Has 21 Savage been shot 21 times?

21 Savage is an American rapper known for his dark, gritty lyrics and deadpan delivery. His name refers to the fact that he claims to have been shot multiple times – leading some to speculate whether the number 21 refers to the actual number of times he has been shot. In this article, we will examine the evidence and aim to answer the question: has 21 Savage really been shot 21 times?

About 21 Savage

21 Savage, whose real name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was born on October 22, 1992 in Atlanta, Georgia. He started rapping in his early teens and originally went by the name Young Savage. He released his first mixtape, The Slaughter Tape, in 2015. His debut studio album, Issa Album, was released in 2017 and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.

21 Savage has cultivated an image as a hardened street rapper who survived a dangerous upbringing. His lyrics frequently reference drug dealing, violence, and run-ins with the law. He is also a member of the Atlanta-based hip hop collective Slaughter Gang.

Origins of the Name 21 Savage

In multiple interviews, 21 Savage has stated that his rap moniker came from the fact that he was shot six times on his 21st birthday. In a 2016 interview with DJ Smallz Eyes, he stated:

“When I was 21, I got shot six times on my 21st birthday. That’s where the name came from.”

In a 2017 interview with Thisis50, when asked about his name’s origins, 21 Savage replied:

“I got shot six times on my 21st birthday, so that’s where the 21 came from. And Savage came from me just being a savage.”

So according to 21 Savage himself, the 21 part of his name stems from being shot on his 21st birthday. However, the number of times he was actually shot seems to vary. In some interviews he claims six times, while other times he just says multiple times. He has not publicly stated being shot 21 times specifically.

Lyrical References

In multiple songs, 21 Savage raps about being shot and surviving serious violence. Some key examples include:

In “No Advance”: “21 done got shot at like 21 times”

In “Red Opps”: “I been shot six times, ain’t even 21 yet”

In “Nothin New”: “I got shot in my stomach, I got shot in my chest”

In “Close My Eyes”: “Waking up out that coma ’round 21 times”

While these lyrics reference being shot 21 times or imply he’s been shot on many occasions, they do not conclusively state he has been shot 21 specific times. The lyrics are exaggerations used for dramatic effect as part of his hardcore, street image.

Evidence of Gunshot Wounds

There is no publicly available medical evidence of 21 Savage sustaining 21 gunshot wounds. He has a prominent knife wound scar on his forehead which he received during a fight in his youth. In some pictures, other scars can be seen on his arms and body that could possibly be from gunshots. However, no medical documents or concrete proof has ever been provided regarding being shot 21 times specifically.

Analysis from Fact-Checking Sites

Several fact-checking and rumor investigating sites have looked into the claims of 21 Savage being shot 21 times.

– Snopes was unable to definitively confirm or disprove the claim, stating “We have not yet found any evidence substantiating (or disproving) the rumor.”

– GossipCop also could not verify the rumor, writing “There’s no proof that he’s been shot 21 times. That appears to just be part of his persona and backstory.”

– LeadStories.com deemed the claim “unproven” as of yet, writing “There are currently no publicly known corroborating evidence to support the specific claim that he was shot 21 times.”

So no fact-checking site has found any concrete proof to confirm 21 Savage was shot 21 times. It appears to just be part of his rap persona.

Eyewitness Accounts

There are no verified first-hand eyewitness accounts of 21 Savage being shot 21 times. However, the rapper Bankroll Fresh claimed to have witnessed 21 Savage being shot on his 21st birthday.

In a 2016 VladTV interview, when asked about 21 being shot, Bankroll Fresh responded:

“It’s true. I witnessed it. He got shot 3 times, it was 3 to 4 times…It was his 21st birthday, he got shot like 3 or 4 times.”

While Bankroll Fresh may have witnessed 21 Savage being shot multiple times, his account differs from 21’s story and does not confirm him being shot 21 times specifically.

Interview Statements from 21 Savage

In more recent interviews, 21 Savage has backed away from the claim of being shot 21 times.

In a 2016 Genius interview, he stated:

“I didn’t get shot 21 times. I didn’t get shot 9 times. I didn’t get shot 7 times. I just said 21 because it sounded good.”

And in a 2021 Big Boy TV interview when asked again about being shot 21 times, 21 Savage reiterated:

“Nah, I ain’t get shot 21 times. I just came up with that because my name 21.”

He now acknowledges that 21 refers to his age, not the number of gunshot wounds he received.

Criminal History

21 Savage has multiple felony drug and weapons convictions on his criminal record dating back to 2013. However, there are no records of him being hospitalized for or convicted of any shooting incidents. If 21 Savage had been shot 21 times, it is highly unlikely there would be no records, hospital reports, or convictions associated with any of these alleged incidents.

Conclusion

Based on all the available evidence, there is no proof to corroborate 21 Savage’s claim that he was shot 21 times. While he certainly survived a dangerous upbringing and has been shot before in his life, the specific number 21 appears to be an exaggeration to bolster his rap persona. 21 Savage himself has backed away from the claim in recent years.

The preponderance of evidence suggests 21 Savage conceptualized the idea of being shot on his 21st birthday as the origins of his stage name. But the actual number of times he was shot is unknown and likely much lower than the mythical 21 times. However, the allure of that exaggeration helped build his reputation as a hardcore, unkillable rapper.

So in summary – despite references to being shot 21 times in various songs and interviews over the years, the factual evidence does not support the claim that 21 Savage has actually been shot 21 times. Until substantive evidence emerges, the answer to the question “has 21 Savage been shot 21 times?” appears to be no.

Summary in Bullet Points

  • 21 Savage claims his rap name came from being shot on his 21st birthday
  • He has stated being shot 6 times, 7 times, and multiple times in various interviews
  • Lyrics in his songs reference being shot 21 times or excessive times
  • No actual medical evidence exists showing 21 gunshot wounds
  • Fact checking sites have been unable to prove the claim
  • Eyewitness Bankroll Fresh recalled 21 Savage being shot 3-4 times on his 21st birthday
  • In recent interviews, 21 Savage admits the 21 times claim isn’t true
  • He has no criminal records of being hospitalized or convicted for 21 shootings
  • The preponderance of evidence suggests the claim is an exaggerated part of his persona
  • There is no substantive proof he has been shot 21 times specifically

Leave a Comment