Halloween was a perfect time for the tandem of 21 Savage and Metro Boomin to reunite for another full-length project. Their styles organically mesh as 21 Savage’s menacing style and horror movie themed imagery perfectly mirrors the dark and rumbling production of young Metro. Add on the rap equivalent of an NBA All-Star in Offset, and you have the perfect soundtrack for shaking down little kids for their candy in Without Warning.
Without Warning is undoubtedly a Metro Boomin-driven product. It’s hard to imagine that his dark production didn’t inspire the equally dark lyrical content. The background sounds play as important role as the thunderous 808s, Metro fills the soundscape with chainsaws, gunshots, and maniacal laughter. Metro’s haunting instrumentals are directly responsible for tracks like “Nightmare,” “My Choppa Hate Niggas,” and “Darth Vader.” Even the Offset solo track “Ric Flair Drip,” which presents itself as the most club ready song on the project features some lurking keys and eerie chords.
With the spooky reversed vocals that lace “My Choppa Hate Niggas,” the resounding howls of “Nightmare,” and the chilling laughter on “Mad Stalkers” it’s hard not to imagine Metro Boomin producing these in a Halloween costume while watching horror movies. Every song gives off the essence that someone is breathing down your neck. Without Warning really comes off as Metro Boomin’s House of Horrors. Seriously, when the next Friday the 13th movie needs a soundtrack Metro should be the first person they hit up.
The duo appears together on 6 of the album’s 10 tracks with Offset’s solo affairs being “Ric Flair Drip” and “Nightmare” and 21 flies solo on “My Choppa Hate Niggas” and “Run Up Them Racks.” Metro’s subtle touches blends them so seamlessly you don’t notice that the other doesn’t appear on the track. At the outro of “My Choppa Hate Niggas” the drums bottom out leaving only the chilling keys and 21 chanting “issa nightmare on Elm street/Feel like Jason Friday 13th/Hockey mask with the 223” which bleeds into the howling intro of “Nightmare” presenting them as two sides of the same blood-soaked coin.
Most would think that a combination of 21 Savage, Metro Boomin,and Offset would simply be a rehash of Savage Mode featuring ⅓ of the Migos however the trio develop a chemistry that is unique in its own right. Offset continues to be one of the most dazzling rappers in the game. His imprint on the album serves as the lightning that imbues life in this sonic version of Frankenstein’s creature. Offset is used to sharing the spotlight with his brothers-in-arms but his work with 21 is different, while each of the Migos has their idiosyncrasies they all share a commonality in their high-energy, rapid-fire deliveries.
Yet in 21, Offset gains a gruff running mate with a trademark syrup-laced snarl. Offset and 21 Savage work together excellently serving as analogues to Freddy and Jason, respectively. Offset acts as Freddy finding more and more creative ways to kill you with intricate rhymes and complex flows. 21 Savage steps into the Jason Voorhees role, direct and ruthless, hacking at you with vivid realism and the grim demeanor of someone desensitized by violence.
When Offset sensationalizes like on “Darth Vader” where he raps “Runnin’ from demons, angels in my dream when I’m leanin’/Tec-9 with the beam/Don’t nobody move before the shit start ringing” 21 is always there return you to the bleakness of reality “My dog lost his life and it changed me/I’m popping Percocets cause the pain deep,” he spits on “Darth Vader.” Whereas Offset toys with his prey enjoying every moment before their inevitable demise 21 simply bashes them against a tree.
21 has been sharpening his rap dagger sounding more confident and clever than ever. Who knew 21 was a Game of Thrones fan? 21 has been constantly adding new creative elements to his repertoire as shown by his foray into singing on ISSA Album and some impressive flows to inject life into 21’s sometimes monotonous voice. Rhymes like “Kim Jong, yeah big bombs/Wonder Bread man, make ya bitch lick crumbs/Audemars Piguet flooded got my wrist numb/Grab the hitstick nigga tryna blitz some’” from the intro “Ghostface Killers” show a splash of color and growth.
The superstar trio knows how to make an impact, Without Warning will send chills down your spine, raise the hair on the nape of your neck, and make you duck for cover in it’s short 33 minute runtime. Without Warning is an immensely fun affair that perfectly plays to the strength of each member of the trio.