In a candid interview this week, rapper 21 Savage opened up about the reasons behind keeping his British origins a closely guarded secret for so long. The Grammy-nominated artist, born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, revealed that he felt a combination of fear and uncertainty about how his background might affect his burgeoning career in the U.S. hip-hop scene.

The revelation of 21 Savage’s British heritage came as a shock to many fans in early 2019, following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The incident exposed that the rapper, widely considered an Atlanta native, was actually born in Newham, London, and moved to the United States as a child.

In the interview, 21 Savage explained that his decision to keep his British roots under wraps was largely influenced by his desire to fit into the American rap industry. “When you’re trying to make it in this game, the last thing you want is for people to see you as different or an outsider,” he said. “I didn’t want to give anyone a reason to doubt my authenticity or my place in the culture.”

He also discussed the complexities of his immigration status and the challenges he faced growing up in Atlanta. “Moving to a new country at a young age was hard enough, and dealing with the immigration stuff on top of that just made it tougher. I didn’t want my story to be about where I was from, but about where I was going and what I was doing.”

The rapper admitted that keeping such a significant part of his identity hidden was a burden. “It was a weight on my shoulders,” he confessed. “But I knew that revealing it too soon could have jeopardized everything I was working towards.”

Since the revelation, 21 Savage has embraced his dual heritage, using his platform to advocate for immigration reform and to share his personal journey. “I want to help people who are in the same situation I was in,” he said. “Being open about my story now is part of that mission.”

The rapper’s openness about his past has not only humanized him further in the eyes of his fans but also sparked important conversations about identity and belonging in the music industry. As he continues to navigate his career, 21 Savage remains a powerful voice for change, both in music and in society at large.

For more updates on 21 Savage and his upcoming projects, stay tuned.