Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), known professionally as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer.[2][3] Critically acclaimed for his dark production style, he is regarded as among the most influential producers in modern hip hop and trap music. His frequent collaborators include Future, Young Thug, the Weeknd, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Gunna and Nav.
Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne
- Young Metro
- Metro
- Lil Metro
- Record producer
- songwriter
- disc jockey
- record executive
2009–present
Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Wayne began his career in music production in 2009 at the age of 16;[4] he relocated to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College in 2011 and continued to work extensively with Atlanta-based artists Future, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, and Migos.[4] Wayne gained wider recognition for co-producing the 2014 single "Tuesday" for iLoveMakonnen, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He was credited on a string of similarly successful singles throughout 2016, including "Jumpman" by Drake and Future, "Low Life" by Future, and his first number one production, "Bad and Boujee" by Migos. This was followed by "Congratulations" by Post Malone, "Tunnel Vision" by Kodak Black, "Mask Off" by Future, "Bank Account" by 21 Savage, and his second number one production, "Heartless" by the Weeknd.[5][6]
As a non-performing lead artist, Wayne has released the collaborative projects Savage Mode (2016) and Savage Mode II (2020) with 21 Savage, DropTopWop (2017) with Gucci Mane, Perfect Timing (2017) with Nav, Double or Nothing (2017) with Big Sean, and We Don't Trust You (2024) with Future.[7] Wayne's debut studio album, Not All Heroes Wear Capes (2018) and its follow-up, Heroes & Villains (2022) both debuted atop the Billboard 200. The latter spawned the single "Creepin" (with the Weeknd and 21 Savage), which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and within the top ten in several countries. We Don't Trust You spawned the single "Like That" (with Future and Kendrick Lamar), which became his first number-one song on the chart as a lead performer.
Early life[edit]
Leland Tyler Wayne was born on September 16, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri,[8] where he attended Parkway North High School. He has four siblings.[9] After a brief stint playing bass guitar in his middle school band, he turned to making beats in the seventh grade at age 13. This happened when his mother bought him a laptop and he got a copy of the music production software FruityLoops.[10] In high school, he produced five beats a day.[11] Initially, Wayne wanted to rap, and started making beats so that he could have music to rap over. However, he eventually turned his full attention toward hip-hop production.[12] As he continued to hone his production skills in high school, he began to utilize social media platforms including Twitter to network with more established rap artists, as well as beat submissions for potential music placements.[13]
Career[edit]
2009–2012: Career beginnings[edit]
During high school, Wayne's mother would often drive him for over eight hours from St. Louis to Atlanta, Georgia, to collaborate with artists he met with online.[14] One of the first artists he worked with was Bricksquad Monopoly rapper Tay Don, which led to Wayne's acquaintance with label cohorts OJ da Juiceman and Gucci Mane. He soon met Atlanta-based rapper Future, who became one of his frequent collaborators.[12][15] Upon his high school graduation, Wayne moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College, studying Business Management. He took a hiatus from school after one semester, due to the struggle of balancing his production and schoolwork.[15]
Wayne has worked extensively with rapper Future. The two first worked together on the song "Hard," which was included on DJ Esco's mixtape Welcome 2 Mollyworld (2012),[16] mixtape,[10] and following Future's debut album Pluto (2012), they reunited for his second, Honest (2014). Wayne produced the album's lead single, "Karate Chop", and title track alongside DJ Spinz.[17]
2013–2016: Rise to fame[edit]
In May 2013, Metro announced his debut mixtape, 19 & Boomin.[18] Following warm-up singles, featuring artists like Trinidad James, Gucci Mane, and others, Metro released the mixtape, hosted by mixtape website LiveMixtapes, on October 7, 2013.[19] The mixtape, all original songs, included "Maison Margiela", featuring Future, and "Some More", featuring Young Thug, both of which were subsequently released as music videos.[20][21]
In March 2014, Metro and Young Thug announced that they would release a collaborative album, performed and released under the moniker "Metro Thuggin". The album was to be self-titled and was planned to be released sometime in 2015. Along with the announcement, Metro Thuggin released the collaborative track, "The Blanguage".[22] The 'Metro Thuggin' project was ultimately scrapped. Photographer Cam Kirk claims to have a copy of the complete, finished album. A few leaked tracks from the project were found circulating the internet in late 2015, yet an official mixtape has never surfaced.[23]
In 2014, Metro made an appearance on Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint, producing the track "Want Some More".[24]
In October 2014, Metro executive produced Future's Monster mixtape. This spawned the first appearance of the single "Fuck Up Some Commas". Metro produced the sixth single from Future's Honest, "I Won", which features Kanye West.[25] The song became a single a month after the album was released.
Metro served as executive producer for Drake and Future's collaborative mixtape What a Time to Be Alive, released on September 20, 2015. In addition, he produced or co-produced seven of the 11 tracks on the mixtape.[26]
Metro served alongside DJ Esco as executive producer for Future's 2016 mixtape, Purple Reign. In 2016, he won Producer of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards.[27]
In 2016, Metro Boomin was credited with produced charting hits such as "Jumpman" by Future and Drake, "Bad and Boujee" by Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert, "Low Life" by Future ft. The Weeknd, and the 21 Savage collaboration "X" ft. Future. That year, he contributed to Kanye West's The Life of Pablo, and he and 21 Savage released the EP Savage Mode. In 2017, he produced the top 10 hit "Tunnel Vision" by Kodak Black, "Bounce Back" by Big Sean, "Mask Off" by Future, and the top 20 hit "Bank Account" by 21 Savage.[4]
2017: Perfect Timing, Without Warning, Double or Nothing[edit]
On June 23, 2017, Metro helped Christian rapper Lecrae and 1k phew on the song ' 'hammer time ' ' On July 14, 2017, Metro and fellow record producer and rapper Nav released two singles, "Perfect Timing (Intro)" and "Call Me", the dual lead singles from their collaborative mixtape, Perfect Timing. The mixtape was released by Boominati Worldwide, XO, and Republic Records, one week later, on July 21. It features guest appearances from Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Offset of Migos, 21 Savage, Belly, and Gucci Mane.[28]
On October 31, 2017, Metro and rappers 21 Savage and Offset released their collaborative studio album, Without Warning, as a surprise release. On the same day, "Ric Flair Drip", performed by Metro and Offset was released as the lead single. The album features guest appearances from Travis Scott and Quavo of Migos.[29]
On November 3, 2017, Metro and rapper Big Sean released a single titled "Pull Up n Wreck", featuring rapper 21 Savage, the lead single from their collaborative studio album, Double or Nothing. The project was released on December 8, 2017. It features guest appearances from Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, Kash Doll, Young Thug, and Swae Lee. On February 13, 2018, "So Good", featuring Kash Doll became the lead single.[30]
2018–2021: Not All Heroes Wear Capes and Savage Mode II[edit]
In January 2018, Metro Boomin was featured in a Gap campaign with singer SZA, alongside a self-produced remix of "Hold Me Now".[31][32] The remix was released to digital platforms on the same day as the campaign.[33][34] In an interview with XXL, explaining the campaign with Gap and the remix, he stated;
Personal life[edit]
Wayne's mother, Leslie Joanne Wayne, was killed in a murder-suicide by her husband on June 3, 2022.[60][61] In December 2023, Wayne received a key to the city from St. Louis mayor Tishaura Jones.[62]
Boominati
Studio albums
Collaborative albums