Spiral: From the Book of Saw Soundtrack - EP

The Saw films were supposed to end in 2010 with the seventh installment. Instead 2017 brought an eighth and 2021 brought a ninth, titled Spiral, for which the filmmakers tapped 21 Savage to executive produce the soundtrack. It's a fitting assignment: The Atlanta rhymer's sinister raps align with the gruesome bent of the franchise. On the opening track of his Spiral EP, he raps over a bass-boosted sample of the movies' spine-tingling theme music, detailing revenge fantasies spawned from his animus for enemies—“call me Saw 'cause I laugh when I body shit,” he announces. On closer “Emergency,” he links up with Young Thug and Gunna for a track that feels more teaser than thematic. In between, he lets his progeny shine with Young Nudy's “You Ain't Hard” and Real Recognize Rio, 21 Lil Harold, and SG Tip offering their own takes on their mentor's style on “Down Bad.” The EP is short and sweet and may leave listeners craving more from 21 Savage, whose deadpan delivery is ripe with potential for translating true horror.