Mad Stalkers & Scary 808s | Munchkins
Please don't sue me, Dunkin', it's just wordplay
As I begin to delve into more and more types of content here on Donuts, hopefully my terminology game can keep up. Munchkins will focus on little bits and pieces (donut holes, per se) of things I’m loving, hating, or simply can’t stop thinking about.
Now, for the main event.
Halloween 2018 brought with it quite possibly one of the greatest trap records of all-time (and easily some of my favorite production to date from Metro Boomin) in Without Warning. A collaboration project between the aforementioned Atlanta producer and rappers 21 Savage and Offset; this record features an eerie, chilling, and dark-sounding vibe throughout, fitting the Halloween release date to a T. Let’s not forget about the cover art that perfectly encapsulates the energy 21 Savage, Offset, & Metro bring to the LP, as well…
This track rises out of its hypothetical tombstone as it begins with an eerie synth loop setting the tone for an instrumental that truly sounds murderous. To pair with it, Metro sprinkles in a sample of some truly maniacal-sounding laughter, with a brilliant echoing effect added to let it truly never fade out to zero. 21 Savage creeps onto the track, with his iconic “21” ad-libs and a few “woah”’s, before delving into one of the hardest hitting trap hooks of all TIME.
“I’m from out the gutter, middle finger zone 6,” *nightmarish 808 drops*
The 808 that Metro cooked up for this beat is just pure, orgasmic bliss to the ears. What I love about it most is the chemistry that it seems to have with 21’s hook, waiting to pound in after the opening line concludes with “zone 6.” Then, Metro times the production as to have each 808 hit with each bar Savage enunciates, pounding your ears in tune with “turned 16 and I got my first stick, f*ck the other side, catch a body, sending hits.” This remains the pattern for the rest of the hook, making 21’s braggadocious flexing of his “mad flawless” diamonds and “mad choppers” come across that much more confident & (in a non-corny-white-dude-writing-about-rap-way) badass. 808s aside, this track features one of the most memorable snares from the record, crisp, vocal, and a solid foil to the deep bassline it piggybacks off of.
Then, Offset joins the party.
As 21 finishes off his initial hook, the Migos frontman announces his presence on the track with some signature adlibs, chanting “woo, woo, woo, woo,” before the production seems to fade for a millisecond, allowing his intro “Offset!” Then, Metro brings us back that oh-so-sexy 808, and another taste of the maniacal laughter sample we heard at the track’s intro. Offset sports a faster flow than 21 on this beat, similarly flexing his high-fashion status “Wrist brr, fur coat way to go h*e…diamonds slippin’, drippin’ I’m a problem.” The chemistry between 21 and him is one of the features that makes this record so great, the pair seeming like mob bosses of a Freddy Krueger-esque syndicate.
Following a second hook, 21 provides a verse of his own, seeming to introduce his presence at the start, quipping “hold on let me kick my sh*t.” 15 bars later, we find ourselves at quite possibly the hardest stretch of this track, a mini-bridge of sorts. The 808s and snares are put in timeout by Metro, eerie synths coming back to haunt the forefront of production. 21 slows down his flow for the seven-bar intermission from the 808s. Once again flexing like the madman he is across this entire record, he wraps it up with the confident, “B*tch you ain’t got no standards, where’s your manners? 100 choppers, roll the window down, MC Hammer.”
Bridge complete, 21 brings us the third and final rendition of Mad Stalkers’ hook, and the second the earwormy-line “B*tch, I’m mad balling, all my diamonds mad flawless” hits, Metro blesses our ears with our favorite freshly-rejuvenated 808s and snares, back from their momentary hiatus in 21’s second verse. What. A. Track.
Listen here → Spotify / Apple Music
Maybe, just maybe, I convinced y’all to give this song a whirl. Until then, I’ll keep annoying other cars at stoplights with it.