21 Savage has had dueling images since his Grammy-winning, chart-topping music career launched. The 30-year-old artist born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph broke through with menacing songs like 2016’s “Red Opps” and 2017’s “My Choppa Hate Ni**as” with Metro Boomin. Both songs streamed in the hundreds of millions, cementing a new voice in Atlanta. In these moments, Slaughter Gang founder rapped about carrying out revenge against his opps’ mother, ties to street organizations, and comparing his weapon to storied hate groups. In 2018, the convicted felon made Billboard headlines for all the wrong reasons—when he drew a weapon at a pool party brawl in Atlanta, Georgia.

However, in a matter of years, 21 seemingly pivoted. The artist began working with J. Cole and Childish Gambino, and making songs that were renowned for their lyrical substance and style. Late 2018’s I am > I was seemingly lived up to its title, as an MC in his upper-twenties flexed growth, maturity, and a care for the very successful and influential music he was making. During this period, he launched 21 Bank Account Campaign, a campaign that promotes financial literacy and advocacy to under-served youth, which remains in place today.

21 Savage Didn’t Face Deportation Until He Became A Positive Influence

As that movement was taking place, 21 Savage entered a mainstream news cycle. In February 2019, the English-born 21 Savage was arrested by ICE for allegedly unlawfully entering the United States. 21, a convicted felon for 2014 drug charges in Georgia, faced deportation. The Hip-Hop community stood behind the star, with Post Malone wearing a shirt during that season’s Grammy performance, to many calling for the release of the Epic Records star. Over a week later, 21 was released by ICE on bond. The artist then spoke about the arrest, and confronted his British beginnings, a fact about himself that he’d never discussed in music—which prompted some laughter amid the initial concern.

Since 2019, 21 Savage has continued to level up. His collaboration helped J. Cole earn his first Grammy Award. He partnered with Drake for Her Loss, Savage’s third chart-topping full-length of his career. In 2022, 21 quickly backpedaled a comment he made about Nas into another high-profile collaboration. Last month, Georgia State Representative Billy Mitchell presented 21 Savage with an award, and made December 21 “21 Savage Day” in Stone Mountain. The gesture coincided with a toy drive produced by the artist’s Leading By Example Foundation.

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However, atop 2023, 21 Savage seems to have relapsed, at least in thought. On Monday (January 16), a clip from a recent Clubhouse appearance from 21 was shared online. It was on that talking app where 21 made controversial remarks about Nas some weeks back (ahead of their working together). This time, the Slaughter Gang founder spoke of crime in his past, while arguing with people over the Internet surrounding his street credibility and authenticity.

At 12:20 in the clip, 21 Savage asks “Am I real ni**a?” He answers, “Ni**as on this b*tch acting like I’m just a Rap ni**a. Damn. I done brought more of your ni**as home than you! Them facts, ni**a.” The voices raise and tensions escalate.

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In another, shorter clip, 21 Savage appears to further incriminate himself for serious crimes:

21 Savage On Clubhouse #21savage #clubhouse pic.twitter.com/ONu3cNY456

— Zero Dropped Frames (@zdframes) January 16, 2023

“You waited for this moment your whole life, so you could argue with a ni**a on Clubhouse,” a frustrated 21 Savage says. “You keep letting all these Chicago ni**as boost your head up, like y’all ni**as ain’t dying in real life. Stop playing.” Moments later, the other voice in the exchange questioned 21’s claims. The star rapper elaborated, “Every ni**a we beef with, 30 of they ni**as get smoked and don’t nothing happen to us. In real life. It’s real life.”

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Seconds later, 21 Savage doubled down, with a threat. “Aye, cap, you from Chicago. I advise you to shut the f*ck up. ’Cause the ni**as that I f*ck with up there [are] spanking sh*t, so stop playing. Y’all ain’t spanking nothing, ni**a.” He then chided, “You will die.”

After a five-year period where 21 Savage has refined himself, and moved beyond his past, this is an alarming regression that may have consequences. Further, in a Rap world ablaze about artists like Gunna allegedly cooperating with authorities in the ongoing RICO investigation of Young Thug, Savage’s actions show that, in more cases than not, artists are actually snitching on themselves—in music, on social media and, apparently, on Clubhouse.