Album Review: Future Delivers Yet Another Hit Album with "EVOL"
/EVOL Album Cover (Epic Records)
Future’s new album EVOL meets the hype from the sneak peek many heard on DJ Khaled’s Snapchat video while he was in the studio with the rapper recently. EVOL dropped on Khaled’s “We The Best” radio station on Beats 1 on Apple Music Friday night, and the dark tone of the album combined with a sensual theme common to the hip-hop culture seeps through all eleven tracks. Future has a tone similar to Fetty Wap’s recognizable rap sound; dark knights such as Fetty Wap and Drake are successful due to their recognizable sounds. Future is another to add to that list: EVOL’s songs demonstrate his unique tone that has landed him with deals such as the mixtape, What A Time to Be Alive, with Drake later last year.
“Low Life” is one notable song on the album due to its feature with The Weeknd, one of the hottest and most sexual sounding male singers in the industry at the moment. The beat of the song is slow and quiet like a build up that compliments what The Weeknd excels at. Future raps, “If she catch me cheating, I will never tell her sorry. Porshes in the valley, I got Bentleys, I got Raris – taking pain pills on the plane, getting chartered.” The song is a classic mix of hip-hop themes: girls, drugs, and ego. Its low-key tone adds darkness to the song combined with heat from The Weeknd’s particular sound. The Weeknd sings the chorus, “I’m reppin’ for the low life…” His smoothness contrasts Future’s lower tone. Together, it is a well-done mix of hip-hip grit and pop/R&B sensuality.
“Seven Rings” is a harsher song on the album that begins with intense backbeats mixed with high-pitched horns. Future raps in the beginning and end of the song, “Tote them pistols, poppin’, say it's a problem. I told you off the top that I would sign 'em. I told you we get money, 'bout to peel out. I told you half of these niggas we be winning.” This song is also about common hip-hop material, except “Seven Rings” leans more towards the gangster and violent side of that material in contrast to the sensuality in “Low Life.” Money and ego are the center of attention. Like the name implies, it reminds the listener of “Big Rings” in What A Time to Be Alive with Drake. If he’s not chasing girls, he’s chasing money – Future’s slightly electronic rap tone vibes with the robotic beats particularly in “Seven Rings” with neat sounds such as the horns’ effect.
EVOL might not do anything different with its content – the songs are about the rapper’s common plate of performance: ego, women, money, and flashiness. However, Future continues to build a resume for himself, as his recognizable sound can be heard clearly past the backbeats and features. When one begins to listen to EVOL, the listener knows undoubtedly that it’s Future. This is the base for any successful rapper in a sea full of the ones trying to make it. Future is joining the ranks of Drake and Fetty Wap who listeners pick up immediately when they turn on the radio.