Major step forward

21 Savage I Am > I Was Sony

FOR New Year’s resolution-makers intent on self-improvement, the first album to top the Billboard charts in 2019 has an appropriately inspirational title straight out of a self-help book. Pronounced I Am Greater Than I Was, the sophomore release by the 26-year-old Atlanta rapper born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph makes good on its claim. 21 Savage is indeed greater than he was.

IAm is a major step forward from his 2017 debut, Issa Album, in both thoughtfulness and musical variety, distinguishing the rapper as a street-hardened thinker with an understated delivery. That comes across in places you would expect, such as Letter 2 My

Momma. But it’s apparent also on harder cuts, like the formidable opener, ALot , in which he mourns the loss of a younger brother and makes room for guest J. Cole, who accuses competing rappers of using bots to inflate their music streaming numbers. Other big-name acts that drop in include Childish Gambino, Schoolboy Q, and Post Malone, who featured 21 on Rockstar and returns the favour on All My Friends.

And 21’s notoriety has also been aided — for worse rather than better — by NBA star LeBron James, who got deservedly roasted online (and quickly apologised) over the holiday break for posting a video of himself rapping along to the lyrics of IAm ’s ASMR that have been called out as anti-Semitic.