Metro Boomin stands silhouetted against the backdrop of the Great Pyramids of Giza. With an aura of timeless grandeur, the three pyramids echo the 'Young Metro 3x' producer's iconic beat. Meticulously framed by his photographer, Gunner Stahl, the moment is frozen in time, capturing not just an artist, but a convergence of history, culture and creativity. As the desert sun bathes the stage in a golden light, Metro Boomin's presence among the pyramids becomes more than just a photo – it's a testament to his enduring legacy of artistry and innovation.
In this juxtaposition of ancient wonder and modern music, Metro's presence before the pyramids speaks volumes. It demonstrates hip-hop's enduring influence and ability to transcend time and space, from Missouri to the Middle East. Metro Boomin's April 30 concert at the Kundalini Grand Pyramids venue sold out in record time, with Live Nation, the promoter, announcing a second night on his Middle East trek (including a performance at Abu Dhabi's BRED festival). The majority of the crowd knew the words to at least one if not many of the songs and collaborations he played during his nearly two-hour set, suggesting that Metro Boomin's music has found a home in the hearts of youth culture worldwide.
According to Billboard Explains, Metro Boomin's Billboard Hot 100 breakthrough as a producer came with Future's “Honest,” which peaked at No. 55 in 2013. Over the next three years, he produced 23 more Hot 100 hits. his first No. 1 on the Hot 100 for his work on the Migos and Lil Uzi Vert collaboration “Bad and Boujee,” which topped the chart for three weeks in 2017. The episode explains that Metro boasts a remarkable 16 top 10 hits on the Hot 100, including notable productions like The Weeknd's 2019 “Heartless” and his collaboration with Future and Kendrick Lamar, “Like That,” which landed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for three weeks this year.
His collaborations with prominent rap artists on breakthrough albums have been phenomenal, with seven top 10 entries on the Billboard 200. According to Billboard explainsnotable points include Double or Nothing with Big Sean, which reached No. 6 in 2017; Savage Mode II, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2020, and his solo work heroes and villains, which claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 in 2022, holding a record 18-week reign atop the Top Rap Albums chart. So far in 2024, Metro's collaborative album with Future, We Don't Trust Youand the next album, We Still Don't Trust Youboth debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Despite the accolades, Metro maintains a delicate balance of confidence and humility, guided by what feels like a clear sense of purpose in the way he approaches making music and chart hits. During his two shows at the Kundalini Grand Pyramids venue, Metro wows his audience and carries with him a sense of wonder when playing against the backdrop of some of the oldest structures in the world. “I've always wanted to see this [the pyramids] with my eyes, but I could never fathom doing a show and playing in front of something as crazy and legendary and storied as this,” says Metro. “I'm grateful for everyone, for the whole country.”
Metro shows that love at his Cairo shows, wrapping himself in an Egyptian flag as the epic intro to Future and Chris Brown's “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” plays on one of the final tracks of the set. He seems completely unconcerned about playing solo. He works his way through his set, often interacting with the crowd while delivering a mixtape of his vast body of work, masterfully put together in a way that tells a story of what it means to a kid from St. Louis, Miss., to end up making music that captivates the entire world.
When asked about his first hip-hop memory and what song or album got him into the genre artistically and professionally, Metro points back to the year 2000, with the release of Nelly's Country Grammar. Still in kindergarten at the time, there was no turning back for Metro, and with the support of his mother, Leslie Joanne Wayne, he became the most sought-after hip-hop producer of his generation and a catalyst for revival. the placement of the species in the Advertising sign diagrams.
As reported by Advertising signwith We Still Don't Trust You reaching the top of the Billboard 200 just three weeks later We Don't Trust You debuted at No. 1, marking the shortest gap between new No. 1 artists since Future replaced himself at No. 1 in 2017 in consecutive weeks with his self-titled album (March 11, 2017, chart ) and HNDRXX (March 18, 2017), both debuted at No. 1.
According to Metro Boomin, this success has come as a result of what he calls “really caring,” combined with an urgent need to keep challenging himself in order to do better than he's done in the past. But there was a deeper force at play beyond his individual work ethic, which propelled his back-to-back albums with Future to unprecedented heights.
In June 2023, Billboard reported that “rap had yet to produce a Billboard 200 album or Billboard Hot 100 top single” that year, while industry executives worried about the genre's growth and potential stagnation. So for Metro, things got personal.
“I really took it personally, the last couple of years, seeing different outlets and people going hip-hop crazy, saying hip-hop is dying, hip-hop is it, it's been so long since there was hip-hop. #1…” says Metro Boomin. “Just trying to describe all of this hip-hop is a dying narrative at the same time it's trying to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop. I felt like they were trying to wash away our genre and culture, I'm still in the game and I take it personally. Those things bothered me, at the same time, they were the kind of fuel I needed.”
Reflecting on his roots and the impact of his work on hip-hop, Metro's passion for the genre is radiant. This undeniable drive drives him to constantly elevate his presence in the Advertising sign charts and within the genre in general. With each chart-topping hit and sold-out show, Metro Boomin not only cements his own legacy, but pays homage to hip-hop while ensuring its relevance for generations to come. Because for Metro, hip-hop isn't dead, it's very much alive and thriving.
Metro Boomin for Billboard Arabia
Gunner Stahl
Metro Boomin for Billboard Arabia
Gunner Stahl
Metro Boomin for Billboard Arabia
Gunner Stahl
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/metro-boomin-giza-pyramids-billboard-arabia-cover-story-1235683940/