Savage Mode II | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 2, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 44:01 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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21 Savage chronology | ||||
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Metro Boomin chronology | ||||
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Limited edition vinyl cover | ||||
Singles from Savage Mode II | ||||
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Savage Mode II is a collaborative studio album by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2,2020,and was previewed through a trailer with narration by Morgan Freeman. The album serves as a sequel to the duo's extended play Savage Mode (2016). It features guest appearances by Drake,Young Thug,and Savage's cousin Young Nudy. On October 19,2020,a chopped and screwed version of the album was released by OG Ron C and Slim K.
Savage Mode II received widespread acclaim and debuted atop the US Billboard 200,becoming 21 Savage and Metro Boomin's second US number-one album. It was supported by two singles:"Runnin" and "Mr. Right Now".
Metro Boomin first announced the project in July 2019,after 21 Savage brought him out on stage during a concert. Speaking to the crowd,Metro simply stated that Savage Mode II was on the way. [2] On February 18,2020,the producer tweeted a photo of himself and Savage in the studio. The caption for the picture read "MODE". [3] On March 3,21 Savage reposted a fan's Instagram story that the project would be released on March 13. [4] In May,Savage stated that they were making sure the album is "perfect" before being released. [5] The project's release was officially announced on September 28,with the duo confirmed the release date and previewing the album with a horror-themed, [6] "macabre" trailer directed by Gibson Hazard,narrated by actor Morgan Freeman;he recorded his contributions onto his iPhone at his home. [7] The visual contains in-studio scenes of the pair,as Freeman informs viewers of the meaning of "savage mode":"'Savage' is defined as 'fierce,beastly and untamed'. 'Mode' is defined as 'a way of operating or using the system'. So to be in 'savage mode' is to go hard,not allowing anything to stop or deter you from your mission. Basically,this means when someone is in 'savage mode',they're not to be fucked with". The announcement came a week after fans launched a petition urging Savage and Metro to release the album. [8] It garnered over 28,000 signatures. [9]
Metro Boomin unveiled the album cover on September 29 on his social media,with the caption:"Boominati Slaughter Gang taking over for the 2020 and the 21," recalling Juvenile's line "Cash Money Records taking over the 99 and the 2000" from his single "Back That Azz Up". The cover was created by Pen &Pixel,who came out of retirement for the design. [10] It is a "nostalgic" and vintage artwork,"heavily" inspired by those of Cash Money and No Limit Records and is a nod to the "bling rap" album covers of the 1990s. [6] [10] [11]
A promotional website for the album was created,featuring a live countdown to the project's release and a phone number that listeners could call to hear snippets of the tracks. [12]
The music video for the song,"Runnin",was released on October 2,2020. [13] It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on October 13,2020,as the album's dual lead single, [14] along with "Mr. Right Now",featuring Canadian rapper Drake,which was serviced to urban contemporary radio. [15] The music video for "My Dawg",was released on October 7,2020. [16]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10 [17] |
Metacritic | 81/100 [18] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Clash | 8/10 [19] |
Consequence | B+ [20] |
Exclaim! | 6/10 [21] |
HipHopDX | 4.0/5 [22] |
NME | [23] |
Paste | 8.8/10 [24] |
Pitchfork | 6.6/10 [25] |
Rolling Stone | [26] |
Slant Magazine | [27] |
Tom Hull –on the Web | B+ ( ) [28] |
Savage Mode II was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic,which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications,the album received an average score of 81,based on 10 reviews. [18] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.4 out of 10,based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [17]
In a positive review,Dhruva Balram of NME wrote that "As a whole,the album is confirmation of two young artists at the top of their game,watching the landscape unfold from the throne they earned themselves four years ago". [23] Robin Murray of Clash praised the "crisp and future-facing" production from Metro Boomin,as well as the rap performances by 21 Savage. He concluded:"Savage Mode 2 matches ruthless entertainment to phenomenal artistry,a collaboration that works on a number of levels." [19] Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine said,"It's Metro,though,who elevates 21's stories to something approaching greatness. ... This sequel is a ratification of the "bigger and better",an example of steady improvement through impeccable craft". [27] Rashad Grove from Consequence enjoyed the album,saying,"21 Savage,accompanied by the golden touch of Metro Boomin,have given the hip-hop world their most well-rounded project to date,and they set the bar high for others to measure up to". [20] Paste critic Trey Alston said,"Savage Mode II is a worthy successor to the original,building on that initial moment that made 21 Savage a household name. Adventurous,introspective,and thoughtful,it's just what the world needs from the rapper at this moment,even if we didn't know it". [24] Mark Elibert of HipHopDX said,"The Grammy Award winner shows he continues to be ambitious as an artist while keeping up the Slaughter King mantra he ran with early in his career. For Young Metro,Savage Mode II asserts there's no rust on his boards and proves he's still one of the best architects in the game". [22]
