Released: 2024 • Features: Doja Cat
“n.h.i.e.” sees 21 Savage and Doja Cat drop some straight fire, expressing their hard-earned positions and taking a stand against mind games, fakeness, and pushing their own boundaries. It’s a piece that speaks to their authenticity, questioning the way many navigate the industry and breaking down their own rules of engagement.
21 Savage comes in hard, delivering cutting lines that reflect his no-nonsense, realist attitude. “That ain’t something I would do” is his resounding mantra, making it clear where he stands; he won’t play games or fake anything. He’s set boundaries on what he’s willing to do, and won’t compromise himself. Savage praises his successes in the industry—”I’m havin’ plaques on plaques”—noting that his accomplishments stand miles apart from the meager ‘streams’ of others, a nod to his prominence in the hip-hop world.
There’s a lot of street cred in his tone, and when he says he’s seen a ‘hater get whacked,’ he’s speaking from experience, referencing the gritty life experiences that have shaped his music. Savage’s reference to having “green card, green tips in the strap” is a clever play on his well-known British origins and his ‘strapped’ preparedness in life.
Doja Cat’s verse brings a similar ethos, but from a female perspective. She’s emphatic that she’s not like other women in the game—she doesn’t chase after men, and she doesn’t start beef- “I would never start no petty beef that do not fly”. She asserts her power and presence, refusing to put herself beneath her idols or anyone in the game for that matter.
In pursuit of authenticity, “n.h.i.e.” essentially echoes the refusal to conform, a defining trait in hip-hop culture. Both artists emphasize they won’t ‘play’ or ‘slide like it’s cool’; they’ll address the fakes straight-up, playing by their own rules. It’s a powerful, genuine message that resonates with listeners valuing authenticity in the often-commercialized landscape of hip-hop.
