Leland Tyler Wayne, known professionally as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, and DJ born on September 16, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential producers in contemporary hip-hop and trap music, acclaimed for his dark and atmospheric production style. His interest in music began after a short period of playing bass guitar in his middle school band, which led him to start making beats at the age of 13. His mother bought him a laptop with the music production software FL Studio, and he taught himself how to produce, creating up to five beats a day while in high school.
Career Beginnings
While still in high school, Metro Boomin began to use social media to network with established artists. His mother would drive him from St. Louis to Atlanta for over eight hours to collaborate with artists he connected with online. This dedication led to early collaborations with artists like OJ da Juiceman, Gucci Mane, and eventually Future, forming a pivotal and lasting partnership. After high school, he enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta to study business management but ultimately left after a semester to dedicate himself fully to his burgeoning music career.
Rise to Prominence
In 2013, Metro Boomin's career gained significant traction with his production on Future's songs "Karate Chop" and "Honest". That same year, he released his debut mixtape, "19 & Boomin". His breakthrough came in 2014 when he co-produced the iLoveMakonnen single "Tuesday," which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. This success was followed by a string of high-charting singles, including "Jumpman" by Drake and Future and his first number-one production, "Bad and Boujee" by Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert in 2016. That year, he also won Producer of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
Major Collaborations and Solo Success
Metro Boomin has become known for his extensive and successful collaborations with a wide range of top-tier artists. He has produced for Future, 21 Savage, Drake, The Weeknd, Post Malone, and Kanye West, among many others. Notable collaborative projects include "Savage Mode" (2016) and its sequel "Savage Mode II" (2020) with 21 Savage, and "We Don't Trust You" (2024) and "We Still Don't Trust You" (2024) with Future. Both of his solo studio albums, "Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (2018) and "Heroes & Villains" (2022), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The latter featured the hit single "Creepin'" with The Weeknd and 21 Savage. In 2024, his collaboration with Future and Kendrick Lamar, "Like That," became his first number-one single as a lead artist.
Musical Style and Influence
Specializing in the trap subgenre, Metro Boomin's signature sound is characterized by a mix of heavy bass, rattling synthetic percussion, and dark, often gothic melodies. While his work is predominantly in hip-hop, he has also produced for R&B and pop artists like The Weeknd. His production is also influenced by the atmospheric sounds of horror movie scores. He is credited with popularizing producer tags, with his "If Young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you" tag, voiced by Future, becoming a viral phenomenon.
Business Ventures
In 2017, Metro Boomin launched his own record label, Boominati Worldwide, in partnership with Republic Records and Universal Music Group. The label serves as a platform to discover and promote new artists.