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Runnin (21 Savage and Metro Boomin song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Runnin
| title2 = Mr. Right Now
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = 21 Savage and Metro Boomin
| album = Savage Mode II
| released = October 13, 2020
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 3:16
| label =
* Slaughter Gang
* Epic
* Boominati
* Republic
| writer =
* Shyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
* Leland Wayne
* Michael Masser
* Pamela Sawyer
| producer = Metro Boomin
| chronology = 21 Savage
| prev_title = Bad Guy
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
"'Runnin'" is a song by rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2, 2020, as the opening track from their collaborative album 'Savage Mode II'. The "haunting" song samples Diana Ross' 1976 song "I Thought It Took a Little Time", with 21 Savage delivering lethal threats to his enemies in a casual fashion. The official video sees 21 take a victory lap through the streets of his hometown, celebrating his Grammy award for "A Lot". It was serviced to US rhythmic radio on October 13, 2020, together with "Mr. Right Now" as the dual lead singles from the album. Debuting and peaking at number nine on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, it is Metro Boomin's highest charting song; it was also 21 Savage's highest charting song as a lead artist until the release of My Life with J. Cole and Morray, which debuted and peaked at number two.
Composition and lyrics
"Runnin" is a "soulful" and "spooky" track, with Metro Boomin converting a sample of Diana Ross' 1976 song "I Thought It Took a Little Time" into a "haunting" loop, built around an "ominous" set of drums. Lyrically, the song sees21 Savagereturn to "the real, ultra-violent subject matter that brought him to the forefront of hip hop", as he delves into his "lethal tendencies", delivering lines about his arsenal of weapons and posing threats to enemies who refuse to stay in their place. The fast-paced beat coupled with 21's flow "denotes that he can 'run' with the track". As with other tracks on the album, the song features narration by Morgan Freeman, who poses the question: "Are things better or worse the second time around?"
Critical reception
'Rap-Up' and 'Complex' both regarded the song as a standout from the album, with 'Complex's Jessica McKinney favoring the chorus, which, she stated, "while monotone, sends chills through the speakers". Noting the song's soul sample, Micah Peters of The Ringer said in contrast to 21 Savage's second album, 'I Am > I Was', "Runnin' slithers back into someplace deep and murky, and crackles with the manic energy needed to adequately soundtrack a weekend's madness". Revolt's Jon Powell stated: "Presumably, the three-and-a-half minute long gesture is a statement to remind his listeners that he's [21 Savage] still the same man from the critically-acclaimed'Slaughter'mixtapes". Similarly, Dhruva Balram of 'NME' opined that "Runnin" follows the album's "elegiac theme, with Boomin's haunting production tailor-made for Savage's casual cadence and flow as he paints grisly scenes with a calm demeanour". In their album review, 'Consequence of Sound's Rashad Grove wrote: "On 'Running', Boomin's dark, haunting production is tailor-made for Savage's rhythmic cadences, casual flow, and unapologetic rawness".
Music video
The official music video premiered less than a day after the album's release. It was shot in August 2020, as the video's intro displays: "On January 26th, 2020, Savage won the grammy for best rap song. On August 26th, 2020, him & Metro brought the grammy to Atlanta". In the visual, 21 Savage takes a tour through his hometown Atlanta, while showing off his first Grammy award, which he won in January 2020 for Best Rap Song for "A Lot". Sharing the celebration of his win and symbolizing motivation, 21 lets the trophy travel through the hands of various local residents; as noted by 'Rap-Up', one woman holds the Grammy in her hand while twerking on the hood of a car, while a skateboarder jumps over it. Metro Boomin, meanwhile, pays homage to rap duo Three 6 Mafia, sporting their name on his shirt and wearing a MAGA-inspired hat, which reads "Make DJ Paul and Juicy J Three 6 Mafia again".
Charts
Certifications
Release history
References
Category:2020 singles
Category:2020 songs
Category:21 Savage songs
Category:Metro Boomin songs
Category:Songs written by 21 Savage
Category:Songs written by Metro Boomin
Category:Song recordings produced by Metro Boomin
Category:Songs written by Michael Masser
Category:Songs written by Pam Sawyer
Category:Epic Records singles
Category:Republic Records singles
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