What does it mean to thrive? Merriam Webster defines the word in three ways: to grow vigorously and flourish, to gain in wealth or possessions, and/or to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances. With these definitions in mind, the word thrive holds depth. You can’t simply achieve a thriving status-you have to earn it. Whether it’s through working vigorously to achieve a life purpose or pushing through countless trials and tribulations until you come out on top, the act of thriving results from the effort you put in your life journey. You have to navigate through the ups and downs of life with a purpose, and sometimes it’s your suffering that then pushes you to thrive. Life is chaotic and unpredictable, so in the midst of everything how will you thrive?
On this Thrive Thursday, let’s bring American record producer, Metro Boomin, to the forefront as he turns his own story of tragedy to one of purpose, power, legacy and making the world a better place.
What do you do when you lose the most important person in your life? For many of us this is our worst fear and biggest dread-as death is eventually inevitable. Still we wish, hope and pray that the ones we love the most live long, fulfilling lives-but what if, God forbid, that gets cut short? How do you work through that detrimental loss and how can this shape you as a person?
Leland Tyler Wayne (AKA Metro Boomin), 30, and has been no stranger to the headlines since his rise to fame in 2016 through his work with top rap artists such as Future, Drake and the Migos. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri with his mother, Leslie Joanne Wayne, who raised him along with his three other siblings. Leslie Wayne took on the father role for Metro and his siblings as well after their father left when Metro was only eight years old.
According to the Fader Magazine article, “How Metro Boomin Became The Most Trusted Guy In Rap,” it was his mother’s album collections that helped expose him to the world of music he wanted to pursue. Since he wanted Wayne to take him seriously, he decided to take on the role of a producer-which to young Metro sounded more professional than rapper. It was his mother who was one of the first people to recognize Metro’s beat making talents at a young age, and when he was in high school she would personally drive him on regular 17 hour round trips from St. Louis to Atlanta to work with rapper OJ Da Juiceman, whose team discovered Metro’s work and also saw his potential. Metro and Wayne continuously took these trips for him to work on his craft, as long as he sustained honor roll grades in his classes.
“We wasn’t smoking in the studio back then cause his momma was coming in,” OJ told Fader. “We had to have him back at a certain time. It was fun though. We had fun!”
In this 2016 article-at the time Metro Boomin was only 22-the producer credits his mother’s support and care for his success.
“My name is Leland Tyler Wayne,” he said confidently. “My mom wanted to give me a name where, no matter what I wanted to do, I’d be able to do it. An astronaut. President. Whatever. Leland Wayne.”
Throughout his career Metro continuously worked to make his mother proud and consistently did so. A true Momma’s Boy, Metro would commonly hop on his socials to express gratitude for his mother and show extravagant Mother’s Day and birthday gifts. In 2016, he moved his mother and siblings to a home nearby his own in Atlanta. In 2017, in honor of Wayne, Metro launched his “Single Moms Are Superheroes” initiative which sought to provide support to single mothers.
At a young age, Metro Boomin was able to gain not only respect in a cut throat industry, but trust from rappers which reflects that he doesn’t just have talent but character-which can be credited to how his momma raised him.
It was in June of 2022 that Metro’s world as he knew it crashed and his suffering was put on display to the world.
“Metro Boomin Mother Killed by Husband Near ATL Who Kills Himself Afterward,” the vulturous TMZ headline read on June 5, 2022 with the highlight, “Exclusive Details” below. The news shocked the hip hop community and those close to the director/producer. Leslie Joanne Wayne tragically passed away due to an alleged domestic violence incident that resulted in Metro’s step father murdering Wayne and then committing suicide. Fans flooded his pages with questions, condolences and more as well as unwarranted comments from haters with no sense of empathy. With Metro Boomin being one of the hottest producers of the modern era, his celebrityhood made this tragedy a spectacle.
“My Mom was and still is my best friend in the universe and anybody who really know me know I’ve always been a Momma’s boy my whole life,” he wrote on his story in the days following the news. “This don’t even feel like real life no more; it’s like a nightmare that never ends, and starts over every time I wake up.”
“This gotta be what hell feel like cause it’s like my soul just always burning and everything around me constantly burning,” he added on a separate story.
Many of us don’t know what it’s like to lose a mother, and even more of us don’t know what it feels like to lose a mother as an international celebrity. Even though this loss continuously probably takes the greatest toll on this man’s life, Metro Boomin turned back to his community and his single mothers initiative to find purpose in his work and keep his mother’s name alive, and his dedication to her is absolutely beautiful.
In 2023 the hip hop mogul renamed his single mother’s initiative to “Leslie Joanne Single Moms Are Superheroes” with a mission to recognize and give back to single mothers.
On Mother’s Day, Metro donated $100,000 to five nonprofits in St. Louis that provide aid to women and help financially support the burdening costs of debt, utilities, childcare and rent.
“I’ve seen firsthand the work that goes into being a single mother,” he said in a statement highlighted by Billboard. “Mine was my inspiration and my hero. It’s very important to me to pay it forward, because I see the same resilience and dedication in the women these organizations work with.”
Metro is now on his “We Trust You” tour with rapper Future following their two back-to-back number one albums, “We Don’t Trust You” and “We Still Don’t Trust You.” The producer continues to keep his mother’s legacy with the Leslie Joanne Single Moms Are Superheroes initiative as in early August he announced a national grant program donating $20,000 along with show tickets to nonprofits aiding single mothers in every city he stops at on tour-that’s 21 cities across North America.
“As soon as I got the routing for the tour, I knew that I had to give back and share blessings with the cities and communities who are coming out and sharing blessings with me,” the producer said-embodying the Sankofa spirit.
Some nonprofit stops Metro has made so far include the Essential Families nonprofit, the Jeremiah Program in St. Paul, and Detroit non-profit Alternatives for Girls and the Shades of Blue Project in Houston.
There’s more power to the word thrive than just being great. It means to be resilient-to overcome. To thrive you need strength, fortitude and faith. Metro Boomin is a force to be reckoned with this Thrive Thursday as even in the midst of hell on earth for him, he was able to continue to spread the legacy and memory of the person he loves most while helping others build up their homes and raise their families. He continues to succeed in everything he does and his strength of character is admirable.
“Giving back is important to me and essential because I know God shines his light on me in a major way,” he told CNN. “And that leaves me responsible to let that light shine through me and onto others.”
Rest in Power Leslie Joanne Wayne!
