i am > i was

21 Savage - i am > i was
Critic Score
Based on 9 reviews
2018 Ratings: #223 / 890
User Score
2018 Rank: #338
Liked by 254 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Highsnobiety

The overly violent shtick has been largely cut, replaced with a frequent tendency to journey inward and record the results. Because of this, I Am > I Was is a near masterpiece.

84
HipHopDX
21 Savage’s maxim of “I Am Greater Than I Was” is growth, understanding that as an artist and a public figure, you must push yourself to make some changes within.
80
AllMusic

21 Savage's effortless swagger and distant affect made Issa Album fun and powerful, but it's a more complete look at the rapper's personality that makes I Am > I Was excellent.

80
The Guardian

The power in Savage’s music still lies in the gulf between what he is expected to feel and what he actually does: that brilliant vocal cadence suggests he is surveying the cars and girls of his new life with numbed distance, even disgust.

80
Crack Magazine

With 21 Savage maturing personally and musically since he first gained notoriety, I Am > I Was is a varied attempt at reconciling both sides of the face-tatted spitter’s vexing world.

78
Pitchfork
The second album from one of Atlanta’s most promising rappers recasts him as a star in waiting. He writes with grisly clarity and humor, and his songs here are sturdy, inventive, and sticky.
75
The 405

Overall, it’s a massive improvement on the disappointing Issa Album, with 21 Savage showing maturity whilst keeping his dark humour and persona.

67
Consequence of Sound

It’s unfortunate ... that the record finds itself held back by unfeeling and monotonous takes on issues like gun violence. Overall, i am > i was is a mixed bag of experience that offers enough solid tracks to keep fans latched on.

BradTasteMusic
78

The maturity of this album is clear as day. It just sounds so much better than anything else Savage has done. His style is being improved greatly here. It is a very fun project with great hooks and production.

Phillip
86

This is 21 savage's best record, no question about it.

On this album he sticks to his roots of the cold blooded trap bangers with tracks like can't leave without it and break da law. But he also adds a ton of new styles which is huge breath of fresh air with tracks like a lot and all my friends, these tracks add a huge amount of variety to keep it interesting and not just like a bland, typical trap album. All my friends in particular has an incredibly catchy hook from post malone and despite ... read more

AZIZ
82

I prefer his more cold blooded songs but at the same time, the growth is very refreshing

Nukeproofbear
79

This album > new season of fortnite

alexeyglukhov
74

a 74 is what i give this album.

55

This shit over hyped

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Track List

1a lot
4:48
95
2break da law
2:57
77
3a&t
3:31
55
4out for the night
2:17
77
5gun smoke
2:47
76
61.5
2:28
77
7all my friends
3:31
81
8can't leave without it
3:25
82
9asmr
2:51
75
10ball w/o you
3:15
83
11good day
4:02
70
12pad lock
3:11
72
13monster
3:53
82
14letter 2 my momma
3:14
78
154L
4:48
79
Total Length: 51 minutes

Year End Lists

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Added on: December 6, 2018