"Runnin"
Single by 21 Savage and Metro Boomin
from the album Savage Mode II
ReleasedOctober 13, 2020
Length3:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Chason Samuel
21 Savage singles chronology
"Bad Guy"
(2020)		 "Runnin" / "Mr. Right Now"
(2020)		 "Spiral"
(2021)
Metro Boomin singles chronology
"Dead Meat 2.0"
(2019)		 "Runnin" / "Mr. Right Now"
(2020)		 "Striker #1 Remix"
(2021)
Music video
"Runnin" on YouTube

"Runnin" is a song by Atlanta-based 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 was both artists' highest-charting song as lead artists, until the releases of "My Life" by J. Cole, 21 Savage, and Morray, which debuted and peaked at number two. and "Creepin'" by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage peaked at number three [1]

Composition and lyrics

"Runnin" is a "soulful"[2] and "spooky" track,[3][4] with Metro Boomin converting a sample of Diana Ross' 1976 song "I Thought It Took a Little Time" into a "haunting" loop,[5] built around an "ominous" set of drums.[3] Lyrically, the song sees 21 Savage return to "the real, ultra-violent subject matter that brought him to the forefront of hip hop",[6] as he delves into his "lethal tendencies", delivering lines about his arsenal of weapons[5] and posing threats to enemies who refuse to stay in their place.[3] The fast-paced beat coupled with 21's flow "denotes that he can 'run' with the track".[4] 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?"[7]

Critical reception

Rap-Up and Complex both regarded the song as a standout from the album,[5][8] with Complex's Jessica McKinney favoring the chorus, which, she stated, "while monotone, sends chills through the speakers".[5] 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".[9] 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".[6] 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".[10] 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".[11]

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".[12] 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,[2] 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".[8]

Charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 52
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 65
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 28
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 13
France (SNEP)[18] 115
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[19] 25
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 76
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 5
Portugal (AFP)[23] 57
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 43
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 9
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 5

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[28] Gold 40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[29] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[31] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 2, 2020
[32]
United States October 13, 2020 Rhythmic contemporary radio [33]

References

  1. ↑ "21 Savage". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  2. 1 2 D., Dre (October 2, 2020). "21 Savage Brings His Grammy To The Block For "Runnin" Video". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Alston, Trey (October 7, 2020). "Savage Mode II Is 21 Savage at His Horrific Best". Paste. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Aiken, Koji (October 2, 2020). "New Music Friday: 21 Savage & Metro Boomin, Louis the Child, and YG". CLN. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 McKinney, Jessica (October 3, 2020). "Best New Music This Week: 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, Megan Thee Stallion, Bryson Tiller, and More". Complex. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Powell, Jon (October 2, 2020). "21 Savage and Metro Boomin bring the Grammy home in "Runnin" visual". Revolt. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  7. ↑ Carey, Jacob (October 5, 2020). "Boomin's 'Savage Mode II' Doesn't Live Up to the Original". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "21 Savage and Metro Boomin Drop 'Runnin' Video". Rap-Up. October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Peters, Micah (October 7, 2020). "21 Savage and Metro Boomin Brought a Classic Rap Ethos to 'Savage Mode II". The Ringer. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ Balram, Dhruva (October 8, 2020). "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – 'Savage Mode 2' review: a near-perfect sequel that leaves nothing to chance". NME. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  11. ↑ Grove, Rashad (October 7, 2020). "21 Savage and Metro Boomin Deliver a Grimy Sequel with the Masterful Savage Mode II: Review". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ Kiefer, Halle (October 2, 2020). "21 Savage's Grammy Takes a Victory Lap Around Atlanta In New 'Runnin' Video With Metro Boomin". Vulture. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 12 October 2020". The ARIA Report. No. 1597. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 12, 2020. p. 4.
  14. ↑ "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Runnin" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  15. ↑ "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Runnin" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  16. ↑ "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Runnin" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  17. ↑ "21 Savage Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 41, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  21. ↑ "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Runnin" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  22. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  23. ↑ "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Runnin". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ "21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Runnin". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  26. ↑ "21 Savage Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  27. ↑ "21 Savage Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – 21 Savage & Metro Bommin – Runnin". Music Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  29. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 10, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Runnin in the search box.
  30. ↑ "British single certifications – 21 Savage & Metro Bommin – Runnin". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  31. ↑ "American single certifications – 21 Savage – Runnin". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  32. ↑ "SAVAGE MODE II by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin on Apple Music". Retrieved October 11, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  33. ↑ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
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