Metro Boomin Crowns 21 Savage the “Pickiest” Artist He’s Ever Worked With

In an interview with Timbaland for “Rolling Stone,” Metro Boomin opened up about the challenges and rewards of collaborating with longtime friend 21 Savage, describing the experience as exhausting at times due to the rapper’s meticulous nature.

“Me and [21] Savage get into that sometimes. It’s the same thing you said with you and Missy: He’s the pickiest artist I’ve ever worked with, with the beats. I’ll play this man 35 or 40 beats before he wants to get in the booth. And it can be draining: He’ll go, ‘Next one, next one, next one, next one.’ But in return, I’m like, ‘OK, you’ve gotta overly bring it on this one. I’m not taking any OK shit, n***a,’” Metro explained.

When Timbaland responded by praising their work together, Metro agreed wholeheartedly, acknowledging the magic they’ve made together.

“He’s definitely my favorite to work with. We’ll get on each other’s nerves, go back and forth all the time. But at the end of the day, we make each other better. If I play him 20 beats and he’s not really feeling them, I’m going home and cooking up. You need that,” he explained.

Metro produced 21’s first mixtape, “The Slaughter Tape.” From there, he has worked on every 21 project in some degree or another. Despite their sometimes intense dynamic, Metro hinted at the exciting possibility of a third installment in the “Savage Mode” series earlier this year.

The first “Savage Mode” dropped in 2016, showcasing nine tracks with contributions from various producers, including Southside and Zaytoven, featuring a single guest appearance by Future. Four years later, the duo reunited for “Savage Mode II,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, featuring collaborations with Young Thug, Young Nudy, and Drake. However, the likelihood of Drake appearing on the anticipated third installment seems slim, given his ongoing feud with Metro.