Super-ish producer Metro Boomin had a tremendously active 2017 campaign, producing an abundance of records for some of Hip Hop’s biggest and brightest, including full projects with Big Sean, NAV, 21 Savage and Offset. With his career seemingly moving in an upward trajectory, it threw fans through a loop when he announced he’d be retiring earlier this year.
Despite this, Young Metro has returned with a new 13-track album called Not All Heroes Wear Capes. To assist with the crusade, he tapped the usual suspects such as Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Travis Scott and 21 Savage, amongst a handful of other top-tier artists.
Opening things up with a smooth, laid-back Gucci Mane joint titled “10 AM/Save The World,” that is capped with a soul-stirring gospel sample. The layered production joined with the clean sample transition presented the Metro Boomin that fans have grown to love over the years — with some new tricks in his bag. Said tricks are exemplified on a record like “Borrowed Love” featuring Wizkid and Swae Lee, which showcase his ability to cater to the styles of a wide range of artists. There is a cinematic feel throughout that places the artists in their appropriate pockets.
Maybe the most impressive element of Not All Heroes Wear Capes as an album, is its cohesiveness sonically, as most of the records fluidly transition into the next. Such tie-in beauty in is revealed when Travis Scott skates melodically on the icy joint “Overdue,” which somehow seamlessly moves into the project’s most menacing record “Don’t Come Out The House.” On the latter, 21 Savage drops all kinds of murderous bars over a hard-hitting Metro and Tay Keith concoction, rapping “Shut your damn mouth ‘fore you drop, nigga/Last nigga dissed me dropped, nigga/I want smoke nigga, all nigga (On God)/Savage kill all of his opps nigga.”
Not All Heroes Wear Capes most gripping and introspective moments come on the dark banger “No More” where Kodak Black, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott open up about fame, pain, and drug addiction. Kodak melodically confesses, “I pop pills ’til I can’t feel no more/Tryna be faded but I can’t hold no more/I wanted fame but I don’t know no more.”
The album does falter with occasional wayward tracks, such as the “No Complaints,” the Offset and Drake joint that was initially released back in 2017. Travis Scott certainly shined throughout this release with five records, but in the same token, the project could have benefitted from more voices that differentiated from whom we’ve come accustomed to hearing Metro with.
The beats Metro cooked up for this one were top notch throughout, adding some refreshing sounds to the current trap landscape. With retirement in the rearview mirror and a 21 Savage album on the horizon, Not All Heroes Wear Capes solidifies the return of one of this era’s most trusted producers.
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This guy is really saving these rappers like Gucci Mane and 21 Savage. I mean who the hell would 21 Savage actually be without the production of Metro? (X, No heart, Bank account, Numb etc.) And who would Future be without his excellent production choice? Metro did some nasty good work for him too (Mask Off, Where ya at, Low life) These are literally their most streamed songs on Spotify. I know Future wasn’t even featured on this project. But this just comes to show how Metro Boomin is a legend of our time. Maybe you rather listen to Joey Bada$$, Freddie Gibbs or Logic. Metro singlehandedly made these “trap rappers” superstars. In my opinion Metro is starting to hit levels even DR.Dre, Large professor and Q-Tip haven’t hit. say what you want but this guy is a real hardcore artist. I hope Metro doesn’t stop grinding. This fella is young and has a really, really, really bright future ahead. (no pun intended)
Zaytoven and Metro made trap music sonically viable as mainstream music. Hip Hop needs Metro I hope he doesn’t retire.
Actually, 21 Savage produced Bank Account. So he deserves a little credit at least. That’s his biggest record.
Who is Metropolitan Boom?
You’re a rookie at trolling bro, your on a hip hop website and you asking who is Metro Boomin? “If young metro don’t trust you I’m gon shoot you” that Metro min one of the most relevant music producers this decade.
Most relevant producers of this decade? That’s an oxymoron. These talent less hacks have been recycling the same garbage beats for years now.
He said relevant you illiterate buffoon, he didnt say innovative which is an entirely different argument.
Stahp.
I know who he is and a rookie, I’m not. I’m happy to see a sensitive male express himself on a hip hop forum. They say that this genre is too macho but here you are being sensitive about Metropolitan Boom -_-
rating on point
Perfect rating imo, metro brought the heat, but some of the rappers werent at their best. On metros end it was perfect imo.
Would’ve been a great album if he didn’t make those trash latino-caribbean songs.
Can’t believe the author wasted that many words to review this trash. Some people will do anything for money.
How can people listen to this garbage? How brain dead do you have to be to enjoy this? This new generation is doomed.
As far as the guy who wrote this article…you sold your soul to whoever this garbage artist is. You should be ashamed of yourself for calling this noise a triumphant return.
How “brain dead” do you have to be to not enjoy this music? There were some fire tracks. Did you even listen to the beat on “10 Freaky Girls”? The trumpets working in harmony with the trap beat? Headass…
The production is great. I know we are all hip-hop heads and lyrical junkies, but every now and then you want some trap sh!t. This is high quality trap music.
For an album in this era with these artists…this joint ???. Great review
Metro was in his bag bruhz.