From One Love to Another, Future’s Codeine-Inspired Run
Everybody loves when an artist goes on a run. You know those kind that produce high quality material at a rapid pace. One of the last great examples of this was Lil Wayne’s 2007–09 hot streak, but you can naturally make a case for someone like Gucci Mane or 2 Chainz too.
We’re witnessing Future at the height of his career in 2015. It started back in October with Monster, continued into January with Beast Mode, claimed championship in March with 56 Nights, and is still soaring off those. The only acceptable term to use here is a three peat. Records like “Commas,” “Real Sisters” and “Never Gon’ Lose” were spawned from the tapes. Lines become scriptures that bring forth tear memes on Twitter. The term #FutureHive was effectively coined and blends into the 140 character universe with everyday usage.
It doesn’t stop there as you can find Future dominating records with Meek Mill, Travi$ Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. It’s worth noting that Future has been more focused on his own music than tossing out guest features like customers toss out extra for guac at Chipotle. He’s done that in the past, so it’s not exactly as lucrative as building an organic buzz through mixtapes.
I was a late passenger on the Future train. When Pluto came out, I wrote him off as just another average, over-hyped artist. The first record I can recall that I enjoyed, which wasn’t named Diddy’s verse on “Same Damn Time (Remix),” was “Birds Take A Bath” from Astronaut Status. The Jeezy and Young Scooter-assisted cut showed off what everyone loved about him perfectly: a hypnotizing melody.
It’s funny, because the more fans began to turn on him is when I started to appreciate and become a fan. Prior to Honest, DJ Esco released two memorable mixtapes, No Sleep and Black Woodstock, for the fact that they housed many slept-on records. The intro for the latter was nothing short of breathtaking. “Until the end I create melodies that’s influenced by promethazine” could be a one sentence summary for his entire career. Remember “How Can I Not?” “Maison Margiela?” “Day One?” “Suffocate?” The list continued.
Once Honest dropped, it was disappointing to some. While I don’t listen to the album anymore, I still have to thrown on “T-Shirt” for the pure passion and pain, and reminiscent to the second verse on “Suffocate.” Again, I’m a listener who gravitates toward a quote that I can apply to my life, so “T-Shirt” provided one: “All that damn stressin’ and a nigga start progressin’.” In all fairness, this was deemed the Ciara-era where the dirty sprite was replaced with, um, apple juice and milk. Future’s lyrics haven’t uncovered his favorite drinks besides the obvious.
Sometime after breaking up with Ciara, Future relapsed. Codeine and lord knows what else became a big factor in his life again while he went to work and came out with some of his best material ever. There’s been debates, think-pieces, and all around internet chatter on whether or not it’s right to cheer on Future as he descends further into his addictions. But all of that is mere speculation. Nobody knows how much lean he sips, but one would think it’s done responsibility. If that’s the case, I’d have no issue with it. This situation is like Lil Wayne’s double cup days.
How long will Future’s unstoppable streak last?
If his actions are any indicator, Future is going to make sure that he goes down in rap history with this run. There isn’t a much better time to drop his third album, Dirty Sprite 2. His three tapes haven’t even calmed down yet, still fresh in the ears of the public as his followers do the lord’s work of spreading the gospel.
When it’s all said and done, Future’s late 2014 ‘till whenever run will be remembered as a legendary period of time.
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Check out some of my other pieces: OG Maco’s Intelligence, Social Media & Being Outspoken, An Open Letter to Lil Wayne, Tyrese Is Done As A Solo Artist & Nobody Cares, and Vince Staples’ ‘Summertime ‘06’ Disappointed Me.
