Not All Heroes Wear Capes

2018 studio album by Metro Boomin
  • 43:50 (standard edition)
  • 87:20 (deluxe edition)
Label
  • Boominati
  • Republic
Producer
  • Metro Boomin
  • Allen Ritter
  • Chopsquad DJ
  • Dre Moon
  • Milan Beker
  • Prince 85
  • Southside
  • Tay Keith
  • Wheezy
Metro Boomin chronology
Double or Nothing
(2017) 		Not All Heroes Wear Capes
(2018) 		Savage Mode II
(2020)
Singles from Not All Heroes Wear Capes
  1. "No Complaints"
    Released: June 23, 2017
  2. "Space Cadet"
    Released: January 29, 2019

Not All Heroes Wear Capes (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released by Boominati Worldwide and Republic Records on November 2, 2018. The album features guest appearances from Gucci Mane, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Swae Lee, Gunna, Young Thug, Wizkid, J. Balvin, Offset, Kodak Black, and Drake.[2] The deluxe edition of the album was released, consisting of the instrumental versions of all songs from the standard edition on November 6, 2018. The album is the first part of a trilogy, with the second part being its sequel, Metro's second studio album, Heroes & Villains, which was released on December 2, 2022.

Background

In April 2018, Metro appeared to announce his "retirement" from music production on his Instagram page, changing his bio to "Retired record producer/DJ."[3] However, he had garnered production credits on other albums that were released later that year.

Release and promotion

On June 23, 2017, Metro released the lead single of the album, "No Complaints", which features American rapper Offset and Canadian rapper Drake. On October 26, 2018, multiple billboards appeared in Atlanta and New York depicting Metro Boomin as a "missing person".[4] It was later revealed to be a teaser for the new full-length project Not All Heroes Wear Capes, cryptically teased as a solo album.[5] The cover and track list were unveiled by 21 Savage on his Instagram page. It was then announced on October 31, 2018.[6] On January 29, 2019, "Space Cadet", which features American rapper Gunna, was released to rhythmic contemporary radio on January 29, 2019, as the album's second single.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Highsnobiety4.0/5[9]
HipHopDX4.0/5[10]
HotNewHipHop80%[11]
Pitchfork7.7/10[12]

Not All Heroes Wear Capes received positive reviews from music critics. Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork described Not All Heroes Wear Capes as "a high-profile guest-filled album that builds on and creates a bigger version of the dark, hard-hitting production that has turned Metro into rap’s definitive producer of the last five years." Pierre praised the production and performances of the featured artists, concluding that the album "doesn’t feel like the typical producer album, filled with mixtape leftovers and owed favors. This is Metro Boomin laying the groundwork for his next phase, which at times feels like it could be film scores. When you’ve done it all at 25 years old, some may lose the motivation, but Metro seems ready to keep going, continuing to define the new sound of hip-hop."[12] Marcus Blackwell of HipHopDX complimented the cohesiveness of the album, adding that there is "a cinematic feel throughout that places the artists in their appropriate pockets."[10] Online hip hop publication HotNewHipHop concluded: "With the power to transcend his post-trap aesthetic in full-display, Metro Boomin is gearing up for the most arduous creative phase of his career. NAHWC is a memorable showcase if you wade through the more tenable parts and create your own setlist. For Metro Boomin the distance between the 1st rung he currently occupies, and the rest of the ladder is so cavernous, he surely has all the time in the World to find his autonomy."[11] Thomas Hobbs from Highsnobiety describes Metro Boomin's work in Not All Heroes Wear Capes as a feeling "both minimalist and maximalist at the same time, with Metro creating vast compositions out of what feels like fairly traditional rap production techniques", with praises to the album as "consistently engaging".[9]

Commercial performance

Not All Heroes Wear Capes debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 99,000 album-equivalent units, making it Metro Boomin's first US number-one album.[13] The album dropped to the number eight in its second week, earning an additional 52,000 album-equivalent units.[14] The album debuted at 16 on the UK Album Charts.[15]

