21 Savage: Rapper’s New Album Releases 12th January
21 Savage is all set to drop his new album, ‘American Dream,’ on 12th January. The rapper, known for his raw storytelling, took to Instagram to share the news, posting the album cover and a caption that reads, “My 3rd solo album AMERICAN DREAM this Friday.” The caption was accompanied by flags of both the United States and the United Kingdom, perhaps nodding to his immigrant journey.
The album cover itself represents 21 Savage’s unique background. A childhood photo of the rapper overlays details of his immigrant visa, highlighting his roots in London, where he was born to British nationals with Caribbean heritage. At the tender age of seven, he made the transatlantic move to Atlanta with his mother.
In the lead-up to the album release, 21 Savage has been teasing fans by unveiling the featured artists through childhood pictures on Instagram. Confirmed collaborators so far include Atlanta rapper Young Thug, and vocal talents Brent Faiyaz and Summer Walker. Despite these revelations, the full tracklist remains shrouded in mystery.
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Coinciding with the album hype, 21 Savage dropped the trailer for his upcoming biopic, ‘American Dream: The 21 Savage Story.’ Co-directed by Atlanta creatives Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori, Fam Udeorji and Luis Perez, the trailer features Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin portraying 21 Savage at different life stages. Clocking in at four minutes and twenty seconds, the trailer also doubles as a music video for an undisclosed track, possibly from the upcoming album.
From what the trailer reveals, the biopic promises an in-depth look into 21 Savage’s life, from his childhood to a pivotal moment—his arrest by the American Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This operation unveiled his British roots, raising eyebrows as he had overstayed his visa, which expired back in 2006.
The film, co-written by Stephen Glover and Olori, boasts a star-studded cast including Gail Bean, Druski, Jabari Banks, Chad Lindberg, Victoria Pedretti, Young Mazino and Natasha Lyonne. While a release date is yet to be revealed, fans can anticipate its arrival later this year.
This is the latest collaboration between 21 Savage and Donald Glover, following the latter’s appearance on ‘I Am > I Was’ and 21 Savage’s uncredited ad-libs on Childish Gambino’s 2018 hit ‘This Is America.’
Capping off a successful 2023, 21 Savage played a sold-out show at the O2 Arena in December. Reviewer Georgia Evans noted, “Savage’s chance to perform in the UK has been robbed for so long that just to be here, celebrating his career thus far, feels like a deliciously anarchic triumph.”