Released: 2024 • Features: Metro Boomin
“Red Leather” by Future, featuring Metro Boomin, is a deep dive into the artist’s experience of fame, love and life in the fast lane. The song offers a blend of introspection and audacious bravado, as Future unpacks his relationship with substance use, his approach to relationships, and his aspirations in the glammed-up, high-stakes world of hip-hop.
Settling in with, “I done turned a dancer to a trophy / I done balled with rings like Kobe”, Future asserts his position in the game. He’s moved from the sidelines to the spotlight, making the fast life, laden with trophies and riches, his norm, akin to Kobe’s championship runs. “Pissin’ on your grave in some red leather”, he leans into a metaphor of dominance – the red leather showcasing wealth and status, while the act itself is one of disdain and triumph over adversity.
Addressing substance use, Future acknowledges codeine’s grip on him with “Codeine got my heart like opium”. He neither glamorizes nor downplays his addiction, presenting it as a dark reality, contrasting the luxury cars, flashy jewels, and fan-frenzied lifestyle typically associated with hip-hop icons.
Through the hook, “Forever’s not long enough / If it’s endless, what we doin’?”, Future questions the purpose of his actions, representative of the existential dilemma faced by many in the intoxicating whirl of fame. As he toasts to his success (“Toast codeine, trap stars, what we doin’?”), he’s caught in a paradox of celebrating a lifestyle that’s potentially detrimental.
Romantic relationships play a significant role in Future’s narrative. From stating he “turned a dancer into a trophy”, indicating objectification, to sharing heart-to-heart moments like “I can feel her heartbeat when I’m huggin’ her”, he oscillates between emotional connection and carnal indulgence. He portrays women as status symbols, yet simultaneously seeks genuine companionship.
Metro Boomin’s verse enhances the song with his complex feelings on fidelity and fame. “Hmm, I think so / But it’s hard when you’re with your dogs at the freak show”, he ponders the challenge of monogamy amidst ostentatious, hedonistic experiences. His references to ‘staying strong’ and exercising ‘authority’ suggest his internal struggle to balance his morals with the temptations of fame.
Complementing Future’s narrative, the instrumental undertones courtesy of Metro Boomin, a respected and established producer, further emphasize the dark-yet-glamorous world they inhabit. Their collaboration amps up the emotional intensity of “Red Leather”, giving listeners a robust understanding of the opulence, emptiness, and internal chaos that often accompany the journey to success in hip-hop.
