21 Savage's debut studio album, Issa Album (2017), peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 and its lead single "Bank Account" reached number 12 on The Hot 100. He then released the collaborative album Without Warning (2017) with Offset and Metro Boomin, with the song "Ric Flair Drip" peaking at number 13 on the Hot 100. 21 Savage featured on Post Malone's 2017 single "Rockstar", which reached number one on the Hot 100 and nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards. His second album, i am > i was (2018), became his first U.S. number one album and spawned the hit song "A Lot" (featuring J. Cole), which won Best Rap Song at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
21 Savage was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 3, 2019. Officials revealed his status as a British citizen who entered the U.S. in July 2005 and unlawfully overstayed a H-4 visa that expired in 2006. He was granted bond on February 12 and released the next day, pending the outcome of an expedited deportation hearing, which was initially scheduled for April 9, but was later postponed indefinitely, with 21 Savage's lawyers stating he was legally residing in The U.S. for several years prior to the 2005 H-4 visa. 21 Savage's highly anticipated third album, Savage Mode II (2020), a sequel collaboration with Metro Boomin to their 2016 EP, debuted atop the Billboard 200, and spawned the U.S. top 10 singles "Runnin" and "Mr. Right Now" (featuring Drake).
On November 4th, 2022, 21 Savage would release "Her Loss", a collab album with Drake. It debuted at No.1 on the US Billboard 200. All 16 of its songs debuted on the Hot 100.
12 AM
21 Savage Lyrics
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Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Flipping, selling hard; flipping, selling hard
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Gotta have heart, gotta have heart
Gotta have heart when you're trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, hit it with the fork
Skrrt skrrt, scrape the sides, skrrt skrrt, scrape the bowl
Young savage, bitch, and I ain't never chasing no hoe
All I wanna do is count a big ol' bank roll
Eh, I cook the dope like chowder
Make the dope do the moon walk with the fork
Young savage, bitch I walk around with a .40
Shout out to Trap-A-Holics, cause I'm a trapaholic
I ran off with your work and you ain't do nothing about it
You should have shot your jeweler cause your stones is really cloudy
All these rap niggas rapping like they really 'bout it
Catch your ass in traffic, snatch your bitch ass out that Audi
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Flipping, selling hard; flipping, selling hard
Flipping, selling hard; flipping, selling hard
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Gotta have heart, gotta have heart
Gotta have heart when you're trapping after dark
I've been trapping since I can remember
I make the dope snow like it's December
My ice colder than the fucking winter
I got your main bitch, she in the blender
(Pew, pew, pew, pew) Shoot your motherfucking block up
Police ass nigga, you will get a nigga locked up
Stay down in the trap and ran my motherfucking guap up
You say you got shooters, why the hell they ain't never shot nothing?
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Flipping, selling hard; flipping, selling hard
Flipping, selling hard; flipping, selling hard
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Gotta have heart, gotta have heart
Gotta have heart when you're trapping after dark
The lyrics to 21 Savage's song "12 AM" are focused on the life of a drug dealer who operates at night ("trapping after dark"). The chorus is repetitive and emphasizes the urgency of the trap game: "trapping after dark, trapping after dark...gotta have heart when you're trapping after dark". The hook furthers this theme by highlighting the physical and mental strength required to succeed in this line of work: "flipping, selling hard; gotta have heart". The verses themselves are full of violent imagery and flexing (e.g. "skrrt skrrt, scrape the sides, skrrt skrrt, scrape the bowl"), and 21 Savage uses his signature monotone voice to convey his confidence in his abilities as a trapaholic. He is unfazed by the potential danger of his chosen profession, referencing running off with someone's drugs and expressing skepticism about the shooting abilities of his rivals.
Line by Line Meaning
Trapping after dark
Engaging in illegal drug distribution during nighttime hours
Trapping after dark, trapping after dark
Repetition of illegal drug distribution during nighttime hours
Flipping, selling hard; flipping, selling hard
Quickly buying and reselling drugs for profit
Gotta have heart, gotta have heart
It takes courage and determination to engage in illegal drug distribution
Trapping after dark, hit it with the fork
Mixing and cooking drugs on a hot surface with a utensil
Young savage, bitch, and I ain't never chasing no hoe
I am a tough and streetwise individual who is not interested in romantic pursuits
All I wanna do is count a big ol' bank roll
I am solely focused on making money through drug distribution
Eh, I cook the dope like chowder
I prepare drugs with expertise
Make the dope do the moon walk with the fork
Expertly manipulate the drugs while cooking
Young savage, bitch I walk around with a .40
I carry a gun for protection
Shout out to Trap-A-Holics, cause I'm a trapaholic
I am proud of my role as an illegal drug distributor and consider myself addicted to it
I ran off with your work and you ain't do nothing about it
I stole your drugs and you were powerless to stop me
You should have shot your jeweler cause your stones is really cloudy
Your diamonds are of poor quality and you did not protect your wealth
All these rap n****s rapping like they really 'bout it
Many rappers claim to be involved in illegal drug distribution, but many are not as committed as they claim
Catch your ass in traffic, snatch your bitch ass out that Audi
I will violently attack you and steal your possessions if I encounter you on the road
I've been trapping since I can remember
I have been involved in illegal drug distribution for a long time
I make the dope snow like it's December
I prepare drugs so they resemble snow
My ice colder than the fucking winter
My jewelry is of high quality and valuable
I got your main bitch, she in the blender
I have seduced and/or kidnapped your girlfriend
(Pew, pew, pew, pew) Shoot your motherfucking block up
Use a gun to violently assault a specific area
Police ass n****, you will get a n**** locked up
If you interact with the police, you will be arrested and imprisoned
Stay down in the trap and ran my motherfucking guap up
Stay focused on drug distribution and made a lot of money from it
You say you got shooters, why the hell they ain't never shot nothing?
You claim to have armed associates, but they have never actually performed violent acts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SHAYAA JOSEPH, SONNY COREY UWAEZUOKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind