It’s a story we’ve seen plenty of times before—a rapper going from young phenom to “older brother” figure. Be it J. Cole with his Dreamville imprint or Eminem starting his Shady Records, one of the more predictable routes to go as you age in hip hop is cultivating your own roster of newer talent. 21 Savage started down that route not too long ago, and one of his more promising co-signs no doubt is 21 Lil Harold, already lending his talents to the fellow ATL native for “Ain’t On None” and helping bring Young Nudy into the mix for “My Real Dawgs.” In his first non-Slaughter House collab, 21 Lil Harold enlists JID for his newest single, “Sundown.”
Harold’s Newest Single Showcases His Unique Talent
“Sundown” goes a long way in showing what makes 21 Lil Harold such an interesting foil to his label head, and a noteworthy addition to the stable of talent associated with him. Firstly, it carries forward Harold’s ear for soulful, uplifting production that contrasts the hard-hitting trap sensibilities of his peers. Similarly, his voice and the cadences he favors are far more bright and airy than Savage or Nudy, making the end products easier candidates for mainstream accessibility. More specifically, “Sundown” touches on the familiar rags-to-riches subject matter. The most impactful piece of Harold’s verse in that regard comes at the midpoint:
“Eighteen, young n*** tryna ball, I ain’t have hoop dreams
Nineteen, Glock right on my side, I got blood on my jeans
Twenty sh**, I done seen my close partner turn to a dope fiend
Back then twenty one, drop a n**** for my guy, leave him right there on the scene”
JID Stellar as Always Alongside 21 Lil Harold on “Sundown”
It should come as a surprise to no one that JID is again exceptional once he’s up to bat. He provides dextrous flows and wordplay as he’s always wont to do, taking the ground-level perspective that Harold starts and running with it. It manifests as true-to-life vignettes of his adolescence, highlighted by a parallel year-by-year breakdown when he raps:
“2012, I was sittin’ in a cell, they done put me out of school /
2013, I was livin’ off of Fairburn, workin’ at the Dominos /
2014, I was tourin’ with the bros, openin’ for Ab-Soul /
2015, I was gettin’ to the dough, good to see a n**** grow.”
Though the 21 Savage and Young Nudy co-signs that 21 Lil Harold has already amassed certainly carry a lot of weight, “Sundown” shows that he’s just as comfortable working outside of the box alongside unexpected collaborators. You can find this new single on streaming platforms everywhere.
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