Jump to content

Heroes & Villains

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Heroes and Villains (disambiguation).

Heroes & Villains
Studio album by
Metro Boomin
ReleasedDecember 2, 2022
Recorded2021 – 2022
Studio
GenrePsychedelic trap[1][2]
Length48:07
Label
Producer
Metro Boomin chronology
Savage Mode II
(2020) 		Heroes & Villains
(2022) 		Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack from and Inspired by the Motion Picture)
(2023)
Singles from Heroes & Villains
  1. "Creepin'"
    Released: January 27, 2023
Heroes Version
Villains Version

Heroes & Villains (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released through Republic Records and Boominati on December 2, 2022. The album contains guest appearances from John Legend, Future, Chris Brown, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Young Thug, the Weeknd, Mustafa, ASAP Rocky, the late Takeoff, and Gunna. Production was mainly handled by Metro himself, alongside TM88, DJ Moon, Peter Lee Johnson, Johan Lenox, Allen Ritter, David x Eli, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Scriptplugg, Prince85, Oz, Nik D, D. Rich, DaHeala, My Best Friend Jacob, Elkan, Simon on the Moon, and Xz.

A psychedelic trap album, ASAP Rocky and Morgan Freeman serve as its narrators.[1] The album serves as the sequel to Metro's previous album, Not All Heroes Wear Capes (2018), and serves as the second project for a trilogy. The album's cover resembles that of English rock band Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. An instrumental version of the album, titled the "Heroes Version", was released on December 5, 2022. A chopped not slopped remix edition of the album by OG Ron C and DJ Candlestick, titled the "Villains Version", was released on February 17, 2023. Heroes & Villains debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200, with 185,000 album-equivalent units sold in its first week of release, making it Metro's third number one album.

Release and promotion

[edit]

On November 17, 2021, Metro revealed the title of the album through a letter written with DJ Holiday for the three-year-anniversary of Not All Heroes Wear Capes, which was fifteen days before.[3] On September 16, 2022, his 29th birthday, he took to social media to announce the album along with a trailer video, sharing that the album was dedicated to his late mother.[4] At the time, the album was originally scheduled to be released on November 4.[5] However, on October 26, Metro announced it would be pushed back by four weeks due to sample clearance issues.[6] Fan speculation initially arose that it was due to the fact that his previous collaborators, Drake and 21 Savage, released their collaborative studio album, Her Loss, the same day that Metro originally was supposed to release the album, in which the reason was later proven untrue.[7] On November 22, Metro shared the album's cover art and stated that it would have two sides: the "Hero" side and the "Villain" side.[8] The cover art is inspired by Pink Floyd's ninth studio album, Wish You Were Here (1975).[9] Exactly a week later, Metro shared a short film for the album that was directed by Gibson Hazard and stars himself alongside Young Thug, Gunna, Morgan Freeman, and Lakeith Stanfield.[10] Eight days later, he shared songs from the tracklist one by one on his official website, in which fans would go to the website and tweet the name tracks they found on it and the names of the other artists on it.[11] The next day, which was the day before its release, Metro used a comic book theme, in which he revealed the guest artists one by one and teased some of the lyrics that they said in the songs that they contributed to and shared the full tracklist to reveal the answers to the website.[12] The lead single of the album, "Creepin'", a collaboration with Canadian singer the Weeknd and 21 Savage, was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio on January 27, 2023.[13]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Clash7/10[15]
Mic Cheque7/10[16]
Pitchfork7.2/10[1]
Slant Magazine[17]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Heroes & Villains received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 from five critic scores.[14]

Robin Murray of Clash wrote, "Indeed, one faultline on the record is that there is simply too much going on. 'HEROES & VILLAINS' bursts with ideas, not all of which land. A record that revels in contradictions, it grasps towards the light while framing itself in darkness." He also summarized, "A bold artist statement from Metro Boomin, 'HEROES & VILLAINS' progresses his arena-level sonic tapestry, while also leaving space to grow. A statement of intent, he utilises one of the finest contact books in American hip-hop to build his rogue's gallery."[15] Writing for Mic Cheque, Hamza R. felt that "it means one must treat Heroes & Villains like a holistic experience, driven by its tight theme, and Metro's muted but irresistible sound that keeps the album's engine running" and "he remains a conductor, waving his wand to summon a trap album that may not be his personal best but is robust enough to upstage most albums of its kind this year".[16] Brady Brickner-Wood of Pitchfork described the album as "an ambitious, detail-rich record that splits the difference between streaming fodder and world-building", adding that "proves that Metro aspires to more than hits".[1] Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine summarized that the album is "not very ambitious as far as subject matter goes, but the majority of the guests, whose appearances never feel obligatory, at least cursorily touch on the central theme".[17]

