This Is Metro Boomin, the Man You've Been Listening To All Year

Denim Jacket by Supreme X Levi's, t-shirt is vintage, jeans by Saint Laurent, sneakers by Vans, bandana and jewelry are his ownBjarne Jonasson

Having collaborated with Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kanye, and Gucci Mane, Atlanta über-producer Metro Boomin is hip-hop's most important behind-the-scenes figure. But he dresses like a frontman.

You may recognize him at this point—the jaunty bandanna, those Japanimation eyes. At least you know his music. Metro Boomin (real name Leland Wayne) has produced basically all of hip-hop's most vital artists: Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kanye, Gucci Mane. He's the primary collaborator with the twin poles of Atlanta ego, Young Thug and Future. He did “Jumpman,” “Where Ya At,” and that song about the club goin' up on a Tuesday. You could argue that this wiry 23-year-old, who dropped out of Morehouse at 19 to make beats, is the good-natured embodiment of hip-hop's new generation. One that's nocturnal, transnational, moneyed, gender-neutral, and shot through with pastels. Here, Metro tells us how he melds Nike with Saint Laurent the same way he mixes Tokyo with the trap.

Leave a Lot of Room in Your Suitcase

“When I'm on the road, I love to shop. To find places, mostly I hear about stuff from people who live there. Since January we've been to London like five times. I like to go to Selfridges; it's like a super-Barneys. I check Supreme out, Palace. I travel with a bunch of clothes, but I'll go out and buy stuff and not even wear what I brought.”

Have a Signature Move

“Even before I moved to Atlanta, I was heavy into headwear. I had a million hats. But when I started this hairstyle, a lot of times it would just look dumb with a hat. I was in the studio making ‘Skyfall’ with Travis Scott, and he was getting his hair braided. He had this camo bandanna, and I tied it around my head as a joke and took an Instagram picture. Then I started doing it every day and it became a thing. If I wear Nike or Saint Laurent, even if I dress up a little more with a sweater or a turtleneck—still with the bandanna.”

Remember: Clothes Are Gender-Free

“There was a time no one would wear feminine clothes, but not anymore. I don't know why it happened. I've known Young Thug for a while, and he really doesn't care about ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine.’ People talked about Prince the same way. Who even says pink is a girl color? Listen, pink looks cool. It pops. When I was younger, people were like, Aww, man, you got PINK? Now at Supreme it's the pink that flies off the shelves. Every time.”

This story originally appeared in the December 2016 issue with the title "Introducing The Man You've Been Listening To All Year."

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