Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, born on October 22, 1992, and known worldwide as 21 Savage, is a British-born rapper who has made a significant impact on the music scene in Atlanta, Georgia. His journey, marked by both challenges and triumphs, reflects a complex interplay of cultural heritage, legal battles, and musical innovation.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Newham University Hospital in Plaistow, London, to British parents Heather Carmillia Joseph and Kevin Cornelius Emmons, 21 Savage's early life was split between the United Kingdom and the United States. In seventh grade at Stone Mountain Middle School, Abraham-Joseph was placed on probation for gun possession. He began his recording career in 2013, releasing three independent mixtapes that garnered regional acclaim.
Breakthrough and Musical Success
His breakout project came in 2016 with the collaborative extended play (EP) Savage Mode with record producer Metro Boomin. This project peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200, with lead singles "X" (featuring Future) and "No Heart" reaching the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
21 Savage's debut studio album, Issa Album (2017), peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, and its lead single, "Bank Account," peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he was featured on Post Malone's single "Rockstar," which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and broke numerous records. In October 2017, a collaborative studio album by 21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin titled Without Warning was released, debuting at number four on the US Billboard 200.
His second album, I Am > I Was (2018), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and included the single "A Lot" (featuring J. Cole), which won Best Rap Song at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. In 2020, he and Metro Boomin released Savage Mode II, which also debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the top ten singles "Runnin" and "Mr. Cole.
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Legal Challenges and Immigration Issues
21 Savage's career has not been without its challenges. On February 3, 2019, he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE revealed that 21 Savage is a British national who had been in the United States unlawfully since his non-immigrant visa expired in July 2006. He was released from ICE's custody on February 13, 2019.
On February 15, 2019, 21 Savage turned himself in to authorities and was booked into a south Georgia jail in response to a warrant for his arrest for felony theft by deception. This dispute surrounds a gig arranged in 2016 for which the rapper allegedly accepted a payment of $17,000 to appear at a concert, but did not appear and did not give back the money.
Philanthropy and Community Involvement
21 Savage has also been actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. In early August 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, he hosted the "Issa Back to School Drive" in his home neighborhood in Atlanta. In March 2018, he announced the creation of the 21 Savage Bank Account Campaign on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, donating $21,000 to the cause. He also donated $10,000 to fund an anti-bullying campaign at Continental Colony Elementary School in Atlanta.
Discography
Here's a table summarizing 21 Savage's major albums and EPs:
| Title | Year | Type | Billboard 200 Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savage Mode | 2016 | EP | 23 |
| Issa Album | 2017 | Studio Album | 2 |
| Without Warning | 2017 | Studio Album | 4 |
| I Am > I Was | 2018 | Studio Album | 1 |
| Savage Mode II | 2020 | Studio Album | 1 |
| American Dream | 2024 | Studio Album | 1 |
Recent Activities
In April 2021, 21 Savage announced the release of his new EP, Spiral, serving as the official soundtrack to the film Spiral: From the Book of Saw. The same day, he was featured on the track "My Life" off of J. Cole's sixth studio album, The Off-Season. Just a week later, on June 17, 2022, 21 Savage appeared as a feature on "Jimmy Cooks", the outro track of Drake's seventh studio album, Honestly, Nevermind. The track debuted at the number one position the Billboard Hot 100, marking Savage's second chart-topping single.
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On January 8, 2024, 21 Savage announced that a biopic titled American Dream: The 21 Savage Story was coming soon and was set to feature himself, Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin as the leads. On January 10, 2024, Savage announced his third studio album American Dream.
Nigerian Heritage and Cultural Identity
21 Savage and his mother are religious followers of the Yoruba religion in Nigeria called Ifa. In an interview for a 2016 Fader cover story, the rapper 21 Savage offered a rare glimpse into one of his most deeply held inspirations. The artist born She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, who gained notoriety for his deadpan delivery of eerie tales said to be culled from his experiences with poverty and gang life in Atlanta, spoke about his longtime practice of Ifa. The West African religion is common in many Caribbean countries and Afro-diasporic communities in the United States, and he’d briefly referenced its role in his life earlier that year, during an interview with The Breakfast Club, the syndicated radio show.
Here the rapper described a holistic reason Ifa appealed to him: “I’m African American. I’d rather follow an African religion,” he told The Fader before describing its tenets. “That’s my heritage.” Though casual listeners know the rapper primarily for his chart-topping raps about worldly excesses-illicit drugs, emotionless sex, and riches of dubious provenance-21 Savage has also long exhibited an investment in the cultural products and historical legacies of black people around the world. Ifa, for example, is a Yoruba spiritual tradition; the practice finds its roots in what is now southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo.
21 Savage's journey from London to Atlanta, marked by legal challenges and musical success, reflects a complex interplay of cultural heritage and personal identity. Despite the controversies and obstacles, he remains a prominent figure in the music industry, celebrated for his unique style and contributions to his community.
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