Commercial performance

[edit]

In the United States, Heroes & Villains debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 185,000 album-equivalent units, which included 5,000 pure album sales in its first week, making it his third number-one album in the country.[18] In its second week, the album remained in the top ten and fell to number three, earning 102,000 album-equivalent units.[19][20] On June 5, 2023, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units in the United States.[21] As of December 27, 2023, Heroes & Villains was the ninth best-selling album of the year according to Hits, moved a total 1,472,000 album-equivalent units, including 51,000 pure album sales, 77,000 song sales, 1.893 billion audio-on-demand streams, and 56 million video-on-demand streams.[22]

Track listing

[edit]
Heroes & Villains track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."On Time" (with John Legend)
2:49
2."Superhero (Heroes & Villains)" (with Future and Chris Brown)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter[b]
  • David x Eli[b]
3:03
3."Too Many Nights" (featuring Don Toliver with Future)
3:19
4."Raindrops (Insane)" (with Travis Scott)
  • Metro Boomin
  • David x Eli
  • Scriptplugg
  • Ritter[a]
3:08
5."Umbrella" (with 21 Savage and Young Nudy)
  • Metro Boomin
  • David x Eli
3:42
6."Trance" (with Travis Scott and Young Thug)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
3:14
7."Around Me" (featuring Don Toliver)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Prince85
3:12
8."Metro Spider" (with Young Thug)
  • Le. Wayne
  • Williams
  • Ritter
  • Ozan Yildirim
  • Nik Frascona
  • Paul Agyei
  • Derek Kastal
  • Marcus Rucker
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
  • Oz
  • Nik D
  • Elkan
2:55
9."I Can't Save You (Interlude)" (with Future featuring Don Toliver)
  • Le. Wayne
  • Wilburn
  • Toliver
  • Ritter
  • Dwayne Richardson
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
  • D. Rich
1:31
10."Creepin'" (with the Weeknd and 21 Savage)
3:42
11."Niagara Falls (Foot or 2)" (with Travis Scott and 21 Savage)
  • Le. Wayne
  • Webster
  • Abraham-Joseph
  • Ritter
  • Jacob Wilkinson-Smith
  • Johnson
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
  • My Best Friend Jacob
  • Johnson[a]
3:27
12."Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)" (with 21 Savage featuring Mustafa)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Honorable C.N.O.T.E.
  • Johnson
  • Simon on the Moon
5:11
13."Lock on Me" (with Travis Scott and Future)
  • Le. Wayne
  • Webster
  • Wilburn
  • Christopher Townsend
  • Ritter
  • Metro Boomin
  • Xz
  • Ritter[a]
2:55
14."Feel the Fiyaaaah" (with ASAP Rocky featuring Takeoff)
  • Metro Boomin
3:09
15."All the Money" (with Gunna) (bonus track)
  • Metro Boomin
  • David x Eli
2:47
Total length:48:07

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[b] signifies a co-producer
  • "On Time" transitions into "Superhero (Heroes & Villains)"
  • "Too Many Nights" transitions into "Raindrops (Insane)"
  • "Raindrops (Insane)" transitions into "Umbrella"
  • "Metro Spider" transitions into "I Can't Save You (Interlude)"
  • "Creepin'" features additional vocals from Travis Scott

Sample credits

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

  • Metro Boomin – programming
  • ASAP Rocky – additional vocals (tracks 1, 9)
  • Morgan Freeman – additional vocals (1, 7, 11)
  • Johan Lenox – strings (composition & arrangement) (1, 10), background vocals (1), keyboards (10)
  • Marza Wilks – cello (1, 10)
  • Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling – choir (1)
  • Siraaj Rhett – horn (1)
  • Peter Lee Johnson – strings (1, 10, 12), piano (5), violin (6), synthesizer (10), bass (12)
  • Camille Miller – violin (1, 10)
  • Yasmeen Al-Mazeedi – violin (1, 10)
  • Delaram – background vocals (2)
  • Mario Winans – background vocals (10)
  • Travis Scott – background vocals (10)
  • DaHeala – keyboards, programming (10)
  • Simon Hessman – guitar (12)
  • Thundercat – bass (14)

