21 Savage & Metro Boomin’ – Savage Mode II
Genre: Hip Hop
Score: 7/10
This is the follow up to the beloved Savage Mode that dropped 4 years ago at this point. On that record, we heard a young and hungry 21 Savage emerge as the Bob Ross of hip hop over some of Metro Boomin’s most iconic trap beats. With a hypnotic, deadpan delivery enhanced by menacing lyrics and sharp hooks, this album took the entire hip hop community by storm and solidified Metro Boomin as one of the most in demand producers of our time.
Four years, a few solo albums from both 21 and Metro, and a hardhitting collaboration with Migos’s Offset later, the teaser to the sequel to Savage Mode drops out of the blue with a grand trailer featuring a monologue from the King of Narration himself, Morgan Freeman. Given the album rollout, the high budgeted trailer, and a Cash Money Records style album cover, I’m expecting this album to at the very least, top Savage Mode. At most, this could potentially be the best rap album of the year.Overall: Ok, so it didn’t top Savage Mode. BUT that’s not to say that this is not worth your time, because 21 and Metro both take some pretty interesting sonic detours from their classic Savage Mode sound. Lyrically, 21’s pen game is a bit understated compared to his recent solo projects like I am > I Was and the Without Warning collaboration with Metro & Offset. While it was 21 that topped himself on Savage Mode, I think it was Metro that came out ahead on Savage Mode II with his production, as the beats are really creative, dynamic, and full of little sonic embellishments throughout the album.
Play by Play:
1. Intro – Morgan Freeman intro is epic and grand. If the album is kicking off like this, then these songs better be the most fire collection of tracks either has ever recorded.
2. Runnin – Beat goes hard. Samples vocals sounds devilish. Savage sounds clear, authoritative and his cadence creates a hypnotic vibe. The beat grows and progresses really creatively. Ski Mask is up.
3. Glock on My Lap – Beat is eerie, with quiet string arrangements adding a lot to the atmosphere. Savage paces himself with cold relentless bars. The vibe is strong on this one. Despite the lyrics being typical for Savage, the ad libs add so much to his delivery.
4. Mr Right Now (ft. Drake) – The beat is bright and the reversed strings are a cool effect. 21’s autotune delivery isn’t my favorite but the flow is undeniable. Lyrics are chill DM bars. Drake’s verse is pretty self-serving and non-descript compared to his other features. Him saying “more concerned with blowing up than growing up” is really everything you need to know about Drake’s entire career at this point in time. Oh, and I guess him and SZA dated, I think. Yeah, I can skip this one.
5. Rich Nigga Shit (ft. Young Thug) – As rudimentary and as simple as the beats are so far on this album, the mix is excellent and the vibes are captured really well. 21’s lyrics are pretty filler on this one. He can still rock a hook despite how understated it is. Thugger’s elastic and energetic performance is a great pick me up for the track.
6. Slidin – This is one of the more classic sounding Savage Mode songs. The beat is dark and menacing, and 21’s adlibs hype me up. He sounds menacing and totally in his element. The imagery is violent, lowkey, and savage (obviously). The hooks on this album are a bit stronger than those on Savage Mode. The beats are also more dynamic and progress better than Savage Mode did. A bar that stood out was “said he want smoke now he jogging”. The Morgan Freeman interludes do a pretty good job helping the album flow so far.
7. Many Men – This sounds grimy like a Memphis style, Triple Six ass beat. Savage hits a catchy flow as the beat bumps on. Themes of violence and hustling keep me entertained. Many men reference sets the tone very well, but they didn’t really have to play the whole 50 Cent hook out. We all know the song that you’re referencing. Morgan’s on this album a lot, isn’t he?
8. Snitches & Rats (Interlude) – Morgan’s right. Next.
9. Snitches & Rats (ft Young Nudy) – Hook is catchy. Beat’s pretty redundant in the context of the rest of the album. Nudy’s flow sounds off, but his verse is pretty slicked back and confident. The vibe is strong, despite the forgettable lyrics. Structure wise the song drags a bit.
10. My Dawg – 21’s going in on this one. As the beat progressed, the piano grows eerier, the strings lurk in the back of the mix. Autotune isn’t needed on the hook tho. I love how he was like “y’all wish I was born in the US.” I like introspective 21 Savage.
11. Stepping on Niggas – At this point, I was growing fairly bored from the redundant production style. But once I played this song I was surprised. At first I was confused by the simple 808 and the 80s ass flow 21 used, but after a few listens of the song it grew to be my favorite song on the whole album. I love the laid back and light hearted delivery that 21 has. His story of stepping on his opps is cartoonish and hilarious. He sounds like the MC to an old school hip hop show from the 70s or 80s. It’s a tasteful tribute to the golden age hip hop sound, while also proving 21’s versatility as a rapper. The DJ scratches at the end tie the vibe up really well.
12. Brand New Draco – This beat bumps in the whip. Savage’s trademark Savage Mode flow is on full display. Beyond the vibe and flow, it doesn’t offer up much new material thematically and lyrically. It’s why I tuned into Savage Mode, and it’s why I tuned into Savage Mode II.
13. No Opp Left Behind – The beat is really atmospheric and bumps. 21’s rapping at this point, while competent and meditative in delivery, his lyrics are empty calories thematically at this point. Morgan comes in and drops that knowledge as usual.
14. RIP Luv – I love the beat on this one. The synth has a cool bitcrusher or distortion effect as it quietly pulsates throughout the song. The hook is a mantra, the vibe is clear and a lot of cool little music embellishments are laced into the song that are worth a repeat listen. 21 sounds more introspective, reflective, a little less trustworthy of people around him. 21 and Metro kill it, but the Morgan Freeman interjections at this point are growing tiring at this point.
15. Said N Done – Love the sample Metro used on this. 21 sounds grateful despite the shortcomings and challenges he ended up overcoming. The head is bobbing, the conscious is slowly fading and the lowkey vibes come thru at their happiest the whole album. It’s a fitting outro.
Score: 7/10
Favorite Track in Bold
Just my opinion