How to Make 21 Savage Type Beats
Less is more. 21 Savage beats prove that the hardest beats are often the simplest.
The 21 Savage Formula
21 Savage's production (Metro Boomin, Wheezy, DJ Dahi) is defined by restraint: • Extremely minimal drum patterns — sometimes just kick, snare, hat • Heavy, sustained 808 bass • Dark minor-key melodies (usually just piano or guitar) • Huge empty space — the beat breathes around the vocals • No clutter — every sound serves a purpose Tempo: 130-145 BPM. 140 is the sweet spot.
The Minimal Drum Pattern
That's it. Four hi-hat hits per bar (quarter notes, not eighth notes). One snare on beat 3. Two 808 hits. This extreme simplicity is harder than it sounds — every hit has to be perfect because there's nothing to hide behind. Use a clean, punchy snare and a deep, sustained 808. No hi-hat rolls. No fills. No extra percussion. The emptiness IS the style.
Try the minimal approach808 Bass — Low and Sustained
21 Savage 808s sit LOW: • Pitch the 808 down -5 to -7 semitones • Enable loop mode for long sustain • Use a clean (not distorted) 808 sample — 21's beats are clean, not gritty • Only 2-3 808 hits per bar — let each one ring out The 808 fills the space between the sparse drums. When the 808 drops out for a bar, you feel the absence physically. That contrast is what makes it hit.
Creating Space
The golden rule of 21 Savage type beats: if you think the pattern is too empty, it's probably right. Do not: • Add hi-hat rolls • Layer extra percussion • Fill gaps with sound effects • Use busy patterns Do: • Leave steps empty • Use quarter note hi-hats (not eighth) • Let the 808 ring out • Create A/B variation by removing elements, not adding them Set Block A to your full pattern. Set Block B to the same pattern but remove the hi-hats. Mode: AAAB. The hat dropout every 4th bar creates instant arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
That's the point. 21 Savage's beats are designed to leave room for his voice. The simplicity is intentional — the beat is a foundation, not a performance. When the producer and the rapper both go minimal, the impact of each element is maximized.
Metro's solo beats have more hi-hat complexity and 808 patterns. When Metro produces for 21 Savage, he strips everything down — fewer rolls, fewer hits, more space. Same producer, different approach for a different artist.