Where is 21 Savage from, why was he arrested and what happens next?
His breakthrough came from his 2016 album Savage Mode
RAPPER 21 Savage became a world-known figure after he shot to the top of the charts featuring on Post Malone’s Rockstar.
But what is his nationality, and why was he recently arrested?
Who is 21 Savage?
21 Savage was born Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph on October 22, 1992.
He is a rapper and record producer.
The musician has three children – two sons and a daughter – and has a reported net worth of $8million (£6million).
He rarely talks about them but posts pictures of them on his Instagram occasionally.
In the summer of 2017, Savage started dating model Amber Rose, and their relationship was very much a public one.
However, the couple separated in May 2018.
His past was a dodgy one, as Savage was previously a full-time drug dealer after he dropped out of high school.
He was also affiliated with the wider Bloods street gang.
In 2013, on his 21st birthday, Savage was shot six times by rival gang members.
Why was he arrested?
The Grammy-nominated rapper was arrested by US immigration officials on Sunday, February 3.
He came to the US from the UK on a visa when he was 12 in 2005 and never left, officials say.
Bryan Cox, a spokesman for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said the rapper overstayed his visa to settle in Atlanta, which expired in July 2006.
21 Savage was taken in on Sunday morning in a targeted operation in the Atlanta area.
He is now in custody in Georgia and faces deportation proceedings in federal immigration courts.
This comes as a shock to his fans, who considered the rapper an Atlanta local.
Cox added that the rapper was convicted on felony drug charges in Georgia in 2014.
What’s the latest and what happens next?
Savage may have been targeted by US immigration officials because he blasted Donald Trump in a new song, his lawyers have claimed.
On February 11 the rapper was released on bond by US immigration after nine days behind bars.
The bond amount was set at £77,000 ($100,000), the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
The rapper was granted an expedited hearing after speaking with ICE officials to clarify his legal standing and bond eligibility, his legal team said in a statement.
His lawyers said: “In the last 24 hours, in the wake of the Grammy Awards at which he was scheduled to attend and perform, we received notice that She’yaa was granted an expedited hearing.
“Today, 21 Savage was granted a release on bond. He won his freedom.”
It comes after a strongly-worded letter by his legal team.
A statement released on Tuesday, February 5, and signed by his six-strong legal team states: “There continues to be no legal reason to detain Mr Abraham-Joseph for a civil law violation that occurred when he was a minor, especially when people in his exact situation are routinely released by ICE.
“Many have speculated as to possible ulterior motives for his arrest and detention, including that he released music five days prior to his arrest by ICE, which included new lyrics condemning the behaviour of immigration officials for their detention of children at the border.
“We are unaware of why ICE apparently targeted Mr Abraham-Joseph, but we will do everything possible to legally seek his release and pursue his available relief in immigration court.”
And his manager Stone Mound Meezy tweeted the rapper was held on “lockdown for 23hrs of the day no tv or any communication besides our 10 min phone calls”.
He later deleted the tweet.
Jay-Z says the arrest of 21 Savage is “an absolute travesty” and has hired a lawyer to help his fight against deportation, according to TMZ.
If the rapper does not have a felony charge on his record, or if he had a charge that has been dealt with, then he may be allowed to remain in the US while his visa application is processed.
Is he British or American?
ICE says he is a British national who is in the country “unlawfully”.
21 Savage originally claimed he was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but it has emerged he was actually born in Newham, East London.
It is believed he travelled to America with his mum, Heather Joseph, after she and his dad Kevin Emmons split up.
Sources told The Sun Online his father Kevin remains living in London, working for Westminster Council, while his grandma lives in Brixton.
And his gran even flew out to the US to help bail him out of jail when he was facing drug charges in 2014.
An ICE official told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that when Abraham-Joseph was arrested in 2014, ICE was not aware of his immigration status.
It only learned later that he is allegedly from the UK, the official said.
Savage is secretly a “softie” from London who faked his gun-toting gangster life in America, pals told The Sun Online.
A source said: “Part of me was pretty shocked but I can understand why he’s done it. To have the gangster rapper image you have to portray that image. But really he’s a softie from London.
“There’s a story on Wikipedia stating he saw a gun when he was eight.
“I can tell you that is not true at all. If you know his dad, you would know his dad is nothing like that at all.
“He’s done stuff about his dad being a drug dealer and that sort of thing.
“His dad is a hard-working man. That is so not his dad. His dad gets up to go to work six days a week.”
Rapper J Cole added: “Praying for 21 Savage, let that man be with and provide for his kids”.
Cardi B, Quavo and Metro Boomin have also publicly called for Savage to be freed.
Jay-Z is also backing the rapper.
In a statement on Facebook, he said: “The arrest and detention of 21 Savage is an absolute travesty, his U visa petition has been pending for 4 years.
“In addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately #Free21Savage.”
What songs is he known for?
His music breakthrough, which led to him finding worldwide fame, was his 2016 album Savage Mode, in which he collaborated with American record producer Metro Boomin.
He released his debut studio album, Issa Album, in 2017, and it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and hit No42 in the UK.
His most known songs are Bank Account (2017), No Heart (2016), X (2016) and A Lot (2018).
His most recent album, I Am > I Was debuted at No1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and peaked at No33 in Britain.
However he has had a No1 UK single featuring on Post Malone’s Rockstar in 2017.