Longtime fans of the trap rapper known as Future, who have been with him since his mix tapes from 2010, could say they've seen him evolve into two different artists. There's the rapper who writes brutally honest lines about past relationships (including the headline-making breakup with Ciara) and then there's the chart topper who makes hit after hit with the likes of Drake, The Weeknd and Rihanna. His deep voice and signature mumbly delivery are constants, but the vulnerability and true identity of the Atlanta native seem to be used with discretion.
Future's Starplex Pavilion concert on Saturday night featured many of the biggest hits from throughout his career. Laid back yet lively, Future ignited a party with a dancing street team, pounding bass lines that move through your entire body and hooks that kept the stadium seats empty. Stepping out to "Draco," he flashed a smile as he looked out into the full venue during the trash-talking single.
Unapologetically arrogant and blunt, Future has been building his trap rap empire for years with hit after hit. Although trap didn't start with Future, he has helped make the rattling hi-hats and low-lying bass more prevalent in songs like "Mask Off" and "Low Life."
He made the most of the night, dancing across the stage throughout a set list that spanned his catalog with older songs like 2014's "Karate Chop" and 2011's "Same Damn Time." He teamed up with A$AP Ferg for his spin on A$AP's hit "New Level," meeting eye to eye as they laid down verses in unison, adding more hype to the charged up track.
What we didn't hear were many singles from his newest release, Hndrxx. After Future stepped out for a brief intermission and openers A$AP Ferg and Tory Lanez performed a few more songs alongside Future's DJ, Esco, Future finally gave the new album the attention it deserves with "Incredible."
The slowed, carefree melody of "Incredible" revealed Future's warbly murmurs and angular auto-tuned chords. It slowed the party down for a moment, giving fans a necessary glimpse into his more artistic and introspective side. We know Future can deliver dramatic bass drops and addictive singles, but he can also express his truths in equally hypnotic tracks that show where he's at in life and what's next.
He kept flexing with "My Savages," a song from one of his mix tapes, which started it all for the southern rapper. Swift and relentless on the mic, Future isn't afraid to show what's in his head beyond the parties and women, making some of his music more like a journal entry than a flashy chart topper. He closed with two of his biggest hits from the past two years, "Low Life" and "Mask Off," to an exhilarated crowd that wasn't ready for the night to end.
