Released: 2018 • Features: 21 Savage
Aight, let’s dive into “rockstar” by Post Malone featuring 21 Savage. We talkin’ a joint that’s all about that hedonistic lifestyle, draped in the excesses of fame—the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll ethos with a trap twist. Post and 21 Savage flex lyrical about living life at the edge, with all the trappings that come with being a modern-day music heavyweight.
Breakin’ it down, the song kicks off with Post Malone settin’ the stage—he’s out here messing with women and indulging in pharmaceuticals, feelin’ on top of the world like one of those legendary rockstars. ‘Poppin’ pillies’ speaks to poppin’ pills, which ain’t nothing to boast about for real, but he’s painting a picture of that untouchable vibe. The ‘brothers with that gas’ line means his crew’s always lit, and they’re smokin’ like Rastafarians, known for their use of marijuana.
Get into the mix of violence and bravado, talking about calling upon an Uzi, which is a compact submachine gun. He’s saying if you mess with him, it’s serious business—his homies are shooters (‘shottas’), ready to light up a conflict. Describing the whip switch to black, he’s payin’ homage to AC/DC’s Bon Scott, aligning his wild life to rock legends. And that Jim Morrison mention? That’s him comparing his troublemaking tendencies to another infamous rockstar.
On stage, he’s out of control, leaving his shows in police cars—suggesting he’s causing riots or getting busted. He speaks of throwin’ a TV out of a hotel window, a classic rockstar move, and not caring about the consequences, like your girl being starstruck and trying to slide backstage.
When 21 Savage hops on the track, he’s coming in with that signature Atlanta chill. He doesn’t mince words, bragging ’bout partying with top-tier ladies and living it up with no rules—no bras, no holding back, and indulging in the pleasures of fame. He flips the script, joking about having a 12 car garage but only 6 cars, a flex on space and wealth that don’t even make practical sense.
21 Savage ain’t forgetting his roots though. He recalls the days he was trappin’ hard, making moves in the streets before climbing the charts. The contrast between his gritty past and the rockstar life is stark, but he embraces the change while still acknowledging where he came from. That whole ‘living like a rockstar’ mantra is as much a nod to his success as it is a reflection on how far he’s stepped from his beginnings.
The chorus hooks back with the rockstar theme—sex, drugs, and that rebel status. It’s a repetition of the lush life, with Post and 21 Savage ridin’ high on their wave, untouchable, unapologetic, living in the fast lane with no intention of slowing down. ‘Rockstar’ ain’t just a title, it’s a lifestyle they claim in every sense, and the song is their anthem to that untamed existence.
