911爆料

Here is Sean鈥檚 story.

I started playing guitar when Guitar Hero became too easy on expert mode, much like Post Malone. Guitar made me feel powerful and in control. I could play entire songs just by listening to them and breaking them down into specific parts with my ear. At 911爆料, I was so busy; I didn鈥檛 have much time for music. When I moved back home after graduation, I rediscovered guitar, and started messing around with music production on the weekends.

I got a job offer in Atlanta and decided to take it. I was spending the weekend there, looking for a place to live, when I decided to stop by Lenox Square Mall鈥攚hich I鈥檇 heard of in underground hip-hop songs. In Atlanta, the mall is like a Mecca鈥攑eople pull up on the weekends in their nicest 鈥檉its, with cash to spend. I strolled into the Adidas store and noticed a guy with a Goyard bag, just sitting there minding his own business. I thought, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 an expensive bag; this might be someone.鈥� In fact, it was hip-hop producer Leland Wayne, aka Metro Boomin. I didn鈥檛 say anything to him in the store, but I knew I had to make my mark. It was either seize this moment, or wonder in regret forever. I stalkishly timed my mall exit with his鈥攖o elude the crowd he was attracting and try to have a conversation. I called his name and he turned around. I blurted out something like, 鈥楬ey man! I鈥檓 a huge fan! Dirty Sprite 2 with Future is absolutely legendary. Mind if I get a picture?鈥�

While we took the photo, I mentioned my songwriter/guitarist/producer aspirations and said he should hit me up if he wanted to spice up any of his instrumentals with live guitar samples. We exchanged info; I figured he gave me a fake number. Turns out he鈥檚 a legit, down-to-earth dude.

We started collaborating. He would invite me to studio sessions with other artists, but I could never really get a second with him to build a new song from scratch. Being in the studio with him and other famous artists was amazing鈥攁nd stressful. Initially, I didn鈥檛 possess the confidence in my abilities, and worried too much about others鈥� opinions. But over the next two years, I perfected my craft and gained that confidence. I started consistently sending tracks to Metro. Then one night he hit me up for some guitar samples to inspire his session. My girlfriend was already asleep in our small studio apartment. I knew I had to stay up and get to work. It was go time. I might never have this opportunity again. So I put on my headphones, plugged in my guitar, and started playing a spooky loop in a minor key that occurred to me after listening to some ideas I had laid down with my best friend and primary collaborator, Matt鈥攚e operate under the moniker, 鈥淗ypothetical鈥� on all streaming platforms (shameless plug).

I sent Metro the recording that night, and a few days later he responded with a fire emoji. A few days after that, he responded again, saying 鈥業鈥檓 using that guitar for something.鈥�

Fast forward a couple months, and he鈥檚 rolling out some cryptic promo for his No. 1 debuting album on the Billboard 200, 鈥淣ot All Heroes Wear Capes.鈥� He released the track listing on Halloween night and told me my guitar was on the last song, 鈥淣o More.鈥� I couldn鈥檛 believe it. I listen to the song now and I still have a hard time believing it. The hottest rappers in the game鈥擳ravis Scott, Kodak Black, and 21 Savage鈥攁re flowing over my guitar track.

If hockey taught me one thing, it鈥檚 this: Shoot your shot. You never know if the puck will go in. I have to thank Metro for the assist though. My dad always said, 鈥淪ometimes the assist is just as pretty as the goal.鈥�

Sean O’Neil 鈥�14