Future is one of the hottest and most influential rappers of the recent times. He has been dubbed by Billboard as the ‘Future of the Music’. And why not, for he officially became the first ever artist to knock out his own album (FUTURE) from the number 1 spot to replace it with yet another album of his (HNDRXX).
With this, Future became the only musician in the Billboard’s history to ever debut two back-to-back #1 albums. In this blog post, we will explore the life and career of Future, the rapper who is shaping the future of music.
Early Life and Influences
Future was born as Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn on November 20, 1983, in Atlanta, Georgia in a family of street hustlers. He attended Columbia High School. As a child, Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn was one of the members of the musical collective ‘The Dungeon Family’.
It was there that he was nicknamed Future, a name that stayed with him for the rest of his life. It was his cousin, Rico Wade who encouraged him to hone his writing skills and make a career out of rapping. Future was influenced by the Southern hip hop scene, especially by artists like Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Organized Noize.
Rise to Fame and Success
From early 2010 to 2011, Future released a series of mixtapes titled ‘1000’, ‘Dirty Sprite’ and ‘True Story’. In September 2011, he signed a major record deal with Epic Records and fellow American rapper Rocko’s A1 Recordings. After inking the deal with A1 Recordings, Future came up with his next mixtape ‘Streetz Calling’. Through the mixtape, he brought a new dimension to pop genre and nearly perfected it. Simultaneously, he also partnered with rapper Gucci Mane for their collective album ‘Free Bricks’. He even co-wrote the YC single ‘Racks’.
Though ‘Streetz Calling’ was deemed as the final mixtape before the release of Future’s debut album, in January 2012, he came up with yet another mixtape titled ‘Astronaut Status’. In April 2012, he released his debut album ‘Pluto’ that opened to positive reviews.
The album contained the platinum-certified singles “Turn On the Lights”, “Honest”, “Move That Dope” (featuring Pharrell Williams and Pusha T), and “I Won” (featuring Kanye West). He soon followed it up with equally successful second and third albums, ‘Honest’ (2014) and ‘DS2’ (2015).
In 2015, Future hit it big internationally with his chartbursting album ‘DS2’ and super hit mixtape ‘What A Time To Be Alive’ (with Drake). The latter included the single “Jumpman”. Future’s eponymous fifth album and its successor Hndrxx (both 2017) made him the first artist to debut two chart-topping albums on the Billboard 200 in consecutive weeks—the former contained the international hits “Used to This” (featuring Drake) and “Mask Off”.
After departing A1, Future released the albums The Wizrd (2019) and High Off Life (2020)—the latter spawned the diamond-certified single “Life Is Good” (featuring Drake). Future guest featured alongside Young Thug on Drake’s 2021 single “Way 2 Sexy”, which became his first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 after a record-breaking 125 entries.
His ninth album, I Never Liked You (2022) spawned the single “Wait for U” (featuring Drake and Tems), which became his second to peak the chart and first to do so as a lead artist. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance, while its parent album received a nomination for Best Rap Album.
Future has also released the full-length collaborative projects Super Slimey (2017) with Young Thug, Wrld on Drugs (2018) with Juice Wrld, and Pluto x Baby Pluto (2020) with Lil Uzi Vert. Among the best-selling hip hop musicians, Future’s accolades include three Grammy Awards from a total of ten nominations.
Style and Influence
Future is known for his mumble-styled vocals and prolific output. He is considered a pioneer of the use of auto-tuned melodies in modern trap music. Due to the sustained popularity of this musical style, he is commonly regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.
Future has influenced many artists, such as Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Migos, Post Malone, Juice Wrld, and more. Future’s music has been described as futuristic, experimental, and eclectic. He often explores themes of wealth, drugs, love, and pain in his lyrics. He has also been praised for his versatility and creativity.
Future Albums
Future is a prolific rapper who has released nine studio albums, one collaborative album, and several mixtapes and EPs. His albums are:
Pluto (2012)
Honest (2014)
DS2 (2015)
FUTURE (2017)
HNDRXX (2017)
The Wizrd (2019)
High Off Life (2020)
Pluto x Baby Pluto (with Lil Uzi Vert) (2020)
I Never Liked You (2022)
You can find more information about his discography on Wikipedia or Genius. You can also listen to his music on various streaming platforms.
