I’m not particularly well-versed in contemporary rap, so listening to 21 Savage’s American Dream was something of an education. There are elements of his music that I’m still getting accustomed to, particularly his vocal delivery and some of the lyrical conventions of Atlanta trap. But there’s plenty here that caught my attention, especially the production. This is an album with some terrific beats, inventive sampling, and a surprising amount of musical variety.
One of the things I enjoyed most was discovering the older music woven into the tracks. “all of me” builds a dreamy, soulful atmosphere around a sample of Rose Royce’s “Wishing on a Star,” while “redrum” takes a Brazilian recording by Elza Laranjeira and transforms it into something dark and driving. The contrast between the beautiful, almost romantic vocal sample and the song’s violent subject matter is particularly effective.
“letter to my brudda” is another highlight, using sped-up vocals, piano, and lively drum fills to create a soulful backdrop for a much more introspective song about betrayal, loyalty, and lost friends.
There’s a real appreciation for R&B throughout the album, too. “prove it” uses a Faith Evans sample to create a smooth, slow-burning groove, with Summer Walker providing a terrific vocal performance. “should’ve wore a bonnet” takes a similar approach with a sped-up sample from Mary J. Blige and K-Ci, although the result is considerably more playful and bass-heavy.
Elsewhere, “red sky” surprised me with its use of ABBA’s “Summer Night City,” giving the track an almost late-70s pop quality. It’s a very different musical setting for 21 Savage, who responds with a brighter, more melodic vocal performance.
Getting accustomed to 21’s delivery was another part of the experience. His style is often understated, with a conversational cadence and relatively little variation in his vocal tone. There’s a rhythmic quality to it that works particularly well with the repetitive nature of trap production, although some of the songs began to sound alike. I particularly enjoyed hearing him change things up on “see the real,” where his delivery becomes more melodic. The contrast between his usual approach and these more pop-oriented moments gives the album some welcome variety.
The subject matter was a little more difficult to connect with. Much of the album revolves around money, violence, sexual conquests, street reputation, and loyalty. Some of the bravado and misogyny wore thin, particularly on tracks like “sneaky” and “née-nah.” There’s a certain amount of repetition in the lyrics, and I occasionally found myself enjoying the production more than what was being said over it.
But there are moments when 21 moves beyond those familiar subjects. “letter to my brudda” examines the betrayal and fractured relationships that can come with the world he’s describing. The closing track, “dark days,” is particularly effective, with 21 offering advice to younger people who might be tempted to follow the same path he did. He talks about lost friends, incarceration, and the consequences of street life, encouraging them to find another way. It’s a thoughtful conclusion to an album that begins with his mother talking about the sacrifices she made to give her son a better life.
I came to American Dream with limited familiarity with this particular style of hip-hop, and I didn’t connect with everything I heard. But I found myself repeatedly drawn to the production, the creative use of samples, and the way 21 Savage and his collaborators incorporated elements of soul, R&B, and pop into contemporary trap. There are some terrific musical moments here.
21 Savage has an ability to weave a narrative while also keeping the tracks individual enough to stand on their own. A story of an immigrant looking for a better life, getting caught up in the streets of Atlanta, and then finding success in the rap game is a version of the American Dream that is a story we don’t glorify, but is one he makes us see.
Verdict: Worth a Spin
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