Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)

"Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)" is a song by American record producer Metro Boomin and Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage featuring Canadian poet and singer Mustafa from the former's second studio album Heroes & Villains (2022). It was produced by Metro, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Peter Lee Johnson, and Simon on the Moon.

"Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)"
Song by Metro Boomin and 21 Savage featuring Mustafa
from the album Heroes & Villains
Released	December 2, 2022
Genre	Horrorcore
Length	5:11
Label	Boominati Republic
Songwriter(s)	Leland Wayne Shayaa Abraham-Joseph Mustafa Ahmed Carlton Mays, Jr. Peter Lee Johnson Simon Hessman
Producer(s)	Metro Boomin Honorable C.N.O.T.E. Johnson Simon on the Moon

Composition

The song contains audio from Gucci Mane's 2007 documentary Hood Affairs. Over "sinister"-sounding piano keys in his signature horrorcore style and an "icy, monotone delivery",^[1][2] 21 Savage lyrically depicts gun and street violence^[2][3] and his determination to retaliate against the opposition.^[4] Midway through, the production shifts to a piano-backed, choir-lined instrumental, over which Mustafa sings about the trauma and turmoil that occurs as a result of the violence.^[3][5]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. Hamza Riaz of Mic Cheque considered it one of the "bone-chilling cuts" from Heroes & Villains, although also an example of which "When there is a new voice, they are shoehorned onto a disconnected strand of a track that would've benefited without it".^[1] Wongo Okon of Uproxx commented that Metro Boomin "shines as a conductor" in the song.^[4] Complex's Peter A. Berry regarded the hook (performed by 21 Savage) as "simple, yet symbolic enough to be anthemic".^[2] Slant Magazine's Charles Lyons-Burt was favorable toward the song spotlighting a lesser-known artist (Mustafa), writing that through this approach, "the album might have felt a bit less redundant with 2018's Not All Heroes Wear Capes, which featured many of the same artists."^[5]

Charts

Chart performance for "Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)"

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6]	28
Global 200 (Billboard)[7]	59
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	52
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9]	19

References

1. Riaz, Hamza (December 7, 2022). "Review: Metro Boomin, 'Heroes & Villains'". Mic Cheque. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
2. Berry, Peter A. (December 8, 2022). "Metro Boomin's 'Heroes and Villains' Is the Ultimate Rap Blockbuster". Complex. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
3. Brickner-Wood, Brady (December 8, 2022). "Metro Boomin: Heroes & Villains Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
4. Okon, Wongo (December 7, 2022). "Metro Boomin's 'Heroes & Villains' Captivates By Accentuating His Collaborators' Best Superpowers". Uproxx. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
5. Lyons-Burt, Charles (December 6, 2022). "Metro Boomin Heroes & Villains Review: Boomin' Beats by Committee". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
6. "Metro Boomin Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
7. "Metro Boomin Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
8. "Metro Boomin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
9. "Metro Boomin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.