“Future” the self-titled 5th studio album from the astronaut Future Hendrix. This follows a recent run of projects including the colossal album DS2, EVOL and a string of mixtapes including that with fellow ATL King Pin Gucci Mane (Free Bricks 2). This album completely took me by surprise, the only signs that something was coming was Future’s cryptic messages and deletion of Instagram posts.
Although, I shouldn’t have been too surprised as Future always has rumors of some project coming e.g. Ape Sh*t and Beast Mode 16. In addition to those projects, Future also mentioned in November 2015 he had six albums and three mixtapes ready to go. Have all of these seen the light of day yet? Probably not.
Now that the short introduction is out the way let me get to the track by track review:
1. Rent Money
SUPER!. The echoing sound effects on this one straight away make me think of Meek Mill. The first thoughts I have is this has nothing on Thought it Was a Drought. I actually believe Thought it Was a drought is Future’s best intro track but that’s another discussion altogether.
2. Good Dope
Hopefully, the project isn’t like this all the way through, this will be a painful listening experience if it is. The delivery is just very lackluster from Future. This is the type of flavour the EVOL project had and I hated that one with the exception of a few tracks(Low Life, Photo Copied and Aint No Time).
“Purple ac gluey, sticky, icky, icky” – come on Future
3. Zoom
This one has got some bounce to it, it’s the first decent song and could well be a grower. The production has actually been carrying Future so far with no real standout lyrics or quotable’s which we’ve come accustom to with Future. Nothing more to say really the snippets are funny.
“LIL DRACO IN THIS BIH“ – hahaha.
4. Draco
Based on the snippet ending of last song Zoom I had an idea this would be some playful sounding beat and that’s what it is(side note – Soulja Boy’s influence is real).
Again, nothing outstanding with this will probably be a song I will skip over in the Future (pun intended). The instrumental does enhance its fun feel and catchiness though so it could be a winner with some people.
5. Super Trapper
Another boring song content wise. Future really has been underwhelming so far, the repetition of the name of the song over and over does really get jarring. There really hasn’t been any song which has made me think this needs to make my morning playlist ASAP.
6. POA
Finally some sort of improvement, Future is actually energetic. Not all the way gripping me yet but I feel like the project may start to improve from now on. This will definitely get some future spins, can’t say the same thing about the other songs.
7. Mask Off*
YES! This is the flavour I’ve been waiting on from Future Hendrix. I’m only seven tracks into the album but I know this has to be one of the standout songs. This is what Future does best, jumping into different pockets with his flow but still managing to remain almost at one with the beat.
This is a nice appetizer, I expect the standards to be on this level and surpass it onwards from here.
8. High Demand
Hmm, it’s gone backward again. This really does sound like a filler song; there isn’t anything special on this one. I like the hook though “Super Fuuuuu”, apart from that this is a skip-able track. The thing I’m picking up with this album so far is its just some swag rapping/ratchet flows no emotional tracks thus far.
9. Outta Time
As well as it worked with DS2 (with the exception of Drake on Where Ya At) this project almost feels like it is missing the features. Songs like this just are not all the way impactful; it’s beginning to get boring already.
10. Scrape
If you’re a Future’s projects like Honest and Beast mode this project isn’t for you bro(so far). Future made this one for the streets is it’s the experimental trap. That’s the best way I can describe how these flexible flows are making me feel when I hear them, very unconventional.
11. I’m So Groovy*
This is the best song on the project so far after Mask Off, no doubt about. This actually has the potential to be the next Wicked I can see people repeating this hook. It really wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Project ET with these sci-fi sound effects. This is exactly what I mean by experimental trap, Future takes the terms groovy and um-hmm and turns them up a few notches.
“She Photoshop uhmm, I’m photogenic” ouch who is that line at?.
12.Might as Well
This is the more soulful Future which I mentioned was missing earlier in the review. It has a nice smooth vibe to it, the problem now is the cohesion is off. I think as a listener hearing a load of throwaways in-between hits like this ruins the experience.
13.Poppin’ Tags
This song just sounds like Sh*t and I really hated that song. Let’s just leave it there.
14. Massage in My Room
Make it stop.
15. Flip
As per above.
16. When I Was Broke*
This is actually annoying me now, he has two terrible songs before and then this (why Future???). This song has an actual message of coming up from the bottom and having a loyal girl sticking with you through thick and thin. An album quality song again not something I can say for all the rest.
17. Feds Did a Sweep
This is some real storytelling of how the police have been clearing Future’s brothers off the streets and locking them up. In all honesty, I’m bored at this now. I will revisit this one again its sounds like it has potential.
My assumption was based on reading this cryptic post from Future was this was going to be a soulful project, boy was I wrong. This project is a raw uncut trap with sprinkles of soul. I have no problem with the trap aggressive Future when it’s done well (Trap N*ggas, March Madness, My Blower).
In my opinion, based on a first-time listen this is one of Future’s worst albums. It seems like he was confused on what direction he wanted to take it. A far better execution would’ve been to separate the soulful side for a Beast Mode and the best of the trap songs(few and far between) for another mixtape.
I guess he still has Used To This not allotted to any project( or will this be on More Life??) maybe something else is on the cards? All in all, this was underwhelming it’s not what I predicted in my last Future review Project ET. Or maybe I’m just not ready for this wave yet, lets see.
Top 3 tracks: Mask Off, I’m So Groovy and When I Was Broke.
6/10
Fancy becoming part of the inspirEnrich contributor family? 😀 head over to here: inspirenrich.com/contribute
