Superhero (Heroes & Villains) [with Future & Chris Brown]

"Superhero (Heroes & Villains)" serves as a core thesis for Metro Boomin's album, exploring the thin and often blurred line between being a hero and a villain in the context of fame, power, and street life. The song delves into the idea that extraordinary status, or a 'superhero' persona, is often achieved through morally ambiguous means. Future's verses equate substance use with gaining superpowers, a metaphor for the intoxicating and transformative effect of drugs, wealth, and a dangerous lifestyle that makes him feel invincible and larger than life. This power allows him to navigate a treacherous world with dominance, but it's a power rooted in darkness.

The song's second part, featuring Chris Brown and a sample of Jay-Z's lyrics from "So Appalled," introduces the central conflict. The lyric, "live long enough to see yourself become a villain," directly references Harvey Dent's iconic line from the film The Dark Knight, crystallizing the song's main theme. It suggests that the journey to the top and the public scrutiny that follows can corrupt or, at the very least, change the perception of an individual from a hero to a villain. Chris Brown's outro explores the emotional weight of this transformation—the isolation, the envy from others, and the realization that the very people you might want to help, you no longer can. The song ultimately questions the nature of heroism and villainy, suggesting they are two sides of the same coin, shaped by circumstance, perception, and the corrupting nature of power.

The narrative of "Superhero" unfolds in two distinct acts, reflecting the album's central theme of duality. The first and major part is dominated by Future, who portrays a character achieving a 'superhero' status through a high-stakes, hedonistic lifestyle. He describes how indulging in "dope" and pills elevates him, providing a sense of invincibility and power. This transformation isn't just internal; it's manifested through immense wealth, luxury, and dominance. He boasts of his untouchable position at the top of the music charts, his ability to acquire expensive items like Rolls-Royces and Rolexes, and his control within his environment. The lyrics paint a picture of a life fueled by excess—drugs, money, and power—where he is the self-proclaimed "king of the streets." There's a raw, unapologetic tone to his verses, celebrating the spoils of a dangerous and relentless pursuit of success. He positions himself as a mogul, untouchable and operating on a higher echelon, where his influence, backed by his crew "Boominati," is the source of his superhuman identity.

The song then undergoes a dramatic shift in its final section, led by Chris Brown. The beat transitions from aggressive and cinematic horns to somber, melancholic synths. Brown's section represents the 'villain' perspective, which is born from the hero's journey. He reflects on the dark side of this elevated status, invoking a "Dark Knight feeling." This is a direct reference to the famous line about living long enough to see yourself become the villain. Brown's lyrics convey a sense of paranoia and isolation that comes with success. He sings about the envy and hate from others who wish to see him fail ("Soon as you up, these niggas wanna bring you down"). The weight of the world is on his shoulders, and he feels alone in his position, unable to 'save' anyone because he lacks a cape, a metaphor for the traditional hero archetype. The song concludes with a poignant question: in a world that turns against you once you've won, who is the real villain? This ending reframes Future's triumphant narrative, suggesting that the very power that makes one a 'hero' inevitably casts them as a 'villain' in the eyes of others, blurring the line between the two entirely.

"Superhero (Heroes & Villains)" was released on December 2, 2022, as the second track and a lead single from Metro Boomin's second solo studio album, Heroes & Villains. The album itself is the second installment in a conceptual trilogy, following 2018's Not All Heroes Wear Capes. The production was handled primarily by Metro Boomin himself, with co-production credits going to Allen Ritter and David x Eli. An earlier, alternate version of Future's part, featuring artist Lil Double 0, had leaked online in May 2021, indicating the track had been in development for some time. Chris Brown's contribution, which forms the song's poignant outro, was added at a later stage, completing the hero-to-villain narrative arc. The album's creation was part of a grand, cinematic vision. Metro Boomin released a short film directed by Gibson Hazard to promote the album, featuring actors Morgan Freeman and LaKeith Stanfield, which helped establish the project's high-concept superhero theme. The song, along with the album, was a significant commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 with 185,000 album-equivalent units sold in its first week.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Superhero" are integral to its two-part structure. Future's sections are built on a foundation of modern trap rhythm, characterized by a steady, hard-hitting tempo and complex hi-hat patterns. His lyrical rhythm is fluid and often plays against the beat, utilizing a chant-like, repetitive cadence that makes his boasts feel like powerful mantras (e.g., "Drinkin' dope turned me to a superhero, yeah, yeah / Hit that pill, turned me to a superhero, yeah, yeah"). His rhyme schemes are often complex, using internal and slant rhymes to maintain a continuous flow (e.g., "mogul"/"total"/"boulders"). The rhythm is aggressive and forward-driving, propelling the 'hero' narrative. When the beat switches for Chris Brown's part, the rhythm slows down dramatically. The pace becomes more deliberate and somber, reflecting the introspective and melancholic lyrics. Brown's vocal rhythm is smoother and more tied to the melodic synth lines, creating a stark contrast to Future's percussive flow. This rhythmic shift is crucial in creating the song's emotional transition from bravado to vulnerability.

