ATL rapper Future offers “more of the same” on his nine-track mixtape, ‘Beast Mode 2,’ a sequel to his 2015 mixtape, ‘Beast Mode.’  

Future never seems to take a hiatus – NEVER.  After releasing two albums in 2017 (FUTURE and HNDRXX), and a collaborative project with Young Thug (Super Slimey), he continues to be prolific in regards to output in 2018.  First, he is the ‘head honcho’ on the soundtrack to Superfly.  Now, he’s tiding over fans with his nine-track mixtape, Beast Mode 2.  Fans of future will be onboard with Beast Mode 2, while more casual listeners will hear much “more of the same” from the autotuned heavy, melodic rapper.  Zaytoven handles all of the production work.   

“WIFI LIT” 

“I’m not going back no more when I ain’t have shit / Pray I get a new connect, pray I get a brick.” “WIFI LIT” ends up being a good start for Beast Mode 2, benefiting from a catchy hook and that warm, luxurious production anchored by a hard beat that Zaytoven effectively executes. There’s flute, bragging by Future, and an objectifying, but memorable lyric on the outro: “Pass the bitch, woah, woah, woah, that’s an assist.” “CUDDLE MY WRIST” plays out as expected, as he brags about ultra-lux, including Margiela, VVs, and Patek.  Additionally, there are drug and sex references.  Nothing brand-new, but he does the hip-hop clichés justice.

As always, with Zaytoven producing, “RACKS BLUE” sounds gorgeous to be a southern rap joint. The piano is the primary reason, particularly accentuating the crooning Future on the hook.  While the depth is questionable as always, he has legitimately honest moments, such as “Comin’ from poverty, hittin’ the lottery / Hottest commodity, the way that it had to be” where we get a glimpse of his journey to superstardom.  “31 DAYS” has a bit more biting production, while Zaytoven still stays true to self.  Future drops agile rhymes, at times less reliant on pitch, but still melodic overall. The chorus isn’t particularly catchy, mainly because it’s wordy and too long – a lot to absorb.  Examine some of the lyrics, and he has his share of moments.

“RED LIGHT”

“Sleepin’ on the floor had made my heart colder / They try to make it hard for me, I never falter.” On “RED LIGHT,” Future remembers back, once again, to when he was broke.  Been there, done that, but it works. “DOH DOH” is more compelling, as the production digs in more, and the record itself sounds more like a legitimate record that could’ve been included on an album.  It also helps that there’s finally a guest, Young Scooter, after five consecutive solo tracks.  Even if there was no guest spot by Scooter, Future has bit more oomph, particularly on the stellar hook.

“Take no days off, I get dough, dough, dough / Lift the AK up, swagin’ door, door, doors / 36 ounces raw, I smell blow, blow, blow / Count it up, count it up, count it up, I get more, more, more.”

“WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT” is a respectable follow-up, even if following the crowning achievement of the tape is a tall task.  On the first verse, Future has a me against the world mentality with lines like “They got me in the courts like I’m losin’” and “We just gettin’ the money, fuck the whole public / You can get the whole clip if you tryna touch me.” On the second verse, he’s a bit more focused on love, with some material thrown in.

“SOME MORE”

“Codeine, it sit on my kidney and dissolve…” Totally not good for your kidneys or health Future.  But that ‘goes with the territory’ on penultimate record “SOME MORE.”  There are plenty of outlandish lines such as “Called a few chicks on my line, they slobbin’ / Girl on girl, if they eating that’s a topping.” Wow. Luxurious references include Rolex, Rolls-Royce Phantom, and Porsche. On “HATE THE REAL ME,” Future asserts, “I’m tryna get high as I can.”  This is a flex-fest as opposed to the druggy sentiment that the hook suggests.  It is a fitting closer to Beast Mode 2 as the rapper wants to reach even loftier heights.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Beast Mode 2 is respectable.  Future doesn’t serve up anything new or transcendent, but there’s enough moments to make this worth checking out.  After a couple of listens, it plays out better than the initial listen, though hardcore fans of the rappers are more likely to revisit it more than the more casual listener.

Gems: “WIFI LIT,” “RACKS BLUE,” “DOH DOH” & “HATE THE REAL ME”

Future • Beast Mode 2 • Epic • Release: 7.6.18

Photo Credit: Epic