Critics generally offered positive to mixed reviews, praising 21’s growth as a songwriter while noting that the 56-minute runtime occasionally suffered from monotony. Despite these critiques, Issa Album
. The album's title famously capitalizes on a viral 2016 VladTV interview where the artist, when asked about the cross tattoo on his forehead, replied, "Issa knife". Production and Musical Style
The album's title was inspired by a viral interview clip where 21 Savage famously replied " Issa knife " to a question about his face tattoo.