The opening seconds of Future’s new album I Never Liked You contains an obscure vocal sample. The distant, eerie Japanese chanting is from the software engineered Hatsune Miku. Hatsune isn’t real. She’s computer generated, yet her allure has entrapped millions in Japan to build one of the most diehard fan bases since Playboi Carti. Despite the legions of fans who adore her, that endearment is not reciprocated. Because her love is manufactured, not genuine.
When it comes to the concept of love, Future reigns supreme as its toxic counterpart. Following his highly publicized breakup with Ciara, Future channeled his shame and anguish into Monster, a rejection of the pop star expectations projected on him. His idea of heartache meant thinking of Ciara when he was having sex with other women (“Throw Away”). But on I Never Liked You, there’s no trauma to pull from and the toxicity feels plastic and like Hatsune, inauthentic.
Since HNDRXX, Future has leaned into a brand built on being “toxic,” constantly finding ways to depreciate a woman’s worth for the sake of virality. He celebrated adding flings to his “collection,” then apologized for selling crack to pregnant women on the same project. Pluto would eventually cross paths with Juice WRLD—who tragically overdosed in 2019—learning the true power of his influence. Juice credited Future for inspiring him to start sipping lean, a revelation that would turn his world upside down. Future would then renounce his drug use, clean from the codeine and Promethazine cocktail following Juice’s death. On I Never Liked You, his first solo tape in two years, he fully leans into his past persona to the point it feels like a parody or gimmick.
Future is fixated on his impact and his influence on the culture he helped cultivate. He references introducing the double styrofoam cups and his ability to turn the average girl into a pop star on “I’m Dat N****,” taking credit for the status quo of lean culture. Future recently returned to sipping lean, relapsing and reaching for a past glory he’s well outgrown. On “Puffin On Zootiez,” he highlights his rise from the mud while criticizing new rappers that copy his cadences. “Drinkin’ on mud, I made it out of the sewer/Chrome Heart accessories, whatever, I’m good/Lot of these n-ggas they lookin’ the same/They copy my lingo, they bitin’ my chain,” he says unimpressed.
Future’s creativity thrives when he’s left to his own devices. I Never Liked Youstagnates with features that are predominantly on autopilot. The three-headed monster cut, “For A Nut” featuring Gunna and Young Thug, is the worst Future/Thug collaboration in some time. It’s as creative as locker room talk in an all boys catholic school. “Keep It Burnin” offers one of the better Kanye West performances as of late, but it’s flat out boring. The Kanye/Future chemistry lacks the same dreamy intensity as it did during the Honest-era.
Review: Call “HNDRXX” Future’s Most Human Album Yet
Drake makes two appearances with “Wait For U” and “I’m On One,” though neither match the toxic king chemistry of their previous collaborations. Like an old rock star who can still play the hits off muscle memory, Drake and Future recite the same stories of one-night stands, DM debauchery and drug-filled nights at the club in their sleep. However, their charisma is notably absent from the music. “Chickens” featuring EST Gee, is an exception. Gee sounds refreshing and the Dirty South bounce brings out more of Pluto’s fun side.
Despite tired features, Future sounds as crisp as he did when he first sipped dirty Sprite like it was a daily meal supplement. The problem mainly comes from the beat selection courtesy of ATL Jacob. Unlike Future’s past producers such as Metro Boomin, Zaytoven, and 808 Mafia — ATL Jacob lacks signature flourishes that differentiate the production. Its trap beats molded to Future’s palate as opposed to pushing him artistically.
“Holy Ghost” is by far the best ATL Jacob beat on the album. The nefarious bells in the background feels like the lingering dread in a Dark Souls video game. Future’s vocals are haunting as he sells his soul for riches. “Alligator skin for my sins, I’m ’bout to win again/I know n-ggas craving for bodies, ready to spin again,” rewarding himself for evil deeds committed.
On the closer “Back To The Basics,” Future sounds more genuine, removing the facade. He admits to relapsing and surrounding himself with girls from strip clubs to fill internal emptiness. With muddied vocals, he professes: “Askin’ for your heart, if it’s real then it’s rare” as if he’s been deprived of the ability to settle down. He’s poisonous yet a hopeless romantic, longing for an image he can’t sustain.
