by Metro Boomin
Released December 2, 2022 via Republic Records / Boominati Worldwide
Reviewed January 25, 2023
Top tracks (based on community voting)
Feel The Fiyaaaah (with A$AP Rocky & Takeoff) (42%), Creepin’ (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage) (39%), Superhero (with Future & Chris Brown) (36%), Metro Spider (with Young Thug) (36%)
It’s hard to call HEROES & VILLAINS a disappointment, but it certainly doesn’t raise the bar for Metro and his frequent collaborators. Metro Boomin has been almost unequivocally the go-to producer for the biggest trap artists for the better part of a decade; Migos, Future, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, Drake—you name them, Metro has made them a hit. Nothing can take away from the impact and the success of the 29-year-old producer, but his second album as the leading man—HEROES & VILLAINS—doesn’t do much to propel him further.
Piecing together an album as a producer presents its own unique challenges, relying heavily on collaboration to sew the strings together. HEROES & VILLAINS brings together familiar faces and Metro’s most frequent collaborators, but it never quite feels greater than the sum of its parts. The production has its moments, with booming bass and some psychedelic ambience, but nothing we haven’t heard Metro do time and time again. Similarly, the likes of Future, Travis Scott, Don Toliver—and more—just aren’t bringing their A-game.
HEROES & VILLAINS works well for a nice collection of B-sides from some of the biggest names in trap music. But as a full-fledged album presented by Metro Boomin, it falls pretty flat. – Dominick (6/10)
Alan: 8.3/10 | Jacques: 8/10 | DeVán: 7/10 | Cam: 6.8/10 | Dominick: 6/10
Community Reviews:
Great beats, great performances. “Too Many Nights” is a masterpiece, “Feel The Fiyaaaah” is a masterpiece, and it was nice to finally hear “Niagara Falls” on streaming. – @bigfishzo (8/10)
A slow start doesn’t pull down this album much at all, considering how nearly flawless the back half is. – @smells.like.sheen.spirit (7.5/10)
Very solid album, production is crazy and features perform very well. Metro knows how to bring the best out of people. Only wish there was a better outro to make the album seem more cohesive. – Benji (7/10)
