<p><span><span>-<strong> 21 Savage </strong>has done the impossible. Four years ago, I would have never believed the rapper’s emotionless brand of horror trap to ever last but here we are with the sequel to 2016’s <em>Savage Mode</em><em><strong> </strong></em>collab project with producer <strong>Metro Boomin</strong>. Savage has been on an up with his gritty, Halloween-inspired 2017 project <em>Without Warning </em>as well as 2018’s Grammy winning <em>I am > I was</em>. Metro too continues to shine as arguably the best producer in mainstream trap and reuniting the two for <em>Savage Mode 2</em> delivers the bleak and nasty slasher music promised.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Savage and Metro waste no time emulating <em>Without Warning </em>with intro <em>Runnin</em>. Flipping a <strong>Diana Ross</strong> sample over soft and subtle violins, Metro delivers a cautious opening to Savage’s serial-killer laughs. As soon as the snares hit, Savage is off like a blood-thirsty hound ready to rip apart his enemies as he details street life, murder tactics and his stereotypical misogynistic brags. An immediate highlight, this track is easily the coldest 21 Savage song in years.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Yeah there’s a <strong>Drake</strong> love song called <em>Mr. Right Now</em> and yeah it does not fit at all but honestly I don’t hate it. It’s a testament to how much I enjoy Savage that he can save Metro’s sugar sweet production even with some pretty unflattering singing on the chorus. Drake is yet again Drake with his tale about some relationship but at least he puts in more effort than on his more recent solo work.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>After a smoother cut with a solid <strong>Young Thug </strong>guest feature, the album returns to its brooding promise. <em>Many Men </em>sees Savage compare himself to a young <strong>50 Cent </strong>as he reiterates just how many people want to see him dead. Metro’s snares bring a heart-pounding energy that allows Savage to push himself further with a more rapid and intense flow than is generally his style.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Steppin On </em>is an oddity in modern hip-hop as it opts to return to the sound of <strong>Run-DMC</strong>, an older style that is not commonly revisited. Surprisingly, Savage manages to keep his regular topics and still feel right at home on the golden-age throwback that sounds almost like a <em>Rocky</em> theme. Metro takes revitalisation even further with glorious scratching like that of the late <strong>Jam Master Jay</strong>.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Closing track <em>Said N Done</em> is one of two introspective cuts with Metro providing a softer, more melodic beat backed by a woman humming. Savage talks loyalty in a relationship which is a clear step-away from his usual antics but a great change of pace for what is mostly a dire record.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Savage Mode 2</em> improves upon the original with more consistent and grander production as well as a clear improvement in Savage’s rapping ability. While Savage used to be one-note, his continuous growth and willingness to try both hardcore and introspective music has made him one of the best in mainstream trap today. A great sequel takes everything that worked the first time and ups the ante which is something Savage and Metro clearly have no issues with.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- James Chadwick.</span></span></p>
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