Slidin

'Slidin'' takes listeners on a turbulent and unapologetic emotional journey through the eyes of 21 Savage. From the outset, there's a sense of aggression and ruthlessness, with references to street violence and the need to retaliate against opponents. This is the emotional baseline that 21 Savage communicates through the song—a life where loyalty and survival are intertwined with acts of violence.

As the song progresses, the emotional undertone shifts to a reflection of pride and status. There's an apparent glorification of the gangster lifestyle, characterized by the mentions of expensive garments like Chrome Heart jeans and the possessions that come with the hip-hop fame. This is matched with a nonchalant attitude towards his past of drug dealing and robbery, contrasting the life of crime with the conventional path of college education.

However, beneath the hardened exterior, the song hints at the inevitable toll this lifestyle takes. There's a profound sense of fatalism in the repetitive nature of violence ('He was talking gangster on them tracks 'til I got him whacked'). This reflects a life where death and the act of killing are normalized, yet this acceptance contributes to the darkness that the song exudes.

Finally, the outro, spoken by Morgan Freeman, serves as a philosophical riddle that underscores the dual nature of the life described by 21 Savage. It suggests a sharp wisdom in living on the edge, perpetually remaining in a state of readiness and caution. This can be interpreted as 21 Savage's acknowledgment of the precariousness of his chosen path, and the importance of staying alert and focused.