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.[1] The EP received acclaim from critics,[2][3] with Rolling Stone including it in its list of the 40 Best Rap Albums of 2016.[4] A sequel album, Savage Mode II, was released on October 2, 2020 to further acclaim.

Savage Mode
EP by
ReleasedJuly 15, 2016
Recorded2015–2016
Genre
Length32:22
Producer
21 Savage chronology
Slaughter King
(2015)
Savage Mode
(2016)
Issa Album
(2017)
Metro Boomin chronology
19 & Boomin
(2013)
Savage Mode
(2016)
Perfect Timing
(2017)
Singles from Savage Mode
  1. "X"
    Released: July 14, 2016
  2. "No Heart"
    Released: October 19, 2016

Critical reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!6/10[5]
HipHopDX3.7/5[6]
HotNewHipHop83%[7]
Pitchfork7.0/10[8]
XXL4/5[9]

Pitchfork called the project 21 Savage's "strongest and bleakest work" and praised the "brooding, eerie production" by Metro Boomin.[8] Complex called it "a minor masterpiece in sound design", noting that "for as merciless as 21 Savage's writing can be, the album borders on ambient."[10] HotNewHipHop stated that "its style unequivocally trumps its substance, which is par for the course in this school of arty street rap, but its form – a compact, impeccably-curated product – is sorely missing from the genre."[7] Exclaim! called the album "a grim, pearl clutching narrative straight from the South."[5] In a positive review, Craig Jenkins of Vulture called it "gleefully ultraviolent and pridefully indulgent", stating that "this music is built from the same casual hopelessness that shocks us cold whenever we awake to fresh news of mass murder or police brutality."[11]

Track listing

edit
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)[12]Length
1."No Advance"Metro Boomin4:36
2."No Heart"
3:55
3."X" (featuring Future)
4:18
4."Savage Mode"
  • Joseph
  • Wayne
Metro Boomin4:09
5."Bad Guy"
2:49
6."Real Nigga"
  • Joseph
  • Wayne
Metro Boomin3:05
7."Mad High"
  • Joseph
  • Wayne
Metro Boomin3:00
8."Feel It"
2:43
9."Ocean Drive"
3:47
Total length:32:22

Notes

  • "X" was originally titled "X Bitch"

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Savage Mode by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin". iTunes. 15 July 2016.
  2. ^ Saponara, Michael (22 July 2019). "21 Savage Says 'Savage Mode 2' With Metro Boomin Is in the Works". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  3. ^ Findlay, Mitch (29 September 2020). "Metro Boomin & 21 Savage Unveil "Savage Mode 2" Cover". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  4. ^ "40 Best Rap Albums of 2016". Rolling Stone. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b Harmony, A. (20 July 2016). "21 Savage and Metro Boomin: Savage Mode". Exclaim!. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. ^ Diep, Eric (25 July 2016). "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Savage Mode Review". HipHopDX. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b Lyons, Patrick (19 July 2016). "21 Savage's "Savage Mode" (Review)". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  8. ^ a b Daramola, Israel (23 July 2016). "21 Savage / Metro Boomin: Savage Mode". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  9. ^ Weinstein, Max (19 July 2016). "21 Savage Creates His Own World on 'Savage Mode'". XXL. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  10. ^ Thompson, Paul (7 October 2016). "The 25 Best Metro Boomin Beats". Complex. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. ^ Jenkins, Craig (20 July 2016). "21 Savage's Savage Mode Is Violent Music, But It's Oddly Comforting in Violent Times". Vulture. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Metro Boomin on Twitter".
  13. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  14. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  16. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  17. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  18. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  19. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – 21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Savage Mode". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 May 2017.