21 Savage

Unflinching yet offhanded rapper 21 Savage left street life behind to establish a career that rapidly progressed between 2016 and 2018 with a string of hit singles including "X," "No Heart," and "Bank Account," and the RIAA-certified gold releases Savage Mode and Issa Album. The Atlanta native born Shayaa Joseph turned to rap following a pivotal incident — on his 21st birthday — that resulted in several gunshot wounds and the death of his best friend. He made his debut the following year, 2014, with the DJ Plugg-produced "Picky." A pair of mixtapes and Free Guwop, an EP executive-produced by Sonny Digital, were released in 2015, priming 21 for mainstream infiltration. During the latter half of 2016, 21 was a constant presence on the upper reaches of the Billboard charts with a wave of collaborative and headlining singles, including "X" (featuring Future), "No Heart," and Drake's "Sneakin'." The first two of those tracks highlighted Savage Mode, a set on which 21 and producer Metro Boomin were co-billed. In 2017, shortly after Savage Mode was certified gold by the RIAA, 21 released his proper debut full-length for major-label Epic, Issa Album, the source of the multi-platinum single "Bank Account." Only a few months later, he and Offset issued Without Warning, his second consecutive release to hit the Top Five of the Billboard 200. All the while, additional success came as a featured artist on Post Malone's "Rockstar" and Cardi B's "Bartier Cardi." A handful of guest verses, along with contributions to the soundtracks of Uncle Drew and Superfly, followed in 2018; at the end of that year he dropped his second album, I Am > I Was ("I am greater than I was"). ~ Andy Kellman