Technical

  • Joe LaPorta – mastering
  • Metro Boomin – mixing
  • Ethan Stevens – mixing (all tracks), engineering (1, 2, 5–7, 9, 11–15)
  • Patrizio "Teezio" Pigliapoco – engineering (2)
  • Derek "206derek" Anderson – engineering (3, 4, 7, 9)
  • Vern Emmanuel – engineering (5)
  • Flo Ongonga – engineering (6, 15)
  • Bainz – engineering (8)
  • Kourosh Poursalehi – engineering (9)
  • Isaiah "ibmixing" Brown – engineering (10)
  • Shin Kamiyama – engineering (10)
  • Eric Manco – engineering (13)
  • Hector Delgado – engineering (14)
  • Braden Davies – mixing assistance
  • Zachary Acosta – mixing assistance
  • Rebekka Zeyfiyan – engineering assistance (7, 9)
  • Ryan Youngblood – engineering assistance (11)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Heroes & Villains
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[70] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[71] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[72] Platinum 20,000‡
France (SNEP)[73] Platinum 100,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[74] Gold 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[75] Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[76] 2× Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[77] 2× Platinum 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[79] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Brickner-Wood, Brady (December 8, 2022). "Metro Boomin: Heroes & Villains Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Metro Boomin - Heroes & Villains Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. December 2, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Galindo, Thomas (November 20, 2021). "Metro Boomin's Upcoming Album Will Be Titled "Heroes & Villains"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (September 16, 2022). "Metro Boomin Announces New Album Dedicated To His Late Mother". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Aron A. (September 16, 2022). "Metro Boomin Announces Release Date For New Album "Heroes & Villains"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Walker, Joe (October 27, 2022). "Metro Boomin Delays 'Heroes & Villains' Album — But Denies He's Ducking The Competition". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Aron A. (October 27, 2022). "Metro Boomin Pushes Back Album Release Date, Denies Dodging Competition". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Aron A. (November 22, 2022). "Metro Boomin Reveals "Heroes & Villains" Cover Art". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (November 23, 2022). "Metro Boomin Unveils Pink Floyd-Inspired 'Heroes & Villains' Cover Art, Teases Double-Disc Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Saponara, Michael (November 29, 2022). "Metro Boomin Releases 'Heroes & Villains' Short Film Starring Young Thug, Gunna & More". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Devin (November 30, 2022). "Metro Boomin Reveals 'Heroes & Villains' Tracklist". Rap-Up. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Robinson, Joshua (December 1, 2022). "Metro Boomin Reveals Tracklist For "Heroes & Villains"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Mancabelli, Alice (January 26, 2023). "Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage - "Creepin'" (Radio Date: 27-01-2023)" (Press release). Universal Music Italy. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via EarOne.
  14. ^ a b "Heroes & Villains by Metro Boomin Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Murray, Robin (December 2, 2022). "Metro Boomin – HEROES & VILLAINS". Clash. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Hamza R. (December 7, 2022). "Review: Metro Boomin, 'Heroes & Villains'". Mic Cheque. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Lyons-Burt, Charles (December 6, 2022). "Metro Boomin Heroes & Villains Review: Boomin' Beats by Committee". Slant. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  18. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 11, 2022). "Metro Boomin Scores Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Heroes & Villains'". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 19, 2022). "SZA Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'SOS'". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  20. ^ "December 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  21. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  22. ^ "THE BIGGEST ALBUMS OF 2023". Hits. December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  24. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "Metro Boomin Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 49.Týden 2022 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  30. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  31. ^ "Metro Boomin: Heroes & Villains" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  32. ^ "Lescharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  34. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2024. 2. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  35. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  36. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  37. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 26. nedēļa 2024" (in Latvian). Latvian Music Producers Association. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  38. ^ "2022 49-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  39. ^ "Charts.nz – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  40. ^ "Nigeria Top 50 Albums". turntablecharts.com. TurnTable. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  41. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  42. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 17.03.2023–23.03.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Slovak Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  44. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  45. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  47. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  48. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  49. ^ "Metro Boomin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  50. ^ "Metro Boomin Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  51. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2023". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  52. ^ "Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2023" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. November 8, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  53. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  54. ^ "Rapports annuels 2023" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  55. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  56. ^ "Album Top-100 2023". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  57. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2023". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  58. ^ "2023: La dynamique de la production et de la consommation musicales en France" (in French). SNEP. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  59. ^ "Jahrescharts 2023 Album" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  60. ^ "Album Top 100 - digitális és fizikai értékesítés alapján - 2023" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  61. ^ "Classifica annuale 2023 (dal 30.12.2022 al 28.12.2023)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  62. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2023". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  63. ^ "Top 100 | OLiS – albumy | 2023" (PDF) (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  64. ^ "Årslista Album, 2023". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  65. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  66. ^ "End of Year Albums Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  67. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  68. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  69. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  70. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  71. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Music Canada. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  72. ^ "Danish album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  73. ^ "French album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  74. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Metro Boomin; 'Heroes & Villains')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  75. ^ "Italian album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  76. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes and Villains". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  77. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 24, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Heroes & Villains in the search box.
  78. ^ "British album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  79. ^ "American album certifications – Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heroes_%26_Villains&oldid=1262058908"