Atlanta producer Metro Boomin has made a name for himself in the music industry with his signature touch of cinematic grandeur. His debut album, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, released in 2018, offered a glimpse into the artist's affinity for the world of superheroes.
It comes as no surprise that Metro was handpicked to spearhead the executive production of the 2023 film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Embracing the film's distinctive visual style and the boundless realms of its multiverse, the producer assembled a diverse lineup of artists to breathe life into the soundtrack. This song features American rapper and singer Coi Leray.
Oh my, she's a long way from suburban towns
Came to the city for the love, got her hurtin' now
Oh my, she's a long way from suburban town
Long way, really long way from suburbia
As Coi Leray contemplates her journey from the suburbs of Massachusetts to her current heights, she intertwines her own narrative with the tale of Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman, from the realms of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. Drawing parallels, Leray muses on Gwen's quest for a sense of belonging as she ventures beyond her own universe, embarking on a challenging endeavor to mend her relationship with Miles Morales, the alter ego of Spider-Man.
Within the chorus, Leray captures the essence of Gwen Stacy's narrative arcs in Across the Spider-Verse. In two lines, she paints a vivid musical portrait that pays homage to the complexities and struggles faced by this iconic character.
Self-love, he don't love himself, tryna love me
Cuff me, told the truth to him, he don't trust me
In the multifaceted movie narrative, Gwen's counterpart, Peter Parker from Earth 65, emerges as both a potential love interest and a dear friend. Trapped in a web of self-doubt, Peter's yearning to love Gwen becomes entangled with his own struggles to accept and embrace himself.
Gwen's father, the Police Captain George Stacy, seeks to apprehend (cuff) her for the alleged killing of Peter Parker. Simultaneously, Miles Morales longs for a committed relationship (cuff) with Gwen. Because of the web of lies she weaves throughout the movie to protect herself and those close to her, trust becomes a fragile thread, preventing either of them from fully embracing Gwen.
During the outro, we hear the voices of Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld, who respectively portray Miles Morales (Spider-Man) and Gwen Stacy (Spider-Woman) in the movie. Gwen is loathe to further her relationship with Miles Morales, as she fears they will face similar challenges in the future.
Despite Gwen's doubts, Miles, ever the optimist, assures her that their story will be different and they can overcome any obstacles together.
Metro Boomin and Coi Leray wrote the song with singer-songwriter Starrah and producers Dre Moon, Johan Lenox and Prince 85.
Brittany "Starrah" Hazzard has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Rihanna ("
Needed Me"), Drake ("
Fake Love"), Katy Perry ("
Swish Swish"), Calvin Harris ("
Feels"), and Maroon 5 ("
Girls Like You").
