21 Savage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
21 Savage
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21 Savage in 2018
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Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
October 22, 1992 Plaistow, London, England
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| Years active | 2013–present |
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Discography |
| Children | 3 |
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| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), who is known by his stage name 21 Savage, is a famous British rapper who lives in the United States. He was born in London, England, but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He started making music in 2013 and became popular in his local area with three mixtapes.
His big break came in 2016 with the project Savage Mode, which he made with the producer Metro Boomin. It reached number 23 on the Billboard 200, a list of the most popular albums in the U.S. His songs "X" and "No Heart" became big hits. He gained even more fame when he was featured on the rapper Drake's song "Sneakin'". In 2017, he signed a record deal with Epic Records.
21 Savage's first official album, Issa Album (2017), was a huge success. It went to number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "Bank Account" from that album was a top hit. He also worked with Post Malone on the song "Rockstar", which went to number one and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.
His second album, I Am > I Was (2018), was his first to reach number one on the charts. The song "A Lot" featuring J. Cole won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song. He continued his success with albums like Savage Mode II (2020) with Metro Boomin and Her Loss (2022) with Drake. Both of these albums also hit number one. His 2024 album, American Dream, also topped the charts.
In 2019, 21 Savage faced challenges with his immigration status because he was a British citizen who had stayed in the U.S. longer than his visa allowed. After a long process, he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2023. This means he has a green card and can live and work in the country legally.
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Early Life
Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph was born on October 22, 1992, in Plaistow, a part of London, England. His parents, Heather Carmillia Joseph and Kevin Cornelius Emmons, are both British with Caribbean roots. His mother's family is from Dominica, and his father's family is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
When he was seven, his parents separated, and he moved with his mother to Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. At age 12, he briefly returned to the United Kingdom. He came back to Atlanta on a type of visa called an H-4 visa, which expired about a year later.
Growing up, 21 Savage faced many challenges. He had a brother, Quantivayus, who passed away. In middle school, he got into trouble and was eventually expelled from his school district. He attended different schools before being sent to a youth detention center. After his release, he finished the eighth grade but dropped out of high school. He has said that these difficult experiences shaped who he is today.
Music Career
2013–2015: Getting Started
After a difficult event on his 21st birthday, 21 Savage decided to start rapping. The uncle of a friend who had passed away helped him by paying for studio time. In 2015, he released his first mixtape, The Slaughter Tape. This project helped him become known as an "underground hero in Atlanta."
Later that year, he released an EP called Free Guwop with producer Sonny Digital as a tribute to the rapper Gucci Mane. He ended the year by releasing his second mixtape, Slaughter King.
2016–2017: Rise to Fame
In 2016, the magazine XXL named 21 Savage as part of its "Freshman Class," a list of new and promising rappers. That summer, he released the EP Savage Mode with producer Metro Boomin. The EP was a huge success, reaching number 23 on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "X" featuring Future became his first platinum record.
In 2017, he signed with Epic Records. His first studio album, Issa Album, came out and landed at number two on the Billboard 200. The single "Bank Account" became a top 20 hit. He was also featured on Post Malone's song "Rockstar", which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he released a group album called Without Warning with rapper Offset and Metro Boomin.
2018–2019: First Number One Album
In 2018, 21 Savage worked with several other artists, including Young Thug and Ty Dolla Sign. In December, he released his second studio album, I Am > I Was. The album featured many famous artists like Travis Scott, Post Malone, and J. Cole.
I Am > I Was debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it his first chart-topping album. The song "A Lot" featuring J. Cole was a big hit and won 21 Savage his first Grammy Award.
2020–2023: More Chart-Topping Albums
In 2020, 21 Savage and Metro Boomin released Savage Mode II, a sequel to their popular EP. With narration by actor Morgan Freeman, the album went straight to number one. It had two top-ten hits: "Runnin" and "Mr. Right Now" featuring Drake.
In 2021, he released an EP called Spiral for the movie Spiral. He also appeared on hit songs with J. Cole and Drake. His feature on Drake's song "Jimmy Cooks" debuted at number one, becoming 21 Savage's second number-one single.
This led to a full album with Drake called Her Loss, released in 2022. It was another number-one album, and all 16 songs from it appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2024–present: American Dream
In January 2024, 21 Savage released his third studio album, American Dream. It became his fourth album in a row to reach number one on the charts. The album featured artists like Doja Cat, Travis Scott, and Burna Boy.
The songs "Redrum" and "Née-Nah" from the album became top-ten hits. He also performed with Burna Boy and Brandy at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Musical Style
21 Savage's music is often autobiographical, meaning he raps about his own life experiences. His collaborator Metro Boomin has described him as one of the most authentic street rappers. He is known for his calm, monotone voice, which has become his signature style. He has said that the group Three 6 Mafia influenced his music.
Giving Back to the Community
21 Savage is known for his charity work. For several years, he has hosted the "Issa Back to School Drive" in his Atlanta neighborhood. At these events, he gives away free school supplies, uniforms, and haircuts to kids.
In 2018, he started the "21 Savage Bank Account Campaign" to teach kids about money. He donated $21,000 to start the program, which helps young people learn how to save and open bank accounts. He also donated $10,000 to an elementary school for an anti-bullying program.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched a free online program to teach financial literacy to students at home. He worked with the mayor of Atlanta to provide free tablets and Wi-Fi to students who needed them.
Personal Life
21 Savage and his mother follow the traditional West African religion of Ifá. In 2017, he began taking flying lessons.
In 2018, he reportedly started a movement called "Guns Down, Paintballs Up" to encourage young people to use paintball guns instead of real firearms as a way to reduce violence.
In November 2020, his half-brother, Terrell Davis, was killed in London.
Discography
Studio albums
- Issa Album (2017)
- I Am > I Was (2018)
- American Dream (2024)
Collaborative albums
- Without Warning (with Offset and Metro Boomin) (2017)
- Savage Mode II (with Metro Boomin) (2020)
- Her Loss (with Drake) (2022)
Tours
Headlining
- Issa Tour (2017)
- Numb the Pain Tour (2017)
- I Am > I Was Tour (2019)
- American Dream Tour (2024)
Co-headlining
Opening act
- HiHorse'd Tour (2016) (with Young Thug)
- Beerbongs & Bentleys Tour (2018) (with Post Malone)
See also
In Spanish: 21 Savage para niños
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
