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If you look back on it, Nayvadius Demun Wilburn, better known by his stage name Future, has probably had the most commercially successful run at just trying to prove his legitimacy.
Prior to 2014's Honest, his long awaited, commercially-unsuccessful debut, Future was one of rap's best kept secret. Aside from a loyal mixtape following, Future's existence in the music scene mostly lived in overly catchy features and hooks you couldn't avoid on the radio. Not yet a headliner, his voice seemed very niche; considered a gimmick by people who (like myself) thought he would fade away like so many artists before him. Future's synthesized and heavily auto-tuned croon, while incredibly fetching, appeared to be the second coming of T-Pain, who, if you recall, saw his popularity dwindle drastically after such repetitive use of the auto-tune waned on people.
Then 2015 happened, and doubters be damned, Future could no longer be ignored or classified as a musical fad. His first platinum record, DS2, spawned numerous radio hits and was quickly followed up by the Drake collab-album What A Time To Be Alive, which dealt with some critical scrutiny on the way to its own platinum certification. His 2016 co-headlining tour with Drake, which included a Tampa stop, was the highest grossing hip-hop tour of all time. While raking in the profits from this, he simultaneously released the no.1 album EVOL.
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This work ethic perseveres into 2017, which saw the Atlanta, purple drank-fiend dish out two no.1 albums… in the same month.
This feat serves as metaphor for where Future stands at this point in his career. No longer does he have to share a stage or co-headline as his popularity and recognition push on regardless of critical perception. Cue Future's first headlining world tour, The Future Hendrxx World Tour, which rolled into Tampa 's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on Monday night.
While opening acts varied throughout the trek, Bay Area attendees were treated to Post Malone for the opener. The usually unkempt and unabashedly-goofy Texas singer was just that Monday night, where he ditched the cornrows and let his hair down in a tangled, curly mess. He played a short set featuring hits from his own platinum album, 2016's Stoney.
will be selling the "thicc bitch" shirts v soon
A post shared by Posty (@postmalone) on Aug 13, 2017 at 4:36pm PDT
As the temperatures stayed in the 90s even after sunset, Future came on 45 minutes after his scheduled 9 p.m. set time after a marathon of hyping from his longtime producer/friend DJ Esko. The 33-year old rapper came out in a less flashy, Atlanta Hawks-themed shirt with "Hendrxx" branded on it to go with white, tattered skinny jeans. Symbolic of his first headlining spot, he opened with "Draco," one of the lead singles from his first no.1 album of 2017, the self titled Future.
The first three tracks of the night were all off Future, an album that had no features, and done so with veiled intent. Future's rightfully proud of his headlining bill and reminded fans that he doesn't need a feature to produce a bang. Standing before numerous "Future Hendrix" signs and logos spread out throughout a giant-LCD screen dominated stage, it was evident that Atlanta's king of trap was enjoying this new level of fame.
At the same time, Future displayed the energy and demeanor that made him the relatable people's champ of trap rap. Constantly engaging with fans, he seemed to be genuinely enthralled by the noticeably raucous Tampa crowd. He rewarded the "day one Future fans" with some of his early, popular features, songs like "Love Me" and "Bugatti."
As he chugged through a 30-song setlist, you were reminded just how voluminous and successful his output has been over the years. With the last ten songs, a stretch that featured mega-hits such as "Mask Off," "Low Life," "March Madness," and "F*** Up Some Commas," you would have thought you were in a club with the back-to-back nature of so many hits. This energy of course extended to Future, who, when he wasn't dancing in between back up dancers, was jumping up and down with same enthusiasm as his diehards with his cooly-braided blonde dreads bouncing in tow. He doesn't necessarily radiate the same aura of some his contemporaries (read: Kanye, Kendrick) but is nonetheless awe-inspiring with his stage presence. At times, it gives you goosebumps care of a simple adoration for a man who, like many of us, just wants to be successful doing what he loves.
Future's never been one for the critics, but Monday night he reminded fans in attendance that he can live off admiration from the listening public. His auto-tuned dominance isn't likely to let up, and why should it? With the backing of fans like the ones in attendance in Tampa last night, Future Hendrxx is here to stay.
This article appears in Aug 10-17, 2017.