Reviewing the album for Pitchfork ,Alphonse Pierre stated:"The first Savage Mode didn't become an ATL classic because of celebrity cameos or Billboard numbers;it was because Metro and 21 were at the peak of their powers,and only the producer is close here. 21 Savage is just along for the ride." [25] Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews said,"The 44 minutes of this album could exist without Mr. Freeman,but they couldn't exist without Metro Boomin. ... [21 Savage's] a solid RAPPER through and through and in an era of singers I'm always going to appreciate that,but if I said I could ignore the banality of Savage Mode II lyrically I'd be lying". [29] In a lukewarm review, Exclaim! 's Jacob Carey wrote,"Whether they hit the mark with their sequel is debatable. While Savage Mode II is by no means a lacklustre album,it may not be the exact product their fans hoped for". [21]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 45 | |
The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2020 | 7 | ||
Complex | The Best Albums of 2020 | 6 | |
The Guardian | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 37 | |
NPR Music | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 45 | |
Slant Magazine | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 49 | |
Spin | The 30 Best Albums of 2020 | 18 |
Savage Mode II debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 171,000 album-equivalent units (including 22,000 pure album sales). [37] This became 21 Savage and Metro Boomin's second US number-one debut. [37] The album also accumulated a total of 200.1 million on-demand streams of the album's songs during that week. [37] In its second week,the album remained in the top ten and fell to number two. [38] On February 8,2021,the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a half-million units in the United States. [39]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" |
|
| 1:10 |
2. | "Runnin" |
| Metro Boomin | 3:16 |
3. | "Glock in My Lap" |
|
| 3:14 |
4. | "Mr. Right Now" (featuring Drake) |
|
| 3:14 |
5. | "Rich Nigga Shit" (featuring Young Thug) |
|
| 3:10 |
6. | "Slidin" |
|
| 3:05 |
7. | "Many Men" |
|
| 3:22 |
8. | "Snitches & Rats" (interlude) |
| 0:57 | |
9. | "Snitches & Rats" (featuring Young Nudy) |
|
| 3:08 |
10. | "My Dawg" |
|
| 3:02 |
11. | "Steppin on Niggas" |
| Metro Boomin | 2:21 |
12. | "Brand New Draco" |
|
| 3:22 |
13. | "No Opp Left Behind" |
| Metro Boomin | 3:14 |
14. | "RIP Luv" |
| 3:34 | |
15. | "Said N Done" |
| Metro Boomin | 3:52 |
Total length: | 44:01 |
Notes
Sample credits
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and Tidal. [40] [41]
Performance
Instrumentation
| Production
|
Technical
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [67] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [68] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [69] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [70] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [39] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 2, 2020 | Standard | [71] | ||
October 19, 2020 | Remix | [72] | |||
January 15, 2021 | CD | Standard | [73] | ||
February 26, 2021 | Vinyl | [74] |
Leland Tyler Wayne, known professionally as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer and songwriter. Known for his dark production style, he is regarded as one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop and trap music. His frequent collaborators include Future, Young Thug, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Gunna, and Nav.
Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known professionally as 21 Savage, is a British-born rapper based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born in London and raised in Atlanta, he began his recording career in 2013 and released three independent mixtapes to regional acclaim. His breakout project—the collaborative extended play (EP) with record producer Metro Boomin titled Savage Mode (2016)—peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200. Its lead singles, "X" and "No Heart" both peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he saw further recognition for his guest appearance on Drake's single "Sneakin'". He then signed a recording contract with Epic Records in January 2017.
Savage Mode is a collaborative extended play by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on July 15, 2016. It features a sole guest appearance by American rapper Future. The EP was self-released. The EP received acclaim from critics, with Rolling Stone including it in its list of the 40 Best Rap Albums of 2016. A sequel album, Savage Mode II, was released on October 2, 2020 to further acclaim.
"X" is a song written and performed by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin featuring fellow Atlanta-based rapper Future. Produced by its lead performers, it was released on July 14, 2016 as the lead single from their collaborative extended play, Savage Mode (2016). The song was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"No Heart" is a song recorded by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 19, 2016, by Epic Records and served as the second single from their collaborative extended play Savage Mode. The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Not All Heroes Wear Capes is the debut studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released by Boominati Worldwide and Republic Records on November 2, 2018. The album features guest appearances from Gucci Mane, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Swae Lee, Gunna, Young Thug, Wizkid, J. Balvin, Offset, Kodak Black, and Drake. The deluxe edition of the album was released, consisting of the instrumental versions of all songs from the standard edition on November 6, 2018. The album is the first part of a trilogy, with the second part being its sequel, Metro's second studio album, Heroes & Villains, which was released on December 2, 2022.
Issa Album is the debut studio album by British-American rapper 21 Savage. It was released on July 7, 2017, through Slaughter Gang Entertainment and distributed by Epic Records. The album features production from frequent collaborator Metro Boomin, alongside Southside, Pi'erre Bourne, Zaytoven, Wheezy, DJ Mustard and 21 Savage himself. It succeeds 21 Savage's collaborative EP with Metro Boomin, Savage Mode (2016).
