Metro Boomin's Feature List is Stacked

The Weeknd has been awarded the key to the city of Toronto, and July 26-27 has officially been named “The Weeknd Weekend.” In other news: 

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Metro’s the GOAT for this 🙌

• Jay-Z might need to step back 👀 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Billboard Hot 100

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data —all measured by Luminate.

K. Dot and SZA’s “luther” re-enters the Top 10 as other tracks like Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” and “NOKIA” continue to fall down the chart. Meanwhile, songs from Tyler, the Creator’s newest project DON’T TAP THE GLASS are claiming their spots this week, including “BIG POE” and “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.”

Ever since he started teasing it, Metro Boomin’s upcoming mixtape A Futuristic Summa has been making waves. Hosted by legendary DJ and producer DJ Spinz — best known for hits like Future’s “F**k Up Some Commas” — the project was confirmed via Metro’s MySpace-inspired website to include 23 tracks and 21 features.

The project was originally supposed to drop on July 22, but was delayed alongside the confirmation that Future would be featured. He’s since confirmed that A Futuristic Summa is dropping Friday, August 1st. 

For the album rollout, Metro’s been unveiling features like he’s counting down to a Verzuz battle: Quavo, JMoney, Roscoe Dash — yes, 2010 just texted back. With every new name, it’s getting harder to tell if this is a mixtape or an Atlanta rap Avengers reunion.

Futuristic Summa is a love letter to ATL

Some inclusions aren’t shocking. Metro’s worked with Lil Baby before (see: 2024’s “All My Life”) and has a whole track record with 2 Chainz, including 2017’s “Big Bidness” and “Both Eyes Closed.” This isn’t just a victory lap, though.

It’s a love letter to Atlanta rap in all its eras — and Metro’s the conductor. T.I., Travis Porter, Rich Kidz, and Waka Flocka Flame are all back outside. And he’s not stopping there. New blood like YK Niece (one of the voices behind the viral menace “WHIM WHAMMIE”) and Bunna B (yes, the one from “Bunna Summa” on TikTok) are pulling up, too.

With five more feature spots still to be announced, Metro’s following through on his promise of an “all-new cast.” That cast just happens to include half of Magic City’s 2012 guest list and the people currently soundtracking your FYP. Let’s hope that Futuristic Summa doesn’t get delayed again — and lives up to the hype. 

Jay-Z’s Latest Business Move Sparks Protests 

Jay-Z’s name has been in the headlines lately — and not always for the reasons he’d like. Yes, he’s been spotted performing on his wife Beyoncé’s (which is a flex in itself) COWBOY CARTER tour, soaking up applause like the world’s most powerful +1.

Even all that love from the Beyhive hasn’t been enough to distract from the chaos brewing offstage. We’re talking lawsuits from his alleged son Rymir Satterthwaite, surprise sneak-disses from Nicki Minaj, and now…a casino controversy. Apparently, Jay-Z wants to turn Times Square into mini-Vegas — and not everyone’s feeling lucky.

Jay-Z wants to bring Vegas to New York

On July 23, HOV showed up at a committee hearing in support of a flashy new proposal: bringing a Caesars Palace casino to the heart of Manhattan. Roc Nation, Caesars Entertainment, and SL Green Realty are teaming up to try and snag one of three available downtown casino licenses. If successful, the project is slated to open in four years and includes a 992-room luxury hotel, Michelin-level restaurants, a wellness retreat, and a full-blown nightlife complex — all inside an existing office building at 1515 Broadway.

“I’m trying to reserve myself — it’s a very good idea,” Jay-Z said at the meeting, which was livestreamed (with YouTube comments obviously off).

According to the proposal, the project promises to generate $7 billion in tax revenue, $26.7 billion in local business support, 3,000 construction jobs, and nearly 4,000 permanent ones. Basically, they’re pitching it like it’s the solution to every economic problem New York’s ever had. Not everyone’s buying it, though.

The people want the casinos out of Times Square

Two days later, the “No Times Square Casino” coalition — which includes local community organizations, neighborhood associations, and some extremely stressed-out theater people — gathered to protest the plan. 

"This casino’s developers don’t care about improving this neighborhood…They are looking to profit on the backs of residents, local businesses, and the theater workers, producers, and owners who have brought us back from the pandemic,” Jason Laks, President of The Broadway League, said about the potential plans. 

He continued by stating that "SL Green and Caesars can continue to promise millions of dollars to buy a veneer of support, but the residents and workers of this neighborhood see through it. These are massive corporations with virtually unlimited resources. But Broadway represents creative vitality and is the beating cultural heart of this city, something fundamentally different from what a casino represents."

Caesars Palace released a statement of their own in response, claiming that the project will “deliver more than $250 million in community benefits to businesses in Times Square and the residents of Hell’s Kitchen, as well as 9,000 new good-paying union jobs for New Yorkers." 

They have also promised to hold exclusive monthly job fairs for Actors' Equity Association and American Federation of Musicians Local 802 (two unions that represent Broadway managers, actors, and musicians). 

Still, the backlash is mounting. And after weeks of personal drama and bad press, the last thing Jay-Z needs is a full-blown war with Broadway — or the internet.

• Lil Baby is giving back. The ATL native recently hosted his fifth annual Back-to-School Fest in his hometown, where he was able to provide for over 4,000 local students and families.

• “Wheelchair Jimmy” is back. Drake will be featured in an upcoming documentary focusing on the impact and legacy of Degrassi titled Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, premiering this fall at the Toronto International Film Festival.

• Nino Paid is in legal trouble. He was booked in his hometown of Maryland for allegedly stealing a vehicle. 

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