Metro Boomin Reveals Why Working With 21 Savage Is Sometimes "Draining"

BYGabriel Bras Nevares1.9K Views
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Metro Boomin 21 Savage Draining Collab Process Hip Hop News
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 19: 21 Savage and Metro Boomin attend "Slaughter House In The Ghetto" Birthday Celebration at on October 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images)
Despite this caveat, the duo brings the best out of each other.

When it comes to iconic duos in trap music – especially after the 2010s – you'd be remiss not to at least mention 21 Savage and Metro Boomin. Through various collaborative projects, a whole lot of single track team-ups, and an overall great chemistry, they've given us some of the best the sub-genre has to offer. But at what cost? Recently, Metro sat down with Timbaland for an interview on Rolling Stone published Friday (October 18). During their talk, Timbo asked the St. Louis producer how often he asks artists to re-record vocals, which led him to reflect on one struggle of working with the Slaughter Gang MC despite their incredible output.

"As I get older, more and more," Metro Boomin answered. "Me and [21 Savage] get into that sometimes. It’s the same thing you said with you and Missy: he’s the pickiest artist I’ve ever worked with, with the beats. I’ll play this man 35 or 40 beats before he wants to get in the booth. And it can be draining: He’ll go, ‘Next one, next one, next one, next one.’ But in return, I’m like, ‘Okay, you’ve got to overly bring it on this one. I’m not taking any okay s**t, n***a.’"

21 Savage & Metro Boomin Perform At Coachella

INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: 21 Savage and Metro Boomin perform at the Sahara Tent at 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival weekend 1 - day 2 on April 16, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Coachella)

When Timbaland posited that they make "incredible music" together, Metro Boomin spoke on how 21 Savage is his favorite artist to work with. Even though they can bicker sometimes, the HEROES & VILLAINS creative says, they "make each other better" and push each other to their full potential. Of course, these days, some have questioned their bond due to Metro's beef with Drake and all the other moving parts there. But the "Umbrella" lyricist thinks that his two collaborators can eventually mend these wounds.

What's more is that 21 Savage isn't the only one who wants to see their rap friends squash beef. Young Thug recently tweeted at Drake, Metro Boomin, and Future to settle their differences as "brothers" of his, which Pluto actually retweeted. Does this mean that the "20 v. 1" will end in a handshake and with all water under the bridge? It's a tough call, but it's not an overly unlikely possibility...

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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