"Superhero" employs several distinct musical and literary techniques to achieve its cinematic and thematic depth.

• Beat Switch: The most notable musical technique is the dramatic beat switch. The track begins with Metro's signature trap style, featuring "pummeling 808s and muted horns" that create an epic, anthemic feel for Future's verses. It then transitions into a completely different instrumental for Chris Brown's outro, fading into "somber synths" and a more melancholic, atmospheric soundscape. This transition mirrors the lyrical shift from the triumphant 'hero' to the conflicted 'villain'.
• Sampling: The song strategically uses samples to deepen its meaning. It directly samples Jay-Z's vocal line "Dark Knight feeling, die and be a hero..." from Kanye West's 2010 song "So Appalled." This grounds the song's theme in a well-known hip-hop reference that carries the same thematic weight. The track also reportedly contains a subtle sample of Drake and Future's "Jumpman".
• Vocal Delivery: The vocal styles of the featured artists are themselves a technique. Future employs his "customary, chant-like flow," which is both melodic and percussive, adding to the track's hypnotic and imposing feel. In contrast, Chris Brown delivers his lines with distorted, soulful melodies, conveying a sense of emotional turmoil and introspection that fits the villain's lament.
• Cinematic Production: Metro Boomin's production is inherently cinematic, using layers of sound to build a world. The use of horns, dynamic 808 patterns, and atmospheric synths creates a soundscape that feels like a film score, enhancing the superhero narrative.

"Superhero (Heroes & Villains)" made a significant cultural impact upon its release, both as a standalone track and as a cornerstone of the highly successful Heroes & Villains album. The song debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking a major chart success for all artists involved. It was a key driver for the album's debut at number one on the Billboard 200. The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Its music video, a surreal and cinematic affair featuring Metro Boomin and Future in a diamond heist, further amplified the song's epic and high-concept feel, though it notably omitted Chris Brown's part. The track was widely praised by critics for its production, particularly the seamless and effective beat transition, and for encapsulating the album's core theme so effectively. The song's reference to The Dark Knight and its thematic connection to antiheroes resonated with audiences, solidifying Metro Boomin's reputation not just as a hitmaker, but as a conceptual artist creating a cohesive "Metroverse." The album and its singles reaffirmed the powerful creative partnership between Metro Boomin and Future.

The song is rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its central theme of duality.

• Superhero Metaphor: The primary metaphor is equating the feeling from "drinking dope" with becoming a superhero. This isn't just about intoxication; it symbolizes a transformation into a more powerful, fearless, and untouchable version of oneself, capable of navigating a hostile world. It represents the artificial confidence and status gained through a high-risk lifestyle.
• The Dark Knight: The most explicit symbol is the "Dark Knight feeling," a direct reference to Batman and, more specifically, to the Harvey Dent/Two-Face arc in The Dark Knight. It encapsulates the core idea of the song: a hero's fall from grace or the realization that a path of power and vigilantism leads to becoming the very thing one might have opposed—a villain.
• Lack of a Cape: Chris Brown's line, "I ain't got a cape so I can't save you now," is a powerful metaphor for the loss of heroic innocence. A cape is the ultimate symbol of a traditional, righteous superhero. By stating he doesn't have one, he signifies that his power is not for saving others but for survival, and that he has been cast in a role that is not purely heroic.
• Cinematic Allusions: The entire song, and the album it belongs to, uses the language of superhero films to discuss modern fame and morality. The album's intro even samples Homelander from the TV series The Boys, a character who perfectly embodies the facade of a hero hiding a villainous nature, setting the stage for this track's themes.

The song is built around several recurring motifs and phrases that anchor its themes.

• "turned me to a superhero": This is the central recurring phrase in the song's first half, repeated by Future as a hook. Its repetition drills home the core metaphor of gaining power through illicit means. The phrase is slightly altered ("Drinkin' dope," "Hit that pill," "Boominati") to list the sources of this perceived power, reinforcing its origins in substance use and affiliation.
• Hero vs. Villain Duality: The entire song is a motif for the album's central theme. This is explicitly stated in the title and explored through the narrative structure, contrasting Future's 'heroic' rise with Chris Brown's 'villainous' introspection.
• "Dark Knight feeling" / "become a villain": This phrase, sampled and then sung, is the critical turning point of the song. It appears only in the latter half but acts as the thematic climax, explicitly stating the song's primary moral conflict and recurring idea throughout the album.
• Wealth and Status Symbols: Future repeatedly mentions luxury items like a "Drop top Royce" and a "brand new Rollie." These are recurring motifs in trap music but here serve to illustrate the tangible rewards of his 'superhero' status, the very things that lead to the envy and isolation described later.