Songfacts®:

• 21 Savage often imbues his trap-indebted tracks with menace, and here he shares a murderous mindset. The "redrum" title is "murder" spelled backwards. This is a well-known play on words, often used in pop culture to evoke themes of violence and darkness.
  
  The song's lyrics deal with themes of violence, street life, and crime, further associating the title with its literal meaning. Phrases like "beat his body" and "two revolvers on my waist" reinforce this connection.
• In the 1980 movie The Shining, the word "Redrum" appears as a message written in reverse on a bathroom wall, becoming a chilling symbol of Danny Torrance's psychic visions and the sinister presence in the Overlook Hotel. The scene cemented "Redrum" in pop culture as a reference to murder and horror,
  
  The outro samples the infamous "Here's Johnny!" scene from The Shining, further conveying the murderous theme.
• The intro sample is from "Serenata do Adeus," composed by the Brazilian Father of Bossa Antônio Carlos Jobim and performed by Elza Laranjeira.
• The track features additional vocals from the legendary R&B singer Usher.
• 21 Savage wrote "Redrum" with the track's producer, London on da Track. Atlanta beatmaker London on da Track is best known for being the primary producer of Summer Walker's first two albums. He's also collaborated with the likes of Drake ("Sneakin") and Ariana Grande ("Positions").
• 21 Savage returns to his Brixton, London, roots in the "Redrum" music video. The trip marked the first time the rapper could return to his country of birth since he was 12 years old.
  
  Directed by British director Danny Seth, the journey begins with a playful wink at London's postcard image - Big Ben, red phone booths, horse-drawn carriages. But Savage cuts through the veneer, unveiling the vibrant, streetwise Brixton beneath. Youths swarm balconies, chanting his name, while motorbike convoys snake through the streets.
• 21 Savage performed "Redrum" during his debut appearance on Saturday Night Live, February 24, 2024. While Savage stood center stage delivering his rhymes, a couple of ballet dancers moved gracefully across the stage, creating a visually stunning and contrasting backdrop against the intensity of the song's lyrics.