"If Young Metro Don't Trust Ya..."
After Nelly’s Country Grammar blew his mind at the wide-eyed age of seven, so began Metro Boomin’s ascent to the apex of hip-hop stardom. Now fast forward to 2017. Metro has established himself as one of rap’s most sought-after producers, working with high-profile artists like Gucci Mane, 21 Savage, Nav, and of course, Future. His seemingly endless work ethic has yielded some of the year’s biggest singles, including 21 Savage’s “Bank Account” and Future’s infectious, flute-laden “Mask Off." The latter found Metro channeling his inner Ennio Morricone, providing a soothing soundscape that wouldn't be out of place in a sprawling kung-fu epic. And to think, the young producer’s god tier run began when OJ Da Juiceman invited the seventeen year old Metro to an Atlanta studio, and gave the young man a chance. And with a veteran’s ear and a young man’s drive, one of Metro’s instrumentals, the eventual “Karate Chop,” found a way into Future’s hands.
As Metro tells it, he and Future began crossing paths in the studio every day, and “Karate Chop” marked the onset of a long and fruitful musical relationship. The duo’s run kicked off with a string of Freebandz Gang joints, and by the time Future’s sophomore album Honest came around, Metro had become one of the project’s central figures; he even had the honor of producing the title track. Metro, who had once feared telling his mother his intention to drop out of school to pursue a career in production, was working with some of hip-hop’s biggest names.
With Metro at the forefront of Atlanta’s production renaissance (a class that also happened to include the talented trifecta of Zaytoven, Southside & TM88), his calculated blend of haunting, atmospheric melodies and crisp trap drums established himself as Future’s right hand man. After teaming up for bangers upon bangers, the duo's chemistry rose to a zenith with their immense 2015 run, delivering Future’s ominous DS2 (which many consider to be Future’s magnum opus) and the Drake collaboration What A Time To Be Alive. The latter led to Metro’s landing an executive producer credit, and the Drizzy co-sign paved the way for his most high-profile project yet.
As for Future, the enigmatic rapper often delivered his strongest material over Metro’s production. Something about the nebulous, minor key aesthetic that Metro brings forth seemed to tap into Future’s drug-infused torment. The aforementioned DS2 stands as the prime example of two artists bringing the best out of one another, never faltering as the feverish odyssey delves deeper down the rabbit hole. Even when Metro switches up the sound, as was the case for their triumphant summer smash “Mask Off,” Future never fails to bring his A-game. Together, the pair had legions of non-drug users chanting “Percocet, molly, Percocet” like a pagan mantra.
As it stands, Future and Metro have worked together on sixty-seven songs, a sum that will no doubt expand with time. And while both artists are currently enjoying the peak of their careers, it stands to reason that their once non-stop work ethic has slowed down. Yet there’s a familial comfort to be found in the chemistry, and it won’t be long before Future and Metro Boomin once again cross paths.
The Discography
All songs performed by Future unless otherwise stated.
2013
Freebandz Gang - F.B.G: The Movie
Karate Chop ft. Casino
Freebandz Gang - Black Woodstock: The Soundtrack
We Made Our Own
Wut We Call It" (Test featuring Future)
Suffocate
No Favors (Casino featuring Future)
DJ Esco - No Sleep
The Matrix (Back To The Basics)
Day One ft. Yo Gotti (co-produced by TM88)
How Can I Not ft Young Scooter
Maison Margiela
Fuck You Gone Tell
How It Was
2014
Future - Honest
Honest (co-produced with DJ Spinz)
I Won ft. Kanye West
How Can I Not ft. Young Scooter
Karate Chop (Remix) ft. Lil Wayne
Test - Crabs & Blow
Wut We Call It ft. Future
Travis Porter - Music, Money, Magnums 2
Don’t We ft. Future
Future - Monster
Radical
Monster (co-produced with Southside)
Fetti (co-produced with Southside & TM88)
Wesley Presley
Mad Luv (co-produced with DJ Plugg)
2015
Meek Mill - Dreams Worth More Than Money
Jump Out The Face ft. Future (co-produced with Southside)
Future - DS2
Thought It Was A Drought (co-produced with Allen Ritter)
I Serve The Base (co-produced with San Andreaz)
Where Ya At ft. Drake
Groupies (co-produced with Southside & Sonny Digital)
Lil One (co-produced with Southside)
Freak Hoe
Rotation (co-produced with Southside)
Slave Master (co-produced with Southside)
Blow a Bag (co-produced with Southside & Sonny Digital)
Rich $ex (co-produced with Frank Dukes & Southside)
Blood on the Money (co-produced with Zaytoven, Allen Ritter & Cassius Jay)
Travi$ Scott - Rodeo
3500 ft. Future & 2 Chainz (co-produced with Mike Dean, Million $ Mano, Zaytoven & Allen Ritter)
Travi$ Scott - High Fashion (Single)
High Fashion ft. Future (co-produced with Southside, Wondagurl, Eestbound & Travi$ Scott)
Uncle Murda & Future - Right Now (Single)
Right Now
Future & Drake - What A Time To Be Alive
Digital Dash (co-produced with Southside)
Big Rings
Live From The Gutta (co-produced with Boi 1da)
Diamond Dancing (co-produced with Allen Ritter & Frank Dukes)
Scholarships (co-produced with Djay Adx)
Jumpman
Jersey (co-produced with Southside)
Creed: OST
Last Breath (co-produced with Ludwig Goransson)
Lil Bibby - Free Crack 3
Aww Man ft. Future
2016
Future - Purple Reign
All Right (co-produced with Moon)
Wicked (co-produced with Southside)
Drippin (How U Luv That)
Hater Shit
Purple Reign
Future - EVOL
Maybach (co-produced with Southside)
Xanny Family (co-produced with Southside)
Photo Copied (co-produced with Southside)
Low Life ft. The Weeknd (co-produced with The Weeknd & Ben Billions)
Future - Project E.T.
Who ft. Young Thug (co-produced with DJ Esco)
Benjamins Burn
21 Savage - Savage Mode
X ft. Future
Gucci Mane & Future - Free Bricks 2K16
Die A Gangster (co-produced with Southside)
All Shooters (co-produced with Southside)
2017
Future - FUTURE
Mask Off
Scrape
Future - HNDRXX
My Collection (co-produced with Cubeatz)
Sorry (co-produced with Cubeatz)
Post Malone - Congratulations Remix (Single)
Congratulations Remix ft. Quavo & Future (co-produced by Frank Dukes & Bell)
DJ Khaled - Grateful
Iced Out My Arms ft. Future, Migos, 21 Savage & T.I. (co-produced with Southside)