21 Savage Says Atlanta Will Never Recover From TakeOff’s Death & Young Thug RICO Case

21 Savage has explained how Atlanta is still reeling from the loss of TakeOff and Young Thug’s potential prison sentence in the YSL RICO case.

The “A Lot” rapper sat down with Complex‘s Jordan Rose after being named the publication’s Rapper of the Year for 2022 and he detailed the current void being felt throughout the city.

“You can feel a lot of energy missing from Atlanta right now,” he said. “Atlanta just ain’t the same, honestly. That shit be really driving me crazy. I feel like we took a lot of big ass losses last year.

“I don’t feel like we’ll ever recover from that shit, if I’m being honest. Especially with TakeOff. I feel like we’re just in a dark place right now in Atlanta, as far as our energy. Going outside ain’t the same, clubs ain’t the same, you just feel it.”

The Slaughter Gang boss argued that certain figures like a TakeOff, who was shot and killed outside a Houston bowling alley in November, or a Thugger, who’s fighting for his life on trial, just aren’t replaceable in the culture.

“I feel like certain people, when you lose them or they’re not physically able to be present, certain people just aren’t replaceable,” 21 continued.

“There’s nothing you can do to fill that void. I really don’t think there’s nothing we can do for real, but hold on to what we have left and cherish what we have left.”

Thugger is still in the beginning stages of the sprawling YSL RICO case where he faces eight charges.

Meanwhile, with 21 having to undertake a bigger load of ATL’s spotlight, he’s gearing up to drop another solo LP — his first since 2018’s I Am > I Was — following a successful run of menacing features and teaming up with Drake for Her Loss in 2022.

“I’m going to drop very, very soon though,” he teased. “I think it’s going to impact. I always put a lot of effort into my albums, so you can expect the best of the best. Not no microwave shit. It’s going to be a solid, good ass album. We’re very close.”