Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as … Read Full Bio ↴Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as 21 Savage, is a rapper based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Born in London, he moved to Atlanta with his mother at age seven. He became known after releasing two mixtapes in 2015, before attaining international attention with the release of the collaborative EP Savage Mode (2016) with Metro Boomin; its singles "X" (featuring Future) and "No Heart" peaked within the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 21 Savage's profile also later increased with a guest feature on Canadian Rapper and Singer Drake's 2016 single "Sneakin'". He then signed a recording contract with Epic Records in January 2017.

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.

Slidin
21 Savage Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, yeah
Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah

It's the big stepper (stepper), 4L repper (repper)
Hit him with a twenty-piece, ranch lemon pepper (pepper)
Black Air Force 1s, dancin' with the devil
(If young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you, 21, 21, 21)

His wifey trouble, thot was finna cut her, I pulled out a rubber
Opps tried to slide on my brother, had to up that cutter
When it's smoke, we huddle, so many shots, damn near shot each other
AR st-st-stutter, Draco brown, look like peanut butter
Don't play tic-tac-toe or tit-for-tat, nigga, this ain't that (21, 21)
He was talkin' gangster on them tracks 'til I got him whacked
Glizzy with the switch and it go splat, ain't no duckin' that
Y'all be smokin' make believe opps, we be smokin', facts
We be smokin' gang after gang, cock it back and bang
21 4L, that's what I claim, let your nuts hang
We don't shoot at houses, we hit brains, y'all lil' niggas lame
Fell in love with them chopper sounds, Waka Flocka Flame

Slidin'
Lookin' for the opps, they been hidin'
I grew up 'round drugs, sex, and violence
We turned off they street, we heard sirens
Since a juvenile, I been wildin'
Chrome Heart jeans got me stylin'
Said he wanted smoke, now he joggin'
While you was in college I was robbin'
(If young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you)

(Brrt, bop bop)
Everybody run to they car (21)
You ain't gon' make it that far (21)
Walk down with an AR (straight up)
We keep shit in the street (on God)
They gon' put it on the bar (on God)
Y'all niggas talkin' on pillows
All my Glocks got dildos (21)
Take your bank like Cee-lo (21)
Draco bite, mosquito (21)
Y'all niggas corny, Frito (pussy)
Kel-Tec hot, it shoot Cheeto (pussy)
Y'all be talkin' that rah-rah (pussy)
You ain't finna rob-rob me, though (pussy)
He went against me, he gone
Step on him, I put my feet on him (21)
I just made an opp do the runnin' man (runnin' man)
Keep an FN in my Cullinan (Cullinan)
Still ain't met a bitch that I'd cuff again (21, 21)
Still ain't met a bitch that I'd kiss (on God)
He was talkin' crazy, he got blick (straight up)
Savage keep a token, John Wick (John Wick)
Shoot him in the back like he Rick (Ricky)
Playin' freeze tag, niggas it (sticky)

Slidin'
Lookin' for the opps, they been hidin'
I grew up 'round drugs, sex, and violence
We turned off they street, we heard sirens
Since a juvenile, I been wildin'
Chrome Heart jeans got me stylin'
Said he wanted smoke, now he joggin'
While you was in college I was robbin'
(If young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you)

"When your vision is crystal clear, they say it's razor-sharp
A focused mind is said to be like a knife, but the scalpel is wisdom

All one can do is accept that life is a double-edged sword
Stay on the edge"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 21 Savage's song Slidin' portray a gritty and violent lifestyle where the rapper and his crew are seeking out their enemies, referred to as "opps" or opposition. Their search is intense as the opps have been hiding and they are hunted down in the streets. The song is peppered with gunshots, alluding to the use of firearms in dealing with their rivals. 21 Savage describes himself as a "big stepper" and a "4L repper," referring to the 4L crew he is a part of. He mentions hitting someone with a "twenty-piece," likely a reference to a twenty-piece chicken nugget meal, but with the addition of ranch lemon pepper, it implies the addition of drugs to the transaction. He further emphasizes his violent nature by donning black Air Force 1s, a popular choice of footwear among gang members, and by stating that he is "dancing with the devil."

The lyrics also allude to a love of violence, with lines like "fell in love with them chopper sounds," referencing the sound of automatic firearms. 21 Savage also asserts that he and his crew are "smoking" multiple gangs, making a graphic reference to killing their enemies. He makes it clear that he has little use for talk of retaliation, saying that "this ain't that" and that they don't waste bullets by shooting at houses. The rapper ends the song by stating that he has been robbing since he was young and that he keeps a "token" similar to the character John Wick.

