Album Preview: Future's "Pluto"

Image via Complex Original

Last week, Atlanta upstart Future didn’t stop. He premiered the “Same Damn Time” video on BET’s 106 & Park. He had his first television appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon accompanied by The Roots. A slew of the Dungeon Family descendant’s mixtape hits (“Ain’t No Way Around It, “Tony Montana”) had big names hopping on remixes. To top it all off, the Astronaut Kid is ready to release his Epic Records debut Pluto on April 17. But really, why wait seven more days?

Future has had a great run over the last year, finally breaking out of the shadow of his smash hit “Racks” and solidifying himself as much more than a one-hit wonder. Future is officially one of the hottest newcomers in the game—in fact he’s, well, the future. Just about every ATLien has been bumping his mixtapes from the breakout 1000 to his latest, Astronaut Status. But now he’s blasting off with the new album, and judging by the title he’s aiming for the farthest reaches of the solar system.

Future’s already tested the waters with his fans by holding two listening sessions for the new album—one at the Stankonia studio in Atlanta and the other recently in New York City. Fortunately for us, we were able to skip the crowds to have an exclusive private preview of Pluto at the Epic offices. We even got a taste of the bonus tracks—“Paradise”, “Fishscale” and “Brain On Drugs”—that will be added to the official release once it hit stores. But enough chit-chat. Let’s find out if Mr. Turn Up has got one for the masses.

Written by Eric Diep (@E_Diep)

“The Future Is Now”

Pluto opens with the voice of rapper and producer Big Rube. He is the same person who has done spoken-word intros for other Dungeon Family members like OutKast (Aquemini) and Goodie Mob (One Monkey Don't Stop No Show). Setting up the album’s tone, Big Rube drops gems about how Future has got next.

“Parachute” f/ R.Kelly

The album transitions into this R.Kelly-featuring track about falling for fine, alluring women. Kellz sounds magnetic on producers DJ Pharris and John Blu’s bed of drum claps and spacey synths. On the second and third verse Future steps in, delivering lines about these girls complimenting his “mojo.” The hook—“I think I need a parachute because I am going down on ya”—has club killer written all over it.

“Straight Up”

Wasting no time, Future picks up the speed with this street-ready anthem. He rhymes about throwing up some cash for the light-skinned ladies and the freshest gear. Basically, this is straight up stunt-talking for all the ballers out there.

“Astronaut Chick”

All the Astronaut Kid wishes for is a down-ass, ride-or-die young woman. On this synth-heavy ballad he calls his love interest an Astronaut Chick, meaning that the two share a connection that’s astronomical. Belting out R&B one-liners buried in Auto-Tune, Future confesses his addiction to high-end brands like Gucci and Prada, and swears he’ll be keeping him and his astro girl draped in everything brand new.

“Magic Remix” f/ T.I.

It should come as no surprise that T.I. grabs the spotlight on this remix. The King’s ferocity plays its part, but Future’s boasts of pulling up in new whips and getting paper cannot be ignored. His mastery of simple choruses shines on this infectious standout single. Don’t be surprised if the catchphrase “Voila—magic!” starts to catch on.

“I’m Trippin” f/ Juicy J

Future and Juicy J join forces on this one-two punch set to a backdrop of hard bass and creeping synths. The song is sonically similar some of Three Six Mafia’s drugged-out jams. It’s good to hear Future losing the digitally distorted vocals to emphasize his bars about sipping lean and smoking all kinds of greenery. And hearing Juicy associated with any type of mind-altering substance is always enjoyable. “Smoking all this weed like I don’t need any lungs,” he boasts. Damn, Juicy goes hard!

“Truth Gonna Hurt You”

At this point the album slows down for an introspective song. Jumping back into his Auto-Tune delivery, Future rhymes about his life, sprinkling in a few braggadocious lines about luxuries. Wait a minute, wasn’t this supposed to be an introspective song? Oh well, just call it an introspective song about stunting.

“Neva End”

The Mike WiLL-produced track is a song for Future’s growing female fanbase. His vocal energy lives up to the booming 808s, reflecting on a former relationship. “We became the best of friends. You got all the questions; I got all the answers.”

“Tony Montana” f/ Drake

You know this song already, or you should. “Tony Montana” is the runaway street hit that has Future snarling the name of Al Pacino’s character in Scarface over and over again. This feature worked wonders for both artists. Drake’s megastar co-sign made Future look super-official. And if you ever questioned Drake’s street cred, his verse here proved he can be a tough guy too. That’s called a Win/Win.

“Permanent Scar”

Future drops another introspective ballad that explores a somewhat deeper concept. In this song he reflects on the idea that your true self is a part of you forever. “This is a permanent scar,” he raps. “You can’t forget who you are. No matter where you go, they say you are who you are.” Once again removing the Auto-Tune is a good idea—it makes this song sound like he’s revealing his vulnerability.

“Same Damn Time”

This song originally debuted on Future’s Streetz Callin’ mixtape. With its repetitive hook and hyper-crunk production, the Sonny Digital cut took off on the Internet. Placed in the latter half of the album, it’s by the far the most trunk-rattling banger from Mr. Turn Up.

“Love Live The Pimp” f/ Trae The Truth

From the moment Future announces “Bumpin’ my uncle Pimp and my uncle Bun” in his opening verse, it becomes clear this one is a throwback. Showing much respect to the Underground Kingz, Future goes in over Honorable C.N.O.T.E.’s bombastic production. Houston’s own Trae The Truth offers his gravelly murmur, exercising all the down South staples like flexing in candy slabs at the parking lot. Sounds like some good riding music.

“Homicide” f/ Snoop Dogg

Future recruits the West Coast legend for “Homicide,” and Snoop actually raps one of his better verses, kicking off the track with some hard bars about gang violence. Future comes in and trades his own hood tales on the bass-driven beat. The chorus keeps it real: “Say you want to take a ride? Get in. I grew up on the other side.”

“Turn On The Lights”

Mike WiLL lays down some soft flowing synths and rolling percussion for Future’s song about a good girl gone bad. Future croons about bedroom romps with women who leave in the middle of the night. In short, his reason to “Turn On The Lights” is to catch her in the act. To cheat or be a good girl? That is the question.

“You Deserve It”

Future officially ends the album with a celebratory anthem, looking back at how far he’s come in his career. Considering that the ATLien has a long history of writing for other Dungeon members as well as releasing his own solo material, this song is about his journey to the center of hip-hop’s horizon. From putting in work in the mixtape circuit to becoming the hottest newcomer in the game, Future reminisces about all the people who said “you deserve it” on this solid album-closer.

“Paradise”

The first of three bonus tracks starts with an airy track that’s perfect for the summer. This is a record with all the right ingredients for a chance to crossover. Call it “trap pop.”

“Fishscale”

It wouldn’t be a Future album without a few more street bangers. This one is pretty self-explanatory. He’s selling cocaine, keeping chronic in his lungs and cooking up fishscale for retail. Not quite as much of a standout as “I’m Trippin,” still “Fishscale” manages to hold its weight up with blunt metaphors like: “I can put a brick together like a puzzle.”

“Brain On Drugs”

On the final bonus cut Future does what he does best: take drug raps to a whole another level. Over a light piano and spastic drum patterns, this is Future’s woozy musical equivalent to consuming all of what he raps about: “I’m always high, that’s why I got Locs for.”