But these moments are rare, glimpses between tired beats, guests and toxicity. I Never Liked You continues his stagnation from High Off Life, settling for comfort rather than experimentation. The songs are rehashes he’s done more effectively in the past. His signature consistency is still there; Future doesn’t release downright horrendous projects.
Longevity in the game is a feat that deserves its flowers. Future has survived years of changing trends and styles, partially because his initial music was so influential and ahead of its time. But now, the consistency has turned into complacency, leaving the creative well dry.
DUDE HAS BEEN MAKING THE SAME SONG SINCE 2012. NO RATING BC IM NOT A HATER AMD I DON’T HATE LISTEN EITHER.
*Ahem* As a future stan from day one you are very incorrect. Songs like Tony Montana and… ummmm… let me think… I forget but some are different I think?
GOD BLESS YOU
Bruh “MUST” be a Seattle Seahawks fan or a Ciara Stan cause anybody with two good ears know this Future best album in years! And I don’t even like his old promethazine chants like that!
Yet you give it a 3.5…
We still thought it was solid, just far below his other work and feels like it won’t have staying power
I’ve heard all these songs over and over all ready
Future’s best since HNDRXX.
I like BWE MP3 Subliminals “Prosperity”, “Opulence” and Resonance over this type of trap music. These trap music subliminals put me in the money zone fo real doe! Prosperity is harder than most of these dudes albums, this jawn helps me get money!!!
Another weak review
What makes it weak?
You’re feminine energy approach to reviewing. This is hip-hop. It’s a misogynistic att full of violence, drugs, killing people. You’re calling a guy who has how many kids from how many moms, that literally has a hook that goes “Percocet, Molly Percocet…” toxic? SMH.
I didn’t write the review, I see you’re commenting under three names though
Bro the wizard came out before juices death
Overall, I agree with the review. This isn’t outright bad, but it’s more of the same. It’s uninteresting, unoriginal, and just doesn’t have staying power. Future is showing his age. He’s not over the hill yet, but you can tell he’s getting there. He needs to revamp the “I’m bad to women” schtick cuz it may have run its course.
Thanks for the detailed feedback!
Yeah, when you’re the same guy who wrote the review trying to make himself not look bad to his bosses, you would agree. With yourself. Lame.
Do you see my name on the byline at the top?
No. I do see the same sentence structuring and grammar patterns though, smart guy. You’re trying to make your week review not suck. Keep your weirdo world view out of hip-hop. You are a guest.
Peace and love to you. Have a good Cinco De Mayo
Hahaha. Cinco de fake-o? You know that’s not a real holiday in MX right? It’s actually racist AF and a spit in the face of all of us. You probably refer to us as latinex, right? Toxicity guy. Hahahaha. Peace and love to you too. Weirdo. Don’t review any ODB, Pun or Big L. Please. LOL
If you like future, this is a good album. I’m not really a fan so I don’t care for it. I gave it a listen. It’s crazy to think this guy is part of the Dungeon Family. The review about toxicity etc is lame. Hip-hop music overall is about sex, drugs, crime and violence. That would be like watching Scarface and saying he’s racist towards Colombians, isn’t cool to women and might not be a good guy. You’re missing the point.
Straight doo-doo y’all
Honestly felt like a hybrid of “Future” and “Hndrxx” …. A lil toxic masculinity mixed with drug induced vulnerability.
You ever felt like you walked in a place that you didn’t belong? That’s how I felt when I clicked on this link
The review is lame. Is Anthony Malone a trans man or a trans female pretending to be a man? Either way, it must be his time of the month.
weak review
I agree with your review whoever reviewed it dont matter. I like Future but he hasnt had a good album since FUTURE in my opinion. This album is decent but more of the same and quite frankly I dont sip lean pop pills or not trust women so its getting harder to relate to his subject matter.
