m hopeful for even better comebacks from the Savage-Boomin duo in the future.