"Bro couldn't even believe it."
Viral footage showed the moment rapper 21 Savage appeared visibly shocked by the crowd yelling the N-word during his performance in India.
The UK-born rapper was in Gurgaon performing at the Indian Sneaker Festival.
Known for hit songs such as ‘Bank Account’, ‘Runnin’, ‘a lot’, and ‘redrum’, the rapper has a massive global following, including in India.
But a moment from the event went viral and sparked an online discussion.
The clip shows 21 Savage performing ‘redrum’ and asking the crowd to join in.
21 holds the microphone and begins, however, he takes the mic down from his face and appears visibly stunned by the crowd enthusiastically using the N-word.
He recomposes himself and resumes but pauses again when he hears them using the word again. 21 Savage gives a brief look before continuing with the song.
The short clip ends with the hook ‘redrum’, with the crowd jumping up and down and flames bursting onstage.
The video was shared along with the caption:
“21 Savage was visibly shocked when the crowd in India said the N-word during his performance.”
The clip went viral and sparked a debate, with some condemning the crowd’s use of the N-word.
Commenting on the rapper’s reaction, one person wrote:
“Bro couldn’t even believe it.”
Another added: “He was looking like, ‘Hold up, y’all can say dat?’”
Criticising the crowd, a person wrote: “Idk how many of my fellow Indians this will reach, but we cannot say the N-word. Especially if you look up to white beauty standards. Stfu.
“I’m sure you mean no harm when you say the word. But DON’T! Instead embrace self-love and having beautiful dark skin!”
An angry comment read: “As an Indian, I’m disgusted by the behaviour of these c***s who were saying the n-word at the 21 Savage concert.
“I’m so p****d right now. In India, the educated people are the biggest illiterate. Sad.”
One person who claimed to have been at the live performance defended the crowd and said:
“Seen a lot of people criticising the fans who went to the 21 Savage concert here in Gurgaon/NCR in India.
“Here is a clip of 21 stopping the singing and doing a ‘sing-along’ asking the fans to sing the ‘lyrics’ to redrum. He seems happy AF.”
When did 21 savage came to India?? Literally 0 hype ? pic.twitter.com/ipZaPuK8qm
— Dexter (@dexternvm) February 2, 2025
Others highlighted that ‘redrum’ and many of 21 Savage’s songs include the N-word in the lyrics.
For black artists, the N-word is a common feature in many rap songs as it can be a form of self-expression or empowerment.
But due to its deep ties to systemic racism, when non-black listeners say it, even in a sing-along context, it’s often seen as crossing a boundary.
Questioning 21 Savage’s reaction, one said:
“It’s hilarious when rappers say the N-word 50 times in a song and then get surprised when people all across the world sing along to it.”
Another wrote: “So you put the N-word in a song, and it shocks you when people say it?”
Some weren’t happy with the apparent lack of atmosphere at the event as one said:
“21 Savage is going to go back and tell all his rapper friends never to come to India because of how s**t the Gurgaon crowd was.”
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