21 Savage & Metro Boomin -- SAVAGE MODE II: Review

21 Savage & Metro Boomin -- Savage Mode II

[Slaughter Gang // Epic]

The highly anticipated sequel to mc 21 Savage and producer Metro Boomin’s Savage Mode dropped October 2, 2020. This record is the third collab between these two producers with over five years of experience working together. Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, this album has been the talk of the hip hop landscape for the last two weeks.

To say that people were looking forward to this would be an understatement. Both Savage Mode 1 and Without Warning are treasured gems of the trap genre from the combined minds of an unexpectedly dynamic MC and one of the highest demand producers in the 2010’s. 21 Savage seems to always make a presence with his odd monotone delivery and Metro’s maximalist trap production has influenced a generation of Soundcloud rappers.

So yeah, after months of delays, it’s here. Released on October 2nd, 2020, it dominated the charts the first half of the month. It’s illusive teaser and controversial album cover couldn’t have made any more hype for this project. And somehow, this record is able to meet those expectations of fans and bring some heat to the table.

The record opens with a recurring character for the project: Morgan Freeman’s whose appearance from the teaser is extended into a handful of tracks. Runnin is a chill opener that sounds cold-blooded but chill. The minimalist beat and subtle soul sample lets 21 hit the ground runnin’ (pun very much intended).

The shining big name feature singles are bangers and don’t take away from the theme of the album. “Mr. Right Now” oozes with Pierre Bourne influences and features 21’s best chorus on the whole record. Even Drake is spitting for a bit if you can ‘cognitive dissonance’ away his occasionally needy lyrics. “Rich ***** Shit” with Young Thug is so damn groovy and is a well-executed slow burner that stands out from 21’s otherwise hardcore violent lyrics. This bubbly ascending synth sample gets those pheromones going and Young Thug shares some glitzy fitting bars.

Many Men complements a chilling bell synth line ripped from the soundtrack of a horror movie with deep synths and rich flutes, never ceasing to put the listener or edge. While the tasteful 50 Cent reference in the song is nice, what kills me is 21’s humor, for example “Hit her in the shower, Mimi, Next day she tryna see me, Told her I’m blind, Stevie”. Yes, the sexism is not cool but that Stevie line kills me everytime.

I wouldn’t say this whole album hits though. There are definitely a few songs here that feel like they could’ve been left out of the final cut. “Slidin” shows some of the worst chorus writing on the project and isn’t helped at all by Metro’s one-dimensional beat. “My Dawg” brings back some of the horror vibes with this piano but isn’t able to carry the whole song past the finish line without feeling old. Even “Snitches & Rats” with its badass Morgan Freeman intro suffers from an anticlimactic chorus and a tiring feature from

Thankfully, the project sticks the landing in the last leg where Metro breaks out some of his best instrumentals and 21 cuts from cold-hearted shtick to open up about his background. “Steppin” is an old school throwback reminiscent of West Coast 90s hip hop with its triumphant horn sample, its robotic compressed hi hats, and its wicky-wicky record scratching. “RIP Luv” chugs with these vaporwave synths and allows 21 to open up about him losing hope in romantic love.

“Brand New Draco” has my favorite instrumental from the project with this trancing synth and this subtle but robust chord progression. This song manages to pack so much depth in it while leaving 21 Savage the space he needs to do his thing. On this track, 21 doesn’t hold up with the cold-blooded lines and even though they’re nothing special, his sporadic flow plays well around Metro’s beat.

“Said N Done” is a bittersweet closer where 21 looks back on his journey over glittery sweet Metro beat. The song even ends with a final appearance from Freeman who reminds the listener to carry on and to “stay in Savage Mode”. When all is said n’ done (ha, gotcha again) Savage Mode II has a few duds here and there, but the dynamic duo delivers some promising bangers here and proves that after three collabs, they still got it.

Listen To: “Mr. Right Now”, “Brand New Draco”

RIYL: Future, Migos, Travis Scott, Pop Smoke