3/5 way better albums out right now
Future is one of the shittest wackest rappers in rap history there is nothing dope about him the nigga don’t even rap he sounds like a drunk robot he doesn’t represent nothing about hip hop anybody who listens to this clown you got serious issues the wackest rappers out now is future migos lizzo cardi b Swatte kodack black summer walker list goes on now you wanna talk about real rappers real rap cats grown man that has brought hip hop back real bars real lyricism like Griselda Benny the butcher Conway the machine crimeapple rigz your old droog boldy james Dave east jay worthy elcemino 38 spesh smoke dza action Bronson meyhem Lauren each mc is original you know who’s and they all stand out and they don’t dick ride trends what everyone else does
Future is hot garbage always has been a no-talent always will be. obviously the real legends may never be known in their time the bitterness and anger at hip hop betrayal is palpable everywhere. they couldn’t stop future so everybody else paying the price for his sins. garbage rap is dead.
USE THIS A REMINDER WHY MR. MALONE DOES PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS AND WHY YOU AMATUERS DON’T. EVERYTHING WOULD GET A 5/5 OR 1/5 IF YOU THIRSTY ASS NZ DID REVIEWS. 3.5/5 IS TECHNICALLY A 7 OUT OF 10 WHICH IS SAYS THIS IS FAR ABOVE AVG OR EVEN
Shut up ho. Stop dickriding your weirdo homie. Wu 36 chambers, N.W.A. SOC, cube Kill at will, everything 2 Live Crew made would be dismissed as “toxic” by this guy. It’s history. Dummy.
LMAO YOU MAD AS HELL!
Shut up ho. Stop dickriding your weirdo homie. Wu 36 chambers, N.W.A. SOC, cube Kill at will, everything 2 Live Crew made would be dismissed as “toxic” by this guy. It’s history. Dummy. He said professional reviews. This site is idiotic. The head publisher is a weirdo liberal white girl who supports BLM and jocks murderer rappers who talk about beating women in interviews. LOL
Shut up ho. Stop dickriding your weirdo homie. Wu 36 chambers, N.W.A. SOC, cube Kill at will, everything 2 Live Crew made would be dismissed as “toxic” by this guy. It’s history. Lil boi.
Super mf FUTURE has done it again! Best artist on this planet!
I feel like we have waited for so long without a project from Future because he was preparing the project/album. I NEVER LIKED YOU
TRICK HOP
Straight drop ???
It’s not all that fr it’s jus the hype tbh it’s jus the beat he’s a hit or miss lol I stamp
This is the album I’ve wanted from future especially when it comes to beat selection
Beats ?⛽️?…..lyrics ???? his lyrics are trash!!
5/5 album Pluto never misses most consistent artist
Lyrics hot ass ol boy beats couldn’t save him
Favorite album of the year so far
Best album since evol
OMG flat out so far album of the year!! Future is by far the greatest rapper alive!! And he is closing the gap on Jay-Z for the GOAT. I can play I never liked you from start to finish and honestly only one track on that album that was very very bad. I was in prison for 8 years and was so far behind on music. I have been home 15 months and I have to say Future is the best. He can sing and rap. His voice sounds like he has always on auto tune lol. His lyrics are not as good as Jigga man but Future can hold his own and I can vibe and relate to his music cuz I have been through similar situations. When he makes a song about trapping and getting that money I got a life story to relate. Just Google 4 words BRANDON MATHIE DRUG KINGPIN. When he raps about dogging and running through women I have been a flat out player that had woman tying my shoe laces lol. When he raps and sings about love well I have been through that. In fact the track accepting my flaws gives me chills. And when I played it to my woman she asked me if I ghost write that song for future because it was Soo spot on. And just like future I sold dope to my aunt she was a fiend I used to serve her a hit. My grandmother is in prison as well and Sundays I see her and I talk in 3rd person won’t admit it if I done it.. If you are a bandwagon fan of future or on the fence on where to rank him or if you are new to futures music. Give it a chance. The man can switch styles and flows so well that every track and album is a new experience. Thank you Future for being that voice for the struggle and showing people that no matter what u been thru where you from that if you believe you can achieve!!! .
future album is the best album released in a while
he is a living legend GGFBG UK