Future Songs
Future is a popular American rapper, singer, and songwriter who has released many songs over the years. Some of his best-known songs are:
Mask Off: This song was released in 2017 as the second single from his self-titled album Future. It became a viral sensation and a cultural phenomenon, thanks to its catchy flute sample and its reference to the drugs Percocet and Molly. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified six times platinum by the RIAA.
Low Life: This song was released in 2016 as the lead single from his fourth studio album EVOL. It features Canadian singer The Weeknd, who also co-produced the song. The song is a dark and moody trap anthem that showcases both artists’ hedonistic lifestyles and nihilistic outlooks. The song reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified five times platinum by the RIAA.
Life Is Good: This song was released in 2020 as the first single from his eighth studio album High Off Life. It features Canadian rapper Drake, who previously collaborated with Future on the 2015 mixtape What a Time to Be Alive. The song is a two-part track that switches from a upbeat and optimistic vibe to a more aggressive and boastful tone. The song topped the charts in several countries and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.
These are just some of the many songs that Future has released. If you want to listen to more of his music, you can check out his albums, mixtapes, and collaborations on various streaming platforms.
How Many Awards Has Future Won?
Future has won 10 awards and received 85 nominations as of 2022. Some of the awards he has won are:
Grammy Awards (3 wins, 11 nominations): He earned his first Grammy in a tie for Best Rap Performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
American Music Awards (1 win, 7 nominations): He won the award for Favorite Hip-Hop Song in 2022 for his song “Wait for U” with Drake and Tems.
BET Awards (1 win, 15 nominations): He and Drake won the award for Best Group in 2016.
BET Hip Hop Awards (5 wins, 44 nominations): He won the award for Best Mixtape in 2015 for his mixtape 56 Nights and the award for Best Club Banger in 2014 for his song “Move That Dope”.
Future is a successful and influential rapper who has received many accolades for his music.
Future Net Worth
Future’s net worth is estimated to be around $50 million as of 2024. He is one of the most successful and influential rappers in the world, having released several chart-topping albums and singles, and winning multiple awards. He has also collaborated with other prominent artists such as Drake, The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Travis Scott.
Future’s main sources of income are his music sales, streaming royalties, touring, and endorsements. He reportedly earns about $40,000 per show and has signed deals with brands like Reebok, Apple, and Gap.
Future is also the founder and CEO of his own label, Freebandz, which houses artists like Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, and Gunna. Future’s net worth reflects his hard work and dedication to his craft, as well as his influence on the rap culture and the music industry.
Controversy And Activism Of Future
Future is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer who is known for his trap and mumble rap style. He has been involved in some controversies and activism in his music career. Here are some examples:
In 2016, Future was sued by his ex-fiancée, singer Ciara, for defamation, slander, and libel, after he made derogatory remarks about her on social media and in his songs. The lawsuit was eventually dropped in 2017, after the two reached a custody agreement for their son.
In 2018, Future released a song called “Cuddle My Wrist”, which featured the line “I don’t know her name, but she had my child”. This sparked speculation that he had fathered a child with an Instagram model named Eliza Reign, who claimed that he was the father of her daughter. Future denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Reign, accusing her of defamation and invasion of privacy.
In 2020, Future launched a campaign called “Mask On”, which aimed to provide masks and other protective gear to healthcare workers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was inspired by his 2017 hit song “Mask Off”, which became a viral meme and challenge during the pandemic. Future partnered with various organizations and celebrities to donate and distribute masks across the US.
In 2021, Future released a song called “Life Is Good”, which featured the line “I ride for my ns, I lie to my b”. This sparked criticism from some listeners, who accused him of promoting misogyny and toxic masculinity in his music. Future defended his lyrics, saying that they were a reflection of his reality and experiences, and that he was not trying to offend anyone.
These are some of the examples of how Future has been involved in controversy and activism in his music. What do you think of his music and his actions? Do you have any questions or comments for me?
Conclusion
Future is a rapper who is constantly evolving and innovating his sound and style. He has achieved remarkable success and recognition in the music industry, and has influenced many other artists and genres. He is truly the rapper who is shaping the future of music.
If you are a fan of Future, or want to learn more about him, you can check out his website futurefreebandz.com or follow him on social media. You can also listen to his music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more. Thank you for reading this blog post, and stay tuned for more updates on Future and his music.
