21 Savage Shows Off His Vocal Range While Singing SZA’s “The Weekend”
Few R&B songs in recent years have received as much love from rappers as SZA's "The Weekend" from her June 2017 album Ctrl. The latest MC to express their affection is 21 Savage, who served a rendition of the track via Instagram story on Wednesday (July 18).
In the footage, captured and recirculated by The Shade Room, the Atlanta rapper films himself at home, listening and singing along to the song. While he's known for his fried monotone flows, Savage shows off a sly capacity for melody, although his falsetto could use some work. It's a charming cover.
Subsequent clips suggest 21 was in a particularly soulful mood. Shade Room's video also features the rapper singing along to SWV's 1997 song "When U Cry," and at time of publishing, Savage's own Instagram story featured himself in a car singing Faith Evans' 1995 single "Soon As I Get Home," co-penned by Diddy.
The SZA tribute follows a long line of "The Weekend" covers by rappers, including Wale, A Boggie Wit Da Hoodie, K Camp and Fetty Wap. As for his own music, 21 last appeared on Future's "What's Up With That" and G Herbo's "That's How I Grew Up," two songs featured on the Superfly soundtrack.
Watch 21 Savage sing SZA's "The Weekend" and SWV's "When U Cry" below.
See Behind-the-Scenes Photos of 21 Savage at 2016 XXL Freshman Class Cover Shoot