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Metro Boomin flames Atlantic Records head Mike Caren, other artists join in
If Young Metro don’t trust you, he will expose you.
Yesterday, Metro Boomin, the young Atlanta-based super producer, went off on Atlantic Records, issuing a “PSA to producers everywhere, don’t let @AtlanticRecords steal your soul.”
PSA to producers everywhere, don't let @AtlanticRecords steal your soul 🖤 https://t.co/W1kk3DuTh5
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) October 18, 2017
Metro then clarified that he was talking about a specific branch of Atlantic, the Artist Partner Group (APG), and its head Mike Caren, “who deals directly with producers and songwriters.”
What I said about Atlantic was directed at Mike Caren and the APG division who deals directly with producers and songwriters.
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) October 18, 2017
The “Mask Off” producer then identified Black executives at Atlantic Records “who do great business and wanna help us win.”
Dallas Martin, Orlando Wharton, and Lanre Gaba are good friends and black execs who do great business and wanna help us win.
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) October 18, 2017
VULTURES https://t.co/u1M3Dt1Ppq
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) October 18, 2017
Artists and producers around the industry responded to Metro’s tweets with support, sharing personal stories about Mike Caren and APG. Mike Will Made It said, “Caron looked 2012 Mike Will in the eyes after hearing my whole catalog and said you don’t have ANY hits but we can help u wit that.”
Factual , Caron looked 2012 Mike Will in the eyes after hearing my whole catalog and said you don't have ANY hits but we can help u wit that
— MADE-IT (@MikeWiLLMadeIt) October 18, 2017
Mike Will has founded his own label, Ear Drummer Records, and is a multi-platinum record producer. Safe to say he didn’t need Mike Caron’s help.
London On Da Track, another Atlanta producer, agreed with Metro that “That’s all they want to do.”
That’s all they want to do https://t.co/31AjXmtzur
— WeGotLondonOnDaTrack (@LondonOnDaTrack) October 18, 2017
Metro went on to explain that his experiences with APG and other industry bullshit drove him to want to start his own label.
Seeing shit like that is part of what inspired me to have my own label.
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) October 18, 2017
Earlier this summer, Metro announced his label, Boominati Records, a subset of Republic Records. His single “No Complaints,” featuring Drake and Offset, was the first official release from the label.
100% similar stories same struggle !#Eardrummer
— MADE-IT (@MikeWiLLMadeIt) October 18, 2017
Still preparing my Mike Caren expose, he been trash for awhile now……. https://t.co/riLy7zW2zN
— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) October 18, 2017
It wasn’t just hip-hop artists who agreed with Metro’s tweets. Beach Fossils, left Brooklyn indie label Captured Tracks in 2014 as frontman Dustin Payseur started his own label, agreed with Metro’s assertion that the industry drove him to want his own label.
Same
— Beach Fossils (@beachfossils) October 18, 2017
Pop singer Halsey claimed that she wrote “Hold Me Down” about Mike Caren and APG while calling on songwriters to protect their art.
DAMN. This is exactly who I wrote "Hold Me Down" about! "Sold my soul to a 3 piece" SPEAK! PROTECT UR ART. https://t.co/hCrM7wW0AV
— h (@halsey) October 18, 2017
Mike Caren can’t be too happy today, as artists and producers around the industry join in to publicly expose him. This whole ordeal also shines light on the increasing trend of artists spurning major labels, either starting their own label or signing to an independent.
As always, if Metro don’t trust you, it’s very quiet for you.