Metro Boomin’ was the producer of the year in 2017, and in my opinion, it wasn’t even close. His rapport with trap artists such as Offset, 21 Savage and Future made him a go-to-guy, especially for artists who needed some kind of spark to get their career going. In 2018, Metro has been quieter than a mouse, opting to play the back while other producers like Murda Beatz and Tay Keith took over the game. With “Not All Heroes Wear Capes,” the Atlanta native looks to make his triumphant return, reminding us all that heroes don’t have to speak, either.

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TOP 5

5. SPACE CADET

I thought “Space Cadet” was a lowkey banger. It features Gunna, and on it, he gets a chance to brag about all the benefits he has been able to incur since he’s become a major rap star. I love how the beat he raps over is gentle in nature, yet it has this thump to it that sorta forces you to get out your seat and viciously nod your head. I also like the relentless flow the YSL rapper uses throughout, as he rides the beat exactly how I thought it should be ridden.

On an album featuring major players like Travis Scott, 21 Savage and Young Thug, a track with Gunna is one of the ones that caught my attention. Dude has come a long way, guys!

4. NO MORE

“No More” feels cold, but at the same time, has this bop to it that n***as will definitely feel. On it, Travis Scott and Kodak Black open up to the listeners, venting about not wanting fame, abusing drugs and enjoying the come down as much as the come-up when it comes to highs. As for 21 Savage, he talks about n***as he grew up with that had a knack for making bad decisions, sounding like he was in the studio shaking his head while laying his verse. Overall, I like the song for its rawness, as it presents a well-needed look inside the lives of your ordinary trap star.

Without talking, Metro Boomin’ dished out a beat that played psychiatrist here.

2. BORROWED LOVE/ONLY YOU

I thought it was pretty interesting that Wizkid had just as many features as Gunna and Young Thug on this album (2). In both of them, he shined bright, giving us something melodic, refreshing and cultural. While listeners will probably be a little more receptive to “Borrowed Love” than “Only You,” mainly because the former features a sound that is a bit more universal (And a hot ass feature from Swae Lee), the latter will grow on you with its heavy dance vibes. Nonetheless, I believe both songs are equally as good, and may end up with the most streams on this album when it’s all said and done.

I finally woke up when I got to this track… I felt like a good chunk of the songs before it were boring.

1. NO COMPLAINTS

I’ve been bumping “No Complaints” for a few months now, getting lost in its dark roots and gutter bars. The song features Offset and Drake, and together, the trio give off three different type of gangsta vibes.

Doesn’t Offset takeover every Metro Boomin’ produced song that he is featured on? On his lone verse, he sets the tone, showing off great animation and delivering complex flows over a beat catered directly for him.

“No Complaints” features a heinous beat, so you get a heinous Drake on it. On his verse, the 6 God uses his outside voice, finding multiple ways to pat himself on the back and prove his gangsta ways to the world. He instilled absolutely no fear in my heart, but hey, I’ll give him an A for effort!

I feel like “No Complaints” wasn’t appreciated like it should’ve been.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. 10AM/SAVE THE WORLD (4.5/5)

2. OVERDUE (5/5)

3. DON’T COME OUT THE HOUSE (2/5)

4. DREAMCATCHER (4.5/5)

5. SPACE CADET (4/5)

6. 10 FREAKY GIRLS (4/5)

7. UP TO SOMETHING (3/5)

8. ONLY ONE (INTERLUDE) (2.5/5)

9. LESBIAN (3/5)

10. BORROWED LOVE (4/5)

11. ONLY YOU (4/5)

12. NO MORE (4/5)

13. NO COMPLAINTS (5/5)

OVERALL RATING

(C+)

Goodness gracious, I missed Metro Boomin’! I feel like rap was missing something while he was gone, especially on the trap side.

Clearly gassed up by his un-retirement, I thought Metro Boomin’ swung for the fences on this album, ending up with a few home-runs and a few strikeouts. Production-wise, “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” was fantastic, boasting a couple of riveting instrumentals that did its job in leaving you feeling like you just heard a bunch of movie scores. How dude was able to make beats that were just as soap-operaish as they were trap, gentle as they were heavy-hitting, therapeutic as they were disruptive is beyond me… Matter of fact, I wanted to listen to some of these instrumentals with no rappers on it.

As expected, “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” featured some very interesting artists. Some were put in position to succeed, while others seemed a bit out of place at times. Nonetheless, I feel like you couldn’t help but be entertained by the characters of all these trap villains that were asked to guest feature on the album. My favorite features were 21 Savage (he added some liveliness to this album), Kodak Black, Swae Lee, Wizkid and Gunna. My least favorite were Travis Scott (He was on this album way too much), Offset and Young Thug.

I don’t think we will ever fully appreciate Metro Boomin’s beats. He is in a lane of his own, and you are only allowed in that lane if you make cinematic/theatrical beats. For the first time in a while, I was more entertained by the instrumentals on an album than the actual rapping/singing, mainly because they made me feel something. Like I said earlier, I think I would’ve enjoyed hearing this album as simply instrumentals more, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.