Following the release of Not All Heroes Wear Capes, seven songs from the album debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, including the 21 Savage-assisted track "Don't Come Out the House", which charted at number 38, becoming the highest-charting song from the album.[16]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."10AM / Save the World" (featuring Gucci Mane)
3:46
2."Overdue" (with Travis Scott)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Milan Beker[a]
2:46
3."Don't Come Out the House" (with 21 Savage)
2:48
4."Dreamcatcher" (featuring Swae Lee, and Travis Scott)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
3:31
5."Space Cadet" (featuring Gunna)
  • Wayne
  • Sergio Kitchens
  • Wesley Glass
  • Ritter
  • Metro Boomin
  • Wheezy
  • Ritter[a]
3:23
6."10 Freaky Girls" (with 21 Savage)
  • Wayne
  • Abraham-Joseph
  • Michael Jones
Metro Boomin3:28
7."Up to Something" (featuring Travis Scott and Young Thug)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
  • Southside
3:04
8."Only 1 (Interlude)" (with Travis Scott)
  • Wayne
  • Webster
Metro Boomin1:20
9."Lesbian" (featuring Gunna and Young Thug)
  • Wayne
  • Kitchens
  • Williams
  • Luellen
  • Metro Boomin
  • Southside
3:26
10."Borrowed Love" (featuring Swae Lee and Wizkid)
  • Wayne
  • Brown
  • Ayodeji Balogun
  • Mary Cross
  • Johnnie Frierson
Metro Boomin3:50
11."Only You" (with J Balvin featuring Wizkid and Offset)
  • Metro Boomin
  • Ritter
3:38
12."No More" (featuring Travis Scott, Kodak Black and 21 Savage)
Metro Boomin4:25
13."No Complaints" (featuring Offset and Drake) (bonus track)
  • Wayne
  • Cephus
  • Aubrey Graham
Metro Boomin4:25
Total length:43:50
Deluxe bonus disc[17]
No.TitleLength
1."10AM / Save the World" (instrumental)3:46
2."Overdue" (instrumental)2:46
3."Don't Come Out the House" (instrumental)2:48
4."Dreamcatcher" (instrumental)3:31
5."Space Cadet" (instrumental)3:23
6."10 Freaky Girls" (instrumental)3:28
7."Up to Something" (instrumental)3:04
8."Only 1" (interlude; instrumental)1:20
9."Lesbian" (instrumental)3:26
10."Borrowed Love" (instrumental)3:50
11."Only You" (instrumental)3:38
12."No More" (instrumental)4:05
13."No Complaints" (instrumental) (bonus track)4:25
Total length:43:30

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • "10AM / Save the World" features additional vocals by Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling.
  • "Overdue" features additional vocals by 21 Savage.
  • "Space Cadet" features additional vocals by Travis Scott.
  • "Only You" features background vocals by Allen Ritter.
  • "Overdue" transitions into "Don't Come Out the House".
  • "Only 1 (Interlude)" transitions into "Lesbian".

Sample credits

  • "10AM / Save the World" contains a sample from "Save the World", written by Gladys Givens and performed by The Loving Sisters.
  • "Overdue" contains a sample from "Anthonio (Berlin Breakdown Version)", written by Annie Strand, Hannah Robinson, and Richard Phillips, and performed by Annie.
  • "10 Freaky Girls" contains a sample from "Are You the Woman", written by Michael Jones and performed by Kashif and Whitney Houston.
  • "Borrowed Love" contains a sample from "After Laughter (Comes Tears)", written by Mary Cross and Johnnie Frierson, and performed by Wendy Rene.
  • "No More" contains a sample from "Synopsis One: In the Ghetto / God Save the World", written by Dale Warren and performed by 24-Carat Black.

Personnel

Performance

  • Metro Boomin – primary artist
  • Gucci Mane – featured artist (track 1)
  • Travis Scott – featured artist (tracks 2, 4, 7, 8, and 12), vocals (track 5)
  • 21 Savage – featured artist (tracks 3, 6, and 12), additional vocals (track 2)
  • Swae Lee – featured artist (tracks 4 and 10)
  • Gunna – featured artist (tracks 5 and 9)
  • Young Thug – featured artist (tracks 7 and 9)
  • Wizkid – featured artist (tracks 10 and 11)
  • Offset – featured artist (tracks 11 and 13)
  • J Balvin – primary artist (track 11)
  • Kodak Black – featured artist (track 12)
  • Drake – featured artist (track 13)
  • Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling – vocals (track 1)
  • Allen Ritter – background vocals (track 11)

Instrumentation

  • Jeff Basko – guitar (track 1)
  • Peter Lee Johnson – strings (tracks 1, 8, and 9), keyboards (track 8)
  • Milan Beker – keyboards (track 2)
  • Allen Ritter – keyboards (track 5)
  • Siraaj Rhett – horn (tracks 6 and 11)
  • Jeff Babko – keyboards (track 9)
  • Hudson Buckley – bass guitar (tracks 10 and 11)
  • Mike McTaggart – guitar (tracks 10 and 11)
  • Timothy Loo – conductor (track 10), strings conductor (track 10)
  • Sean O'Neil – guitar (track 12)

