21 Savage; Takeoff.Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage, Prince Williams/Wireimage
21 Savageis opening up about howTakeoff’s death has impacted Atlanta as a whole.
21, whoComplexnamed its best rapper of 2022 this week, spoke with the publication as part of the yearly recognition. During the interview, the England-born and Atlanta-based rapper shared his thoughts on recent challenges and tragedies in the city’s rap scene — from Young Thug and YSL’songoing RICO caseto theshooting of Takeoff in November.
“You can feel a lot of energy missing from Atlanta right now,” 21, real name Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, said. “Atlanta just ain’t the same, honestly. That s— be really driving me crazy. I feel like we took a lot of big ass losses last year. I don’t feel like we’ll ever recover from that s—, if I’m being honest. Especially with Takeoff.”
21 Savage.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty for Coachella
“I feel like we’re just in a dark place right now in Atlanta, as far as our energy,” he continued. “Going outside ain’t the same, clubs ain’t the same, you just feel it.”
Among those present were Quavo,Offset,Cardi B,Justin BieberandDrake, all who paid tribute to his legacy through performances and personal reflections at the official Celebration of Life.
Prince Williams/Wireimage
As for 21, his Complex recognition comes just months after he and Drake released their No. 1 charting collaboration albumHer Loss. The album — whilestirring up lawsuitsover its promotion and controversy over a line thatmany fans suspect to bein reference toMegan Thee Stallion— was something 21 approached like any other effort, he said.
“I feel like I gained new fans from it. I think it put me on a broader scale. It leveled me up for sure, it made me hotter for sure,” 21 said. “But I also think that comes from me not having any music out. It’s just been straight features for two years before that s— happened. I think [my fans] wanted me to drop, so whatever I dropped was going to do that. People were ready to hear me rap, so I think that’s what I got from it too, it fed my fans.”
“Remember when I said I was telling him to not hold back, people tried to twist that to make it seem like I was talking about that situation,” he said. “That bar was more of, like, a joke bar than him trying to say something about her. But I don’t really like speaking on people’s situations because life be real.”
21’s next move is likely a trip on tour with Drizzy, as the Canadian rapperannounced an apparent tourduring his Apollo Theater shows over the weekend. “I’m just waiting on him to let me know what we’re doing,” 21 told Complex of a potential joint tour. “More than likely yeah, I think so.”
source: people.com