Overall, Slidin' paints a vivid picture of violence, drugs, and crime in rough inner-city neighborhoods. The lyrics are graphic, brutal, and offer an unvarnished look at a world that is far removed from many people's experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

It's the big stepper (stepper), 4L repper (repper)
I'm a big player and I represent the 4L gang

Hit him with a twenty-piece, ranch lemon pepper (pepper)
I gave him twenty gunshots with hot sauce and lemon seasoning

Black Air Force 1s, dancin' with the devil
I'm wearing black sneakers that symbolize danger and I'm in a risky situation

(If young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you, 21, 21, 21)
If my producer, Young Metro, doesn't trust you, I'm going to shoot you

His wifey trouble, thot was finna cut her, I pulled out a rubber
His girlfriend was causing problems, a promiscuous woman was about to attack her, so I used a gun

Opps tried to slide on my brother, had to up that cutter
The enemies tried to attack my brother, so I had to use a knife

When it's smoke, we huddle, so many shots, damn near shot each other
When bullets are flying, we huddle up for safety, and we almost shot each other by accident

AR st-st-stutter, Draco brown, look like peanut butter
The sound of my automatic rifle repeated, and the color of my other gun looks like peanut butter

Don't play tic-tac-toe or tit-for-tat, nigga, this ain't that (21, 21)
Don't play childish or petty games, this is serious

He was talkin' gangster on them tracks 'til I got him whacked
He acted tough in his song lyrics until I killed him

Glizzy with the switch and it go splat, ain't no duckin' that
My handgun with the switchblade attacked and it's impossible to avoid

Y'all be smokin' make believe opps, we be smokin', facts
You pretend to smoke fake enemies, but we actually smoke real ones

We be smokin' gang after gang, cock it back and bang
We shoot and kill members of different gangs

21 4L, that's what I claim, let your nuts hang
I'm a member of the 4L gang and I'm proud of it

We don't shoot at houses, we hit brains, y'all lil' niggas lame
We don't aim at property, but at people. You guys are weak

Fell in love with them chopper sounds, Waka Flocka Flame
I love the sound of my machine gun, like the artist Waka Flocka Flame

Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Just repeating sounds

Slidin'
Moving around to find the enemies

Lookin' for the opps, they been hidin'
Searching for the enemies who are in hiding

I grew up 'round drugs, sex, and violence
I was raised in an environment with a lot of illegal drugs, sexual activity, and violent behavior

We turned off they street, we heard sirens
We left the enemies' territory because we heard the police approaching

Since a juvenile, I been wildin'
Since I was a young person, I've been behaving recklessly and dangerously

Chrome Heart jeans got me stylin'
My expensive Chrome Heart jeans make me look fashionable

Said he wanted smoke, now he joggin'
He challenged me and now he's running away in fear

While you was in college I was robbin'
While you were pursuing higher education, I was committing thefts

(Brrt, bop bop)
The sound of gunshots

Everybody run to they car (21)
Everyone is fleeing to their car for safety

You ain't gon' make it that far (21)
I'll probably shoot them before they can escape

Walk down with an AR (straight up)
I'm carrying my high-powered assault rifle while walking towards the enemies

We keep shit in the street (on God)
We keep our confrontations and conflicts in public spaces

They gon' put it on the bar (on God)
The police will investigate us and we'll go to jail

Y'all niggas talkin' on pillows
You guys are just talking and not taking any action

All my Glocks got dildos (21)
All my guns have silencers so they don't make loud noises

Take your bank like Cee-lo (21)
I'll rob you like a game of Cee-lo where you bet your money

Draco bite, mosquito (21)
My automatic machine gun is fierce and deadly like a mosquito bite

Y'all niggas corny, Frito (pussy)
You guys are boring and generic like Fritos snacks

Kel-Tec hot, it shoot Cheeto (pussy)
My Kel-Tec gun is hot and shoots like a Cheeto

Y'all be talkin' that rah-rah (pussy)
You guys talk big but you're scared

You ain't finna rob-rob me, though (pussy)
You're not going to steal from me that easily

He went against me, he gone
If he opposes me, he will die

Step on him, I put my feet on him (21)
I will step on his corpse with my shoes

I just made an opp do the runnin' man (runnin' man)
I made an enemy dance with fear and try to escape

Keep an FN in my Cullinan (Cullinan)
I keep a FN gun in my Rolls Royce Cullinan car

Still ain't met a bitch that I'd cuff again (21, 21)
I haven't met a woman worthy of being my girlfriend

Still ain't met a bitch that I'd kiss (on God)
I haven't met a woman worthy of being physically intimate with

He was talkin' crazy, he got blick (straight up)
He was saying foolish things, so I shot him

Savage keep a token, John Wick (John Wick)
I'm ruthless and deadly like the fictional character John Wick

Shoot him in the back like he Rick (Ricky)
I'm going to shoot him in the back like the character Rick from a TV show

Playin' freeze tag, niggas it (sticky)
We're playing the game of freeze tag with guns and bullets

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Allen Ritter, David Ruoff, Elias Klughammer, Leland Tyler Wayne, Peter Lee Johnson, Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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