AMERICAN DREAM: ALBUM REVIEW
Graphic by: Mariah Brown
After nearly six years of painstaking anticipation, Atlanta superstar - 21 Savage - gifted listeners with his third solo studio album, american dream. With this project, it seems like 21 decided to put pen to paper and emphasize complexity, ensuring nothing on this album was straightforward, not even the title. For 21, the phrase “american dream” is indicative of more than just the pursuit of fame and fortune. The title of his 2024 album also serves as a callback to his 2019 run-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An incident in which he was detained and outed as a UK citizen, contrasting the Atlanta-native narrative that listeners had been consuming for years. Solely by the title, we can tell that this album is more than just another dark trap project, but rather a peek inside the grapple between 21 Savage’s conflicting identities.
Although introspective, don’t be mistaken, the “can't leave without it” rapper still sticks to a familiar style in select songs like “redrum” and “dangerous” touting murderous bars over villainous beats (provided by the likes of Metro Boomin and London on the Track). However, the bulk of american dream takes a much more exploratory approach than his last releases. 21’s barebones production style, minimal autotune, and concise flows also enable him to showcase an emotional side that listeners have been dying to hear for so long. Songs like “prove it” and “should’ve wore a bonnet” showcase a level of vulnerability that contrasts the hardened veteran that 21 portrays. Lines like, “When I’m with you, I get nervous/It gotta be love, it’s a sign” are indicators of increased maturity and exploration of something deeper. Coupled with features from Summer Walker, Brent Faiyaz, and Tommy Newport, it's apparent that he decided to take this album into a more alternative direction.
This album is not a reinvention of 21 savage, nor does it need to be. american dream is a confident stride forward, cementing his place among the top artists in the world and of our generation.. Although it has its introspective moments, there is still plenty of braggadocious flexing and violent delivery that aligns with typical 21 Savage subject matter. The stark level of contrast between both sound and subject is what really makes this a compelling listen the whole way through. The production for each track is nothing short of masterful, the beats expertly curating the mood that 21 aims to convey through his words. Never doing too much, or overpowering any verse, on songs like “see the real” and “red sky,” Metro and London perfectly blend their efforts with 21’s vocal ability.
However, no album is perfect, and american dream is no exception. There is no debate that 21 is absolutely stamped in the Rap/HipHop community, but this project seemed like a graceful exit from his prime. While the album is sonically diverse, at times the flows began to feel repetitive, especially in the middle section. I’ll never complain about big name features, but there's only so many Lil Durk and Travis Scott verses I can hear before I yearn for a different sound. 21 could have benefited from the diversity that was present on his second solo album I am>I was, boasting unconventional features from Childish Gambino, Young Nudy, and City Girls. The introspective moments on this project were very refreshing when they happened, but I feel as though a deeper exploration into those topics would have resulted in greater emotional resonance.
Overall, american dream is not a groundbreaking departure from 21 Savage, but it's certainly a well-crafted and enjoyable listen. You can tell that this album actually means something to him. By all accounts, 21 Savage is living the American dream to its fullest. He’s still thriving as a rapper in an era where careers come and go like the weather, and yet he is showing the world that he still has more to contribute to this industry. Immediately after the ICE incident, it was uncertain whether he would be accepted back into not only the American rap scene, but specifically Atlanta as well. Thankfully for us, people don't seem to care where you’re from when you consistently drop bangers. Ultimately, this won’t go down in history as a staple in 21 Savage’s discography, but it definitely showed us that he is not putting the pen down anytime soon.