Born in London and raised in Atlanta, the rapper 21 Savage hasn’t been across the pond since he was 12. In 2019, he was arrested for allegedly overstaying his visa, and for four years he lived in legal purgatory. But with help from friends like Jay-Z, the rapper is back home and headlining arenas in Europe. With two studio albums, Issa Album (2017) and I Am > I Was (2018), and three other collaborative projects to his name, 21’s deadpan drawl has become as unmistakeable as is his cutting wit. Most recently, he and Drake released Her Loss (2022), which secured 21 as the sixth most popular artist on Spotify in 2023. With five Grammy nominations under his belt, consider 2023 the year of 21 Savage’s homecoming. A few weeks ago, he headlined the O2 Arena in London and documented the whole adventure just for Interview.
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“Being back in London has brought back so many memories from my childhood—this is my journey coming full circle and how far I have come.”
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“To come out on stage to all of these people who have supported me through my career is what motivates me. Coming home was like a celebration for me and my family but the fans, too.”
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“The after party was all good energy, to have so many peers from UK come out and support on stage and after was the best.”
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“It has been great to have Baby Drill and Lil Harold on tour with me to kick the nights off, they always get the crowd ready.”
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“Being on stage at O2 arena for the after party and then flipping it to my own club, Club O2 21, was real special. The vibe was unreal.”
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“This tour has just been nonstop for me, we have been all around Europe at this point—it’s surreal to recognize how my music resonates across the globe.”
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“I’ve learned to embrace life’s ups and downs because they always build me up and take me to a new level in life and ultimately lead to a new journey.”
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“Being able to perform is something I am always grateful for, I enjoyed showcasing more fashion looks while I’m on tour. I kicked off my tour in Paris at Zenith and wore some looks by brands I like to work with Celine and Prada—I am looking forward to keep building my tour looks with some more amazing designers.”
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“I did three outfit changes on the last night of the tour. It was an amazing experience to work with Mowalola and CRTZ, I look forward to collaborate with them again for more looks.”
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“Europe has been waiting for me to come back and perform for so long, it was so explosive—every stop along the tour brought insane energy.”
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