Hip-hop has been very active in the last year, with big names such as Drake, Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, and Offset all releasing albums in the past year.
Following 2022’s “Her Loss,” Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage has stepped up to the stage to release his third studio album early in 2024.
“‘american dream’ is the best 21 Savage album,”’ said OH senior Esteban Garcia.
“american dream” is based on the story of 21’s mother, in which she describes her son’s career through her perspective, and how through hard work and perseverance her son achieved the “american dream” for himself and his mother.
So with that infatuating story, how does the album live up to it? How does it compare to other big-name releases?
The album is very good and is at level with other similar albums due to its quality, cohesion, and execution. “american dream” is a well-made album that is enjoyable to listen to, as well as analyze. However, the few things that brought it down were repetitiveness and lack of originality.
The most apparent quality of “american dream” is the vibe, or feeling, of the album, as it is overall more aggressive and energy-inducing. However, as the album progresses, the vibe transitions to a mellow, relaxed feel, then back again to aggressive and hype.
This happens throughout the album, which is utilized to captivate the listener’s attention and avoid boredom. 21 Savage did an excellent job with the variety of songs as it gives many options for all types of listeners to enjoy.
Along with that, the originality of the album is decent but a big factor that brings its rating down is its name and message. The “american dream” motif can be believed to be very repetitive and unoriginal, but 21 Savage’s version does not follow the traditional norms that are tied to it. It tends to stray away from that motif and turn into more of an expression through each song, but in the end, it is still based on that idea, which takes away from the album’s originality a little bit.
The album’s execution is what brings it all together. The mixture and variety of tracks combined with various artists’ features are what make the album great. The best feature is Travis Scott on “née-nah” and the production of beats by Metro Boomin are just some factors that pull the album together.
Scott begins the track right away with confidence that sets the tone for the rest of the song which he then follows using lyricism that at first counters the beat, then transitions into a flow that follows the rest. Along with the use figurative language creates a layered piece that flows great, as well as is very entertaining to listen to.
The beat itself is very good as it was made by Metro Boomin, who is known to have an artistic style and high quality when it comes to hip-hop beats. Metro did not miss with this track, as the use of samples and transition into other beats are what captivate the listener.
Overall it is a great hip-hop and rap album to start 2024, with a rating of 8.5/10, due to its originality, quality, and execution. 21 Savage may have released his best album by far, since right now he is at his peak in popularity, and his new album is also projected to be his most successful. “american dream” is a great way to kick off the hip-hop scene for 2024.
I am Enrique Salas-Aguirre a senior at Oswego High School, this year would be my first with 42Fifty. I excited to start writing and publishing my ideas and contribute my part in the 42Fifty team. I enjoy writing opinion pieces the most although I am open to all types. I like listening and making music, my favorite genre at the moment is R&B. I train weight lifting outside of school and plan to compete some day. Overall, I am excited to contribute my piece to the site, and hopefully leave a significant mark in my short time here. 🙂
