The Rise of Future Hendrix

About five years ago a friend told me to download the Pulto mixtape by Future. I was familiar with him from the couple of singles he had but had never listened to a full mixtape/album of his. The mixtape was filled with numerous autotuned filled ballads as well as high-energy bangers. I enjoyed the majority of the songs and something about Future's energy was extremely infectious. Fast forward to two years ago and Future solidified himself as one of my favorite rappers. In the span of less than a year Future released five projects: Monster/Beast Mode/56 Nights/Dirty Sprite 2/What a Time to be Alive. The numerous hits and anthems that came were tremendous from March Madness to Thought It Was a Drought every hip hop fan knew every word.

Fast forward to this week I was extremely excited to learn that Future would release two albums in one week. With little to no warning, Future dropped the self-titled album FUTURE. The album is high energy with catchy hooks and fast-paced beats. The stand out songs on the album for me are catchy/petty anthem Draco, flute-centered beat song Mask Off and I'm so Groovy which will have you saying mmhm mmhm.

After a week a listening/digesting FUTURE we receive the album HNDRXX. A slower paced album with features from the Weeknd and Rihanna. The album focuses on Future's past relationships and his drug use. My favorite songs on the album are Solo, Turn on Me, Coming Out Strong feat. The Weeknd and Testify. The juxtaposition of the two albums are interesting considering in the early part of his career Future was known for romantic auto-tuned songs and later turned to a high energy mumbling rapper. The last time an artist put out this much music to such a receptive response was Lil Wayne from around 2006-2009.

These two albums prove Future's growth as an artist with a depth of musical styles in both albums. The two albums show his versatility from going to the fast paced anthems to the slow autotune ballads. While his lyrics or storytelling aren't on par with other rappers Future's ability to create a hook and ride a melody are undeniable. Last year I saw Future at Soundset and at the Summer Sixteen Tour with Drake. In a few months, I will see him for a third time at the Nobody's Safe tour with The Migos and I look forward to seeing him perform his new music.

My 10 Favorite Future Songs (No Order)

Jersey- feat. Drake

Lay Up- Beast Mode

Stick Talk- DS2

Seven Rings- EVOL

March Madness- 56 Nights

How U Luv That- Purple Reign

Wala- True Story

Forever Eva- Beast Mode

Seven Million- feat. Lil Uzi Vert 

Too Much Sauce- feat. Lil Uzi Vert

What's your favorite Future song or album/mixtape?

#futurehive