21 Savage Announces ‘American Dream,’ First Studio Album in Nearly Six Years

21 Savage has been locked into album mode for a few months now, laying down tracks in the studio and keeping his cards close to his chest. But now that the project has fully taken shape, he’s ready to invite listeners into the next chapter of his career. The rapper has announced his third studio album American Dream, his first in nearly six years, set for release on Friday, Jan. 12.

The album artwork features a childhood photo of the artist born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph. Text from an immigrant visa appears over the image. 21 Savage was born in London, but raised in Atlanta from the age of seven. Until last year, he couldn’t even drive or fly in America due to a lack of an official government ID. In October, 21 Savage announced that he had become a permanent U.S. resident and could begin to travel internationally for the first time in his career.

21 Savage was in the thick of creating American Dream when he gave Rolling Stone a glimpse into his world for the January 2024 cover story. He was finishing up the record at Doppler Studios in Atlanta during the interview, but only provided scarce details about it. At the time, he hadn’t received any mixes back. “He damn near don’t even like the fact that we be listening to it,” his manager Meezy said. “That’s why he said it is not mixed. It might sound small, but it’s a really big deal for him.”

Even when he stepped into the recording booth, he sought out a solitary creative space. There, he holed up in a corner out of sight from the guests in the room and sat on a stool shaded by darkness. “I think back when it started getting more like a job, I got like that,” he told Rolling Stone about his newfound preference for privacy, which he discovered while making his second album, 2018’s I Am > I Was.

Ahead of the album announcement, 21 Savage shared the first trailer for American Dream: The 21 Savage Story. Starring Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin, the film is inspired by the rapper’s life. It’s set to be released on Independence Day, with the album being inspired by the events highlighted in the film. 

From Rolling Stone US.