Production

  • Metro Boomin – executive production, production (all tracks)
  • Dre Moon – production (track 1)
  • Prince 85 – production (track 1)
  • Tay Keith – production (track 3)
  • Allen Ritter – production (tracks 4, 7, and 11), additional production (track 5)
  • Wheezy – production (track 5)
  • Milan Beker – additional production (track 2)
  • Southside – production (tracks 7 and 9)

Technical

  • Metro Boomin – programming (tracks 1, 3-12)
  • Dre Moon – programming (track 1)
  • Prince 85 – programming (track 1)
  • Metro Boominati – programming (track 2)
  • Tay Keith – programming (track 3)
  • Allen Ritter – programming (tracks 4, 7, and 11)
  • Wheezy – programming (track 5)
  • Southside – programming (tracks 7 and 9)
  • Ethan Stevens – mixing (all tracks), recording engineering (tracks 1-5, 7-12)
  • Turnmeup Josh – recording engineering (track 6)
  • Mac Attison – recording engineering (track 12)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] 18
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[19] 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] 57
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 2
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[23] 5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24] 8
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 16
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 59
Irish Albums (IRMA)[27] 11
Italian Albums (FIMI)[28] 26
Latvian Albums (LAIPA)[29] 3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[30] 9
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[31] 3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 11
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[34] 16
US Billboard 200[35] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[36] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018) Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[37] 99
Chart (2019) Position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[38] 46
US Billboard 200[39] 47
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[40] 36

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[41] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[42] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[43] Gold 10,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[44] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[46] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Not All Heroes Wear Capes – Metro Boomin". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  2. ^ Maicki, Salvatore (November 2, 2018). "Metro Boomin drops Not All Heroes Wear Capes". The FADER. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  3. ^ Hooton, Christopher (April 13, 2018). "Metro Boomin Want More? Producer claims to have 'Retired from rap'". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  4. ^ Hussein, Wandera (October 26, 2018). "What is up with these weird Metro Boomin "missing person" billboards?". The Fader. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  5. ^ Minsker, Evan (2 November 2018). "Metro Boomin Drops New Album With Drake, Travis Scott, Young Thug, More: Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  6. ^ Saponara, Michael (November 1, 2018). "Metro Boomin' Announces 'Not All Heroes Wear Capes' Project, Shares Cover Art". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases - R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates". All Access. January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  8. ^ "Not All Heroes Wear Capes by Metro Boomin Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Hobbs, Thomas (November 14, 2018). "Metro Boomin's 'Not All Heroes Wears Capes' Soars with 21 Savage". Highsnobiety. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Blackwell, Marcus (November 7, 2018). "Review: Metro Boomin Makes Triumphant Return With "Not All Heroes Wear Capes"". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Ch, Devin (November 8, 2018). "Metro Boomin "Not All Heroes Wear Capes" Review". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Pierre, Alphonse (November 6, 2018). "Metro Boomin: Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 12, 2018). "Metro Boomin's 'Not All Heroes Wear Capes' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  14. ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 18, 2018). "Kane Brown Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Experiment'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  15. ^ Copsey, Rob (November 9, 2018). "The Prodigy score seventh UK Number 1 album". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "Several Metro Boomin Songs Debut On Billboard Hot 100, Bubbling Under Hot 100 Charts". Headline Planet. November 13, 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES (Deluxe) by Metro Boomin on Apple Music". iTunes. 2 November 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  18. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  22. ^ "Metro Boomin Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  23. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  25. ^ "Metro Boomin: Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  27. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Metro Boomin". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  28. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  29. ^ "45.nedēļa - tuvojas Decembris un tuvojas arēna" (in Latvian). LAIPA. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  30. ^ "Charts.nz – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  31. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  32. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  33. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  35. ^ "Metro Boomin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  36. ^ "Metro Boomin Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  37. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  38. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  39. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  40. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  41. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  42. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Music Canada. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  43. ^ "Danish album certifications – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  44. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 21, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Not All Heroes Wear Capes in the search box.
  45. ^ "British album certifications – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  46. ^ "American album certifications – Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes". Recording Industry Association of America.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
Soundtrack albums
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack from and Inspired by the Motion Picture) (2023)
Collaborative albums
Mixtapes
  • Perfect Timing (with Nav) (2017)
Extended plays
Singles
Featured singles
  • "Mile High"
Other songs
Concert tours
Category
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • MusicBrainz release group