
This is a brand new soundtrack album curated by St. Louis producer, DJ & record executive Metro Boomin’. Gaining notoriety in the middle of the previous decade as one of the most in-demand beatsmiths in hip hop today, he’s gone on to produce some of the best trap projects of the decade in their entireties including Future’s 3rd album D.S. 2 (Dirty Sprite 2) as well as Gucci Mane’s 53rd mixtape Droptopwop and the Offset/21 Savage collab tape Without Warning. It was until after Halloween 2018 when he put out his solo debut Not All Heroes Wear Capes & returned last winter with the superior sophomore effort Heroes & Villains widely & rightfully earning him more respect as a beatsmith, but is now being recruited to do the soundtrack for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
“Annihilate” by Lil Wayne, Offset & Swae Lee kicks off the soundtrack talking about being in another universe with a bit of an electronic trap flare to the instrumental with co-production from Mike Dean whereas “Am I Dreamin’?” by A$AP Rocky & Roisee finds the pair triumphantly admits to feeling beaten yet refusing to give up. “All the Way Live” by Future & Lil Uzi Vert works in some synths & hi-hats so both of them can discuss the type of time they on just before “Danger (Spider)” by JID & Offset gives off a smoother sound despite the fact that it was solely produced nby Honorable C.N.O.T.E. as they both demonstrate being made for this dangerous life.
Young Metro returns behind the boards for the colorfully laced “Hummingbird” with beautifully sung vocals performed by James Blake realizing that his lover might be all he needs leading into “Calling” by ΠΔV & Swae Lee providing y’all a syrupy pop rap anthem with the Brown Boy continuing to improve as a performer like he previously showed on Demons Protected by Angels. “Silk & Cologne” by Ei8ht & Offset is essentially a dancehall remix of a Fortnite lobby track that Ei8ht recently did, but then “Link Up” by Don Toliver & Wizkid is easily the worst cut on the entire soundtrack as they get on the more melodic side pulling from afrobeats alongside pop rap & pop reggae talking about syncing up.
“Self Love” has to be one of Coi Leray’s best songs to date with a poppy, futuristic cut detailing a man that doesn’t even love himself trying to love on her while “Home” by Donny Womack & Uzi dives into more atmospheric trap turf talking about being alone this evening. The song “Nonviolent Communication” by James Blake, Pretty Flacko & 21 Savage is a somber acoustic trap ballad caught up in the whip with Mary Jane Watson in his head explaining their bond is misunderstood while the penultimate track “Givin’ Up” by Don Toliver, 21 & 2 Chainz come together for 1 last Honorable C.N.O.T.E. banger psychedelically talking about refusing to lose. “Nas Morales” however ends the album with Metro going drumless so Nas can cleverly compare himself to Miles Morales.
Now I really don’t review soundtrack albums unless it has something going for them since a lot of movie soundtracks these days are generally trash, but there was no doubt in my mind that this would live up to the expectations set by the respective Black Panther and Judas & the Black Messiah soundtracks especially given the growth Metro shown this past winter on Heroes & Villains. Lo & behold: I stand corrected. Metro continues to expand on his evolution as a producer with a primarily consistent guest list joining him.
Score: 3.5/5
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