21 Savage dropped his third solo studio album “american dream” on Jan. 12, ending the rapper’s five-year break from solo albums.
“american dream” acts as more than an album — it is also envisioned as a movie soundtrack. 21 Savage announced earlier this month that he will be releasing his debut film “American Dream: The 21 Savage Story” later this year.
A trailer released on 21 Savage’s official YouTube channel shows the film will star Donald Glover, Caleb McLaughlin and the rapper himself all playing versions of 21 Savage — whose real name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph — at different stages of his life.
The trailer is backed by the album’s second track “all of me,” which highlights Abraham-Joseph’s relationship with his mother, his history with law enforcement, the creation of his rapper name and conversations with Glover and McLaughlin, which supposedly represent conversations with his past self.
A deeper look into his personal life will be the subject of the upcoming film, as is evident from the album, which he utilizes as a place to tell his life story. The album explores both rap and R&B genres, creating a unique sound with the rapper’s most authentic self.
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“american dream” doesn’t disappoint, showing his life story is well worth creating both an album and a film about. After his 2019 ICE arrest, the rapper clearly has a complicated relationship with the concept of the “American dream” and living in the supposed land of the free.
The album opens with “american dream,” which is a minute-long spoken-word piece from his British mother, speaking of her wish to secure the most optimistic future for her son in America.
“Through all the trials and all the pain, the mission is, as it’s always been, for my son to become a man, and live free in his american dream,” the echoing voice reads.
Music swells behind his mother’s voice and transitions into the first full song “all of me,” which samples Rose Royce’s 1977 track “Wishing on a Star.”
His mother’s wishes for her son begin the trailer for the biopic as well, adding an emotional touch to both the trailer and the album by framing the telling of his life story.
The album sees several features from hit artists such as Doja Cat, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Lil Durk and more. The features add a welcome touch to the album, with each artist’s signature touch never overshadowing 21 Savage’s work.
The samples used on “american dream” also don’t disappoint, as the rapper uses a creative mix of classical pieces from the ’60s and ’70s, his own work and even some audio from “The Shining” at the end of the album’s current leading single “redrum.”
The last few tracks of the album embrace much more of an R&B touch, featuring artists Tommy Newport and Mikky Ekko on the majestic “red sky” and Mariah the Scientist on the raw closing track “dark days.”
21 Savage doesn’t shy away from darker topics, reflecting honestly on his life and his music career. His lyricism is a refreshing break from the veil many artists keep between themselves and their listeners.
“dark days” in particular sees the rapper reflecting deeply on his life history and advising others, closing the album with another monologue from his mother, where she tells him that “dreams really do come true, by the grace of the source of life.”
The clear sound 21 Savage has been able to embrace in this album shows how far he’s come since earlier releases “Issa Album” and “i am > i was.” Being able to use such an authentic touch and collaborate with such huge names in the music industry is a beautiful representation of his mother’s wishes coming true — he is achieving his own American dream.
