Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

From adolescents who aspire to be the next Miles Morales to adults who grew up on the original, Tobey Maguire “Spider-man,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has something for everyone. Following the popularity of “Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse,” making an equally impressive runner-up movie was not a task for the faint of heart. After the four-year process of animation, composition and recording, the sequel exceeded countless expectations. The movie itself has received rave reviews scoring a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and winning Best Picture for the 2023 Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Movie Awards.  Likewise, the movie’s stellar soundtrack, produced by Metro Boomin and Daniel Pemberton, is an amazing addition to this must-watch film.

While the incorporation of soundtracks into movies is nothing new, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” provides a refreshingly new take on rap influences within animated movies.  Some of the most influential rappers of this generation — A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Offset, Future, Lil Uzi Vert — are featured on Metro Boomin’s album, “METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.”  The amount of features within the album takes the concept of collaboration to a completely new level. Even with the numerous individuals featured, the soundtrack is still able to maintain a cohesive and bold sound. It stands well on its own, while also enhancing the aesthetic and plot of the movie itself.

Metro Boomin’s album starts off strong with its first track, “Annihilate,” featuring Swae Lee, Lil Wayne and Offset. It plays during a climactic moment where Morales truly comes into his own as a character. The beat is strong and intense, making it a perfect fit for the moment. The song is lyrically brilliant with clever references to other Spider-man films, such as “I give an opp arachnophobia / I’ve been litty since I flicked the lighter / Since I was an itsy bitsy spider.” Not only is the song filled with clever references, but the chorus is one that won’t easily escape listeners’ ears. The chorus has some incredibly catchy lines that will make the listener leave the theater singing, “Annihilate, I’m wide awake, be very afraid / I’m in my own world, give me space / I’m in my own universe, give me space.” This first track is an incredible start to a fantastic album, and the following songs surely do not disappoint. 

Another amazing track off of the soundtrack is “Calling,” featuring Swae Lee, NAV and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie. This song plays during the end credits of the movie and is a great summation of the album as a whole. This song incorporates a very strong R&B feel, contrasting with many of the rap influences seen throughout the album. The song has a beautiful, flowing melody on the piano and shows a softer side to Morales’ story, specifically his relationship with Gwen Stacy. It is an excellent reflection on the qualms of being a superhero and wanting to protect the ones you love: “I can hear you screamin’ out, callin’ me / It’s my fault, made you fall for me / So, to save you, I’d give my all.” The moving lyrics are powerful and show why this song is currently the most streamed of the entire album at over 120,000 streams and counting. 

The creators of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and the collaborators on Metro Boomin’s album came together to generate a fantastic movie and soundtrack that balance and enhance one another. Although the songs are clean and perfectly suitable for kids’ animation, they still embody so many of the key elements of hip-hop, R&B and rap music. The incredible work on this album was able to transform genres that are usually not kid-friendly into an amazing soundtrack for a totally family-friendly movie. It is incredibly cohesive and the songs are astonishingly suitable for the scenes they play in throughout the movie. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is a movie that all ages can enjoy with a soundtrack all can sing along to.