Whereas rap followers may assume the phrase “Redrum” merely refers back to the title of 21 Savage’s newest track from his American Dream album, the time period truly dates again to the Nineteen Seventies on account of a traditional horror movie.
The place Did “Redrum” Originate From?
21 Savage’s lead single off his American Dream LP at the moment sits comfortably at No. 13 on the Billboard Scorching 100. The track peaked at No. 5 in January and has fluctuated across the high 10 ever since. Whereas “Redrum” is being uttered by rap followers in every single place, the flip of phrase 21 makes use of, which is “homicide” spelled backward, truly stems from Stephen King’s 1977 horror novel The Shining in addition to its equally famend movie adaptation in 1980 starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.
The time period is muttered over and over by the 5-year-old character Danny Torrance, who has psychic talents and turns into possessed by an evil spirit, which tells him to kill his mom. Through the peak of his possession, Danny grabs a butcher knife whereas his mom sleeps close by, and writes “redrum” in his mother’s lipstick on the door whereas mumbling the phrase to himself. When Danny’s mother awakes, she appears into her bed room mirror and realizes “redrum” means “homicide.”
The Shining clip
Learn Extra: 21 Savage Performs “Redrum” and “Ought to’ve Worn a Bonnet” On SNL
Is 21 Savage the First Rapper to Make a Rap Track About “Redrum?”
21 can also be not the primary rapper to make a track utilizing the phrase “redrum.” In 2009, 50 Cent launched “Redrum (Homicide).” A decade later, Skepta put out the track “Redrum” that includes Key!. Huge Boogie dropped a Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama final February referred to as Redrum Wizard. There have been extra rappers earlier than and after who’ve taken the time period and created music round it, too.
It is laborious to disclaim that 21 Savage’s rendition of the phrase is not the most well-liked. “Redrum” serves because the Atlanta rapper’s highest-charting solo track thus far. Savage in flip clinched his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with American Dream.
Regardless of its historical past, the time period now belongs to 21 Savage.
Learn Extra: 21 Savage Says He’d Beat the Complete 2016 Freshman Class in a Verzuz Battle
Watch 21 Savage’s music video for “Redrum” under
