I Am > I Was
by 21 Savage
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Dec 21, 2018
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 123 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 111 out of 123
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 123
  3. Negative: 7 out of 123
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  1. Numba1Stunna
    Jan 7, 2019
    9
    This is a very solid album. Great production throughout and 21 shows a lot of maturity. “Gun smoke” and “4L” are absolute BANGERS. The feature with J. Cole is excellent (“a lot”), as is the one with Childish Gambino (“monster”). He has several tracks where he appears solo (like the aforementioned “gun smoke”) and one of my faves on the album is “out for the night”. Whether you prefer oldThis is a very solid album. Great production throughout and 21 shows a lot of maturity. “Gun smoke” and “4L” are absolute BANGERS. The feature with J. Cole is excellent (“a lot”), as is the one with Childish Gambino (“monster”). He has several tracks where he appears solo (like the aforementioned “gun smoke”) and one of my faves on the album is “out for the night”. Whether you prefer old or new school, this album will appeal to you. Overall, in my opinion, his best effort yet.… Expand
  2. ms2822
    Feb 27, 2019
    8
    21 Savage is many things - "accurate album title picker" is one of them. He went savage mode on his breakout mixtape with Metro Boomin, fittingly titled Savage Mode. His debut, Issa Album, was, well, an album. He dropped his collaborative album with Offset and Metro Boomin, entitled Without Warning... well, without warning! And on his sophomore effort, 21 Savage has proven himself greater21 Savage is many things - "accurate album title picker" is one of them. He went savage mode on his breakout mixtape with Metro Boomin, fittingly titled Savage Mode. His debut, Issa Album, was, well, an album. He dropped his collaborative album with Offset and Metro Boomin, entitled Without Warning... well, without warning! And on his sophomore effort, 21 Savage has proven himself greater than he was by delivering his best performance yet. Right away, on album opener "a lot", you find 21 flowing over a surprising medium (a soul sample) delivering something even more surprising - introspection. Then J. Cole comes in and the entire song just explodes. 21 continues to work outside of the box elsewhere in the project, whether it's a catchy strip club banger in "a&t" with City Girl Yung Miami or "ball w/o you", his strong attempt at forlorn 808s and Heartbreak-style in-my-feelings autocrooning (with a surprisingly effective falsetto portion). On "out for the night", 21 seems to almost affectionately parody Drake while still effectively keeping it 21. "all my friends" serves as a strong follow-up with Post Malone to their smash single "rockstar", even throwing in an update on 21's now-iconic twelve-car garage. "good day" shows 21 handling hook duty, leaving the verses to two artists we haven't seen in a while: TDE's ScHoolboy Q and, more surprisingly, Memphis legend Project Pat. (They both slay it.) However, the most striking track, in my opinion, was "monster", a true slapper that also contains the first rap feature from Childish Gambino since Steve G. Lover's "No Hookahs" in 2016, and the first rap verse from Gambino in a long time. The ever-versatile Donald Glover kills his feature, but still leaves room for 21 to desecrate the track's corpse. Overall, this was a phenomenal sophomore effort from Britain's finest.… Expand
  3. dubsv
    Mar 8, 2020
    0
    mumble dick garbage this shouldnt be in the hip hop section at all this is trash his fans r trash
  4. LogosKal
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    One of the best trap albums of all time, better than the most of the mumble rap bs (a lot
  5. supsbro
    Oct 5, 2020
    0
    ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. n
  6. Steph92
    Oct 4, 2020
    0
    Typical generic western crap that Americans listen to pretending to be edgy.

    Just as it always was.
  7. Easyman
    Jan 7, 2019
    9
    21 is making a bigger name for himself with a pretty solid album. Some of tracks might be a little to much but those songs are saved by brilliant features such as Childish Gambino, Post, J. Cole, and Travis “la flame” Scott. 21’s work deserves a lot more notice.
  8. HeavyMachinegun
    Jan 7, 2019
    8
    Such a great work by someone like 21 savage. He is greater than he was, just stuck in the mainstream commercial spots in the past, he was an image in the mumble rap game. But now, with this album, you can clearly see his evolution and maturity, how his music evolved, better lyrics, better beats, a better production in general, making him a fine artist that has something to say. With thatSuch a great work by someone like 21 savage. He is greater than he was, just stuck in the mainstream commercial spots in the past, he was an image in the mumble rap game. But now, with this album, you can clearly see his evolution and maturity, how his music evolved, better lyrics, better beats, a better production in general, making him a fine artist that has something to say. With that being said, probably the features and collaboration with other artists really helped him gaining something more during the album, but in general, it's a great piece of work.… Expand
  9. Shaymooose
    Aug 17, 2019
    5
    A lot of artistic improvement here, title ain't a lie.

    Best Tracks; all my friends, a lot, letter 2 my momma, monster, asmr,
    Worst Tracks: break da law
  10. JACK15q
    Dec 29, 2019
    8
    Fire very solid album. This shows growth, theirs some lyrical songs on this project like a lot, ball w/o you and letter 2 my mamma. Theirs also lots of bangers. Lots of great flows
  11. Jesper43
    Jun 22, 2020
    8
    I agree with the statement 'i am > i was. Because this is easily his best a album to date. There is a lot of bangers on here. Like 4L and gun smoke. But also some emotional tracks. like a letter to my mama. The lyrics are pretty simple and the albums gives a good vibe. I'm looking forward to his next project!
  12. zachym11
    Oct 13, 2020
    8
    Very unique and chilling album. Best songs are a lot, letter to my momma, and out for the night pt 2.
  13. Hendo250
    Apr 6, 2021
    7
    this album is a 7 this album is a 7 this album is a 7 this album is a 7 this album is a 7
  14. AdityMaha
    Jun 11, 2022
    7
    I Personally thought that this Album was **** amazing with the expection of the track "out for the night pt.2" the rest of the project was a pretty banger of Album which also features a couple of my absolute favorite 21 Savage songs to this day like: "Monster(feat. Childish Gambino), a lot(feat. J. Cole), 1.5(feat. Offset) and 4L along with other bangers like out for the night 1 and all myI Personally thought that this Album was **** amazing with the expection of the track "out for the night pt.2" the rest of the project was a pretty banger of Album which also features a couple of my absolute favorite 21 Savage songs to this day like: "Monster(feat. Childish Gambino), a lot(feat. J. Cole), 1.5(feat. Offset) and 4L along with other bangers like out for the night 1 and all my friends which featured a killer chorus by Post Malone. Anyway this Album as a whole is pretty amazing and is in opinion at least 21 Savage's better solo project he has released(he has only released 2 Solo albums so far in his carrer) this album definitely has its high points and low points and for that I think that 21 Savage's 2018 Shomphore Album "i am > i was" is a Strong 7 out of 10.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. The 405
    Jan 11, 2019
    75
    Overall, it’s a massive improvement on the disappointing Issa Album, with 21 Savage showing maturity whilst keeping his dark humour and persona.
    Read full review
  2. The Guardian
    Jan 4, 2019
    80
    There is a slight uptick in vocal musicality compared with his previous work. ... He has plenty of average lines--almost as offensive as the rightly controversial “Jewish money” lyric in ASMR is the weakness of “you get burned like toast” as a simile--but his catchy flows always make him magnetic, especially when paired with universally brilliant production from Metro Boomin, Kid Hazel and others.
    Read full review
  3. Variety
    Jan 2, 2019
    85
    Despite all the high-profile guests, it’s actually on the soulfully inventive “Ball w/o You,” “Gun Smoke” and the sensual “Out for the Night”--which all feature 21 Savage on his own--that “i am > i was” is at its best and most dynamic.
    Read full review
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