You couldn’t get away from it. It was one of those songs. Even though it bubbled for a second as a regional hit, the first time you heard it, it was a smash hit from Brooklyn to Bompton. “Racks” was a bona fide summer anthem when it dropped in 2011. Though it did not turn rapper YC into a household name, it introduced the rest of America to the gravelly voiced auto-tune crooner Future Vandross. Up until that time, Future was probably Atlanta’s best kept secret. He had garnered a strong buzz with a crazy mixtape run (Dirty Sprite, True Story, Free Bricks etc.) This was all leading up to his highly anticipated debut album, Pluto. It was at this point where Future truly hit “Astronaut Status”.
The rest, as they say, is hip-hop history. Future is now one of the biggest artist in the game. He’s given us music at a furious pace for five straight years. He had a very public relationship with an R&B singer. He’s written hits for Rihanna and done a collab album with the 6 God. And let’s not forget that the rap god’s spoke divinely through Future in 2015 as he gave us the CLASSIC “March Madness.” Future has a résumé that puts most artists to shame—one of the few artists in this climate who controlled the mainstream airwaves without compromising his connection to the streets. But despite all of his success, Future is now haunted by the same question that all legends eventually face…
What’s next?
Six years later, Future really isn’t “the future” anymore. Migos are now the diamond-grilled faces of the Atlanta music scene. Gunna and Lil’ Baby are rap’s hottest up and coming acts, and though the death of auto-tune was reported prematurely (sorry Jay), it sounds more like a gimmicky outdated crutch in late 2018, rather than a hit-maker. The codeine coated love songs sound more like a sad cry for help than cool youthful rebellion coming from a 35-year-old father of four. Even those corny Future pilgrim hats some of you were rocking have been collecting dust in your closet for three years now.
Contrary to popular belief, Future did not let his foot off the gas when it came to dropping music. He delivered the albums, Future, and the less inspired HNDRXX (released days apart) in April of 2017. The Astronaut gave us Super Slimey with long-time collaborator Young Thug in October of last year, Beast Mode 2 with Zaytoven this past July, the soundtrack to the 2018 flop “Superfly” and he even sonically defecated on the hook of the Jay Rock and Kendrick song from the “Black Panther” soundtrack (“La Di Da Di Da…. Slob on mi knob”). Even though his latest project WRLD ON DRUGS with rap-rock rookie Juice Wrld posted healthy first week numbers, it has been largely left on READ by critics, while failing to generate the type of buzz befitting a new release from Future Luther the King (the guy’s got no shortage of nicknames).
If we look at that timeline objectively, and we say this known hit-maker hasn’t had any hits on his last four projects and no notable features in that same year and a half, it’s fair to wonder if father time is catching up with Future.
In fairness, 2017 saw the courtroom resolution of Future’s long-standing legal issues with Rocko and his A-1 Music. And recently, Future hinted at securing the bag on a new deal worth a reported $50 million. Perhaps he’s just been patiently waiting to line up his business dealings before bringing the heat. I would not count the Atlanta OG out. Still cemented in the southern hip-hop mecca, Future will never have a shortage of collaborators, producers and nightlife to fuel his inspiration. But with the rapidly changing climate (that he in part created by releasing music at a torrid pace), the youth seem to move on quicker than ever to the next thing.
If you stay in one place in this era without versatility and you will be left behind. But hip-hop heads may also argue that people never seem to tire of Hov talking that boss shit, Spitta talking about his Chevy’s or Snoop Dogg smoking till he chiz-okes. Future has a proven ear for big songs and when the Freebandz general catches the right melody, we could all be back singing his infectious hooks, as well as his praises.