Issa Album

Named for the tattoo that sits between his eyes (“It’s a knife”), 21 Savage’s debut studio album glistens with sinister flows and explicit reveals. *Issa Album* dives deep into the trap side, documenting his come-up, the spoils, temptations, irritations, and self-medication. “Dead People” and “Close My Eyes” paint grimy pictures and rank as some of 21\'s most viscerally affective tracks yet (“I see dead bodies when I close my eyes” goes the hook in the latter). Tempered production by Pierre Bourne, Wheezy, Southside, DJ Mustard, and Metro Boomin allow the ATL rapper the full stage, closing out with a 7-minute freestyle.

The ambitious debut from 21 Savage features many of the best producers around, but the young rapper doesn't have the finesse to break out beyond his horror-film style.

After building anticipation with a handful of self-released EPs and mixtapes, Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage delivered his official major-label debut, Issa Album.

Issa constitutes a breakthrough for 21 Savage. Slowly but surely, through tentative disavowals of past behaviour, the young Atlanta rapper i...