In the genre of trap, there are a few names that jump out right away: Gucci Mane, Young Thug, 21 Savage, and of course, Future. However, the last-mentioned artist seemed pretty quiet in 2018 after a monster year prior with smash hits “Mask Off” and “Coming Out Strong” with the Weeknd. Sure, he had a collab mixtape with Juice WRLD as well as a follow-up mixtape to Beastmode, but there was no full-length album from the astronaut kid. Now that we’ve entered a new year once again, though, it seems as if Future is right back in stride.
Earlier this week, Mr. Hendrxx released his highly-anticipated album The WIZRD, and it was well worth the wait with 20 tracks clocking in at a little over an hour of material. Despite the usual filler attributed to a tracklist of this length, the album feels very complete with each song delivering a unique set of drug-laced flows and lyrics with punchy production. Songs like “Faceshot” and “Crushed Up” reminisce of Future’s earlier work while still sounding fresh and new. Overall, the energy of the project is always at 100%, with Pluto belting out chants and choruses. On “Jumpin on a Jet” Future’s constant repetition of ‘jumpin’ on and off the jet’ becomes hypnotic, tying in well with the themes of trapping and intoxication. “Temptation” is a much moodier and depressed track without sacrificing liveliness. Most of this can be attributed to Future’s much improved singing voice, which actually molds nicely with his rapping and adds a whole new dimension to his sound.
Surprisingly for a trap album, the WIZRD is very scarce of features, with only Young Thug, Gunna, and Travis Scott taking verses. All three add a refreshing element in their own way, with Young Thug and Gunna sounding as energetic as ever and Travis Scott spitting on one of his best guest appearances in a while. Along with the features, the producer list has a huge impact on the success of this album. Innovators like Southside, Tay Keith, and Wheezy all have their hands in on this one, providing the hazy atmosphere for Future to work in. Tracks like “Goin Dummi”, “Call the Coroner”, and “Overdose” show off the skill of these beatmakers the best, demonstrating their creativity with samples, sounds, and effects.
Overall, Future’s latest project delivers on all fronts, providing fans with the usual bangers while sounding fresh and clean. As if the past decade hasn’t already showed this enough, we have most likely not heard the last of Future in 2019, and I am excited to see what else he has planned and how he will grow in the coming year.