Without Warning is a collaborative studio album by British-American rapper 21 Savage, American rapper Offset, and American record producer Metro Boomin. The album was released on October 31, 2017, by Slaughter Gang, Epic Records, Capitol Records, Motown, Quality Control Music, Boominati Worldwide, and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Travis Scott and Quavo. Meanwhile, the album's production was handled primarily by Metro Boomin, alongside Bijan Amir, Cubeatz, Dre Moon, and Southside. Without Warning peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, and received generally positive reviews from critics.
"Ric Flair Drip" is a song by American rapper Offset and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was included on their collaborative studio album with 21 Savage, Without Warning (2017). Upon the album's release, it charted at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100. After its release as the lead single, on March 1, 2018, and a subsequent music video starring Ric Flair himself, it rose to number 13, becoming both Metro Boomin and Offset's highest-charting song as lead artists at the time, until the release of Metro's "Like That", which would peak at number 1. It is prominently featured in the WWE 2K19 soundtrack, particularly in the "Ric Flair Collector's Edition" version of the game. The song has amassed over 1.2 billion streams on Spotify, making it the 271st most played song ever on the streaming service. It is also the second most streamed song of all time on Spotify's influential RapCaviar playlist. The song has been credited for popularizing the term "drip", a slang expression denoting one's fashionability and excess swagger.
Double or Nothing is a collaborative studio album by American rapper Big Sean and American record producer Metro Boomin. The album was released on December 8, 2017, by GOOD Music, Def Jam Recordings, Republic Records, Universal Music Group and Boominati Worldwide. It features guest appearances from Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, Kash Doll, Young Thug, and Swae Lee. The album's production was handled primarily by Metro Boomin, alongside Earlly Mac, Pi'erre Bourne and Southside.
The discography of American record producer Metro Boomin consists of two studio albums, five collaborative albums, one soundtrack album, two mixtapes, one extended play, and 21 singles.
"Glock in My Lap" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin, from their collaborative studio album Savage Mode II (2020). The song was produced by Metro Boomin, Southside and Honorable C.N.O.T.E.
"Mr. Right Now" is a song by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin from their collaborative album Savage Mode II. It features Canadian rapper Drake, who garnered attention for his verse in which he alludes to dating singer SZA. The R&B-esque ballad marks the fourth collaboration between 21 Savage and Drake. The song was sent to US urban radio on October 13, 2020, as the dual lead single from the album, alongside "Runnin".
"Rich Nigga Shit" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin, from their collaborative studio album Savage Mode II (2020). It features American rapper Young Thug and was produced by Metro Boomin with additional production from Peter Lee Johnson.
"My Dawg" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin, released on October 2, 2020, as the tenth track off their collaborative album Savage Mode II. In the song, 21 Savage raps about his British origins, which is also reflected in the track's video.
"Runnin" is a song by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2, 2020, as the opening track from their collaborative album Savage Mode II. The "haunting" song samples Diana Ross' 1976 song "I Thought It Took a Little Time", with 21 Savage delivering lethal threats to his enemies in a casual fashion. The official video sees 21 take a victory lap through the streets of his hometown, celebrating his Grammy award for "A Lot". It was serviced to US rhythmic radio on October 13, 2020, together with "Mr. Right Now" as the dual lead singles from the album. Debuting and peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, it was both artists' highest-charting song as lead artists, until the releases of "My Life", "Creepin'", "Type Shit", and "Like That".
"Knife Talk" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American rappers 21 Savage and Project Pat. It was released on November 16, 2021, as the third single from Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy. The song was produced by Metro Boomin and Peter Lee Johnson.
Heroes & Villains is the second studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released through Republic Records and Boominati on December 2, 2022. The album contains guest appearances from John Legend, Future, Chris Brown, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Young Thug, the Weeknd, Mustafa, ASAP Rocky, Gunna, and the late Takeoff. Production was mainly handled by Metro himself, alongside TM88, DJ Moon, Peter Lee Johnson, Johan Lenox, Allen Ritter, David x Eli, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Scriptplugg, Prince85, Oz, Nik D, D. Rich, DaHeala, My Best Friend Jacob, Elkan, Simon on the Moon, and Xz.
"Umbrella" is a song by American record producer Metro Boomin, Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American rapper Young Nudy, from Metro's second studio album Heroes & Villains (2022). It was produced by Metro Boomin and David X Eli.
"Niagara Falls " is a song by American record producer Metro Boomin, American rapper Travis Scott, and British-American rapper 21 Savage, from Metro's second studio album Heroes & Villains (2022). It was written by the artists alongside Allen Ritter, My Best Friend Jacob, and Peter Lee Johnson, the latter three producing it with Metro.
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