Album: Suga (2020)
Charted: 3 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Megan Thee Stallion is renowned as a feisty firecracker with complete confidence in her allure to men. Here, the Texan boss chick describes herself as "savage" while celebrating her complexity. According to Megan, her personality is, "classy, bougie, ratchet. Sassy, moody, nasty."
  • Megan laid down her vocals in under an hour. The track's engineer, Eddie "eMIX" Hernandez, explained to Revolt TV that while producer J. White Did It "was laying down the snares and the kicks, she was writing to the skeleton of the beat." Once he'd completed the production and sent it over to eMix, Megan got all her writing done and was ready to knock it out.
  • Choreographer Keara Wilson created an energetic dance challenge to the track on TikTok, posting it on March 11, 2020. As it spread, Megan herself took notice and she posted her own video, while various TikTok creators put their own spin to the challenge. The huge interest in the viral dance caused the song to chart worldwide.
  • Megan Thee Stallion's fellow Texan Beyoncé hopped on the song's official remix. The new version features multiple sultry Beyoncé verses and vocal runs as well as some brand new raps from Megan.
  • Beyoncé kicks off the second verse of the remix by referencing the popularity of "Savage" on TikTok.

    Hips tik tok when I dance

    JAY-Z, Starrah, and The-Dream all have writing credits on the new version. According to a post from The-Dream, Hova came up with the TikTok line.

    Bey goes on to tell us she got her confidence and self-empowerment from her mom Tina Knowles-Lawson.

    And my mama was a savage
    Got this from Tina
  • All proceeds from the Beyoncé remix benefit relief efforts by Bread of Life Houston.
  • One of the more creative Tik Toks based on this song came courtesy of @calebjaxin, who introduced the "Joe Exotic Version," based on the Netflix documentary series Tiger King. In the series, Joe Exotic accuses his rival, Carole Baskin, of killing her husband and feeding him to her tigers. The Tik Tok adapts the song to these lyrics:

    Carole Baskin, killed her husband, whacked him
    Can't convince me that it didn't happen
    Fed him to tigers, they snackin'
  • Megan Thee Stallion teamed up with Diplo's Major Lazer collective for another "Savage" remix. The dance music trio's deep house influenced instrumentals add an Ibiza vibe to the song.
  • Megan Thee Stallion is a one-woman army in the futuristic animated video as she takes down an evil legion of guards. The Jude MC-directed clip combines the Houston Hottie's love for anime with her signature rap sound. It also doubles down on the song's honoring of powerful women across the universe.
  • This won for Best Hip-Hop video at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
  • On October 3, 2020, Megan Thee Stallion performed this on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, adding some political commentary with the message "protect black women" and audio clips from Malcolm X and the activist Tamika Mallory.
  • While the original version is included on Megan's Suga EP, the Beyoncé-featuring "Savage Remix" appears on her Good News album.
  • This won the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2021 ceremony, beating out fellow nominees in both categories that were all men. Megan also won for Best New Artist, and although "Savage" lost to "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish in the Record Of The Year category, Eilish made it clear that Megan should have won. "I think about you constantly, I root for you always," she said in her speech. "You deserve it, honestly."
  • Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé teamed up for their first joint rendition of "Savage (Remix)" at NRG Stadium in Houston on September 23, 2023. Ahead of the performance during Beyonce's homecoming Renaissance show, Bey told Megan: "I love you, Queen."

Comments: 7

  • Lydon from Greenwood MsLove Meagean
  • Audri from San Jose CaI luv her
  • Yariann from Il I learn this from tictom
  • Jackie from Hemet I want to do a tiktok
  • Tyra from Guys HillI love megan
  • Maria from IsraelI want to make a TikTok
  • Savage BoiIm A Savage,(Yeah) Beauty,Pro Girl,German
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.