"SAVE ME" FINAL DIGEST
- Evan Linden
- Jun 12, 2019
- 5 min read
Super Fire Marshall Future Hendrix The Wizard is an artist that has adopted several different altar egos across his illustrious career, but few of these personas have ever allowed his audience an unfiltered view into the nihilist psyche that the man, Nayvadius Wilburn, truly lives with.
Members of the #FutureHive often recall tracks like the second half of “Throw Away,” and “Kno the Real Meaning,” when discussing the depths of Future’s depression. With the release of his new album, SAVE ME, Future allows both his most loyal stans and mainstream audience to point directly to one project when contemplating the struggles that their (alleged) prescription addicted Messiah lives with.
The Burbs Team came together to answer some important questions regarding the hit-pumping, tear-jerking, project that reads like bits and pieces of Future’s diary, SAVE ME.
What’s your tweet length review of this album?
Evan: Future Hendrix is my new favorite R&B artist
Hunter: Best piece of work since HNDRXX
Jack: I want to cry to Future more.
Ralphy: Protect Future at all costs.
How much has Future changed since the first time you listened to him?
Evan: Quite a bit, for better or worse. I used to think “for worse” until the release of Save Me, which changed my whole perception of Future’s evolution as the trap music Michael Jordan (yes, Future is MJ in my book… Thugger is Rodman). Similar to many others, DS2 was my first real taste of Future after only knowing radio hits such as “Turn On The Lights” (still GOAT) and “Karate Chop”. I began listening to Future at the best time- he had just released his string of legendary tapes, DS2, and soon after released WATTBA, Purple Reign, and EVOL. In no time, Future was my favorite rapper. However, I was personally underwhelmed with his back-to-back 2017 projects FUTURE and HNDRXX, as well as this year’s The WIZRD. Save Me saved my faith in Future’s evolution. I hate to bask in Future’s depression, but it undoubtedly makes for his best music (which normally seems to be the case for artists. fucked up, but consistently true).
Hunter: A lot, good and bad. DS2 will forever be my favorite future album but I do like the more R&B albums he has proceeded to put out. From a trap stand point, I just don’t think anything can match DS2.
Jack: I can’t pinpoint the first time I heard Future and since I’ve never been a die-hard fan it’s tough to try and break down his continued evolution from my own perspective, but as I’ve grown to like him more, I can see the changes. I like the more R&B, darker, emotional feel he’s injected into his music; don’t get me wrong, I love the bangers too.
Ralphy: The Genesis of my relationship with Future is flooded with codeine-promethazine related content. I recall sitting in my 2003 Volkswagen Passat listening to “Thought It Was a Drought” and instinctively bopping my head to a man who I had absolutely no similarities with. Now, five or six years later, I find myself still bopping my head to Future’s obsession with prescription drugs. But now my head bopping is in relation with the tears rolling down my face as I wonder if one of my favorite artists is mentally and physically okay.
Is Future the Johnny Cash of hip-hop?
Evan: Maybe by the end of his career, but right now he’s the Jimi Hendrix of hip-hop and that’s all that really matters (as long as he doesn’t OD; I wouldn’t be able to handle it)
Hunter: Until he does a cover of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails, then no.
Jack: Lmao Hunter. “Ring of Fire” with a Future twist would be noice.
Ralph: As far as raw emotion, addiction, relationship issues, and celebrity status go: sure, why not? They’re both one of a kind in their own genres and are pioneers for the sub genres they exist within/helped create.
Who would you like to have seen featured on this project?
Evan: Thug would’ve been great; I feel like he could’ve blessed the R&B sound of Save Me with his otherworldly vocals. Thug is one of my favorite artists when it comes to genre bending, to be honest (country Thugger is in a league of his own). Kanye also could’ve fit Save Me’s sound seamlessly with some godly background vocals and a brutally honest verse about his own struggles. Drake also could’ve chimed in with some soft shit; we are long overdue for a new Drizzy x Future installment and I’d definitely fuck with some R&B collabs between the two.
Hunter: Kanye on some Yeezus shit.
Jack: I don’t think it needed any features. I think going all Future for 20 minutes was definitely the way to go.
Ralph: Give me anybody who’s half as damaged as Future, but only on one track for like 30 total seconds… I’m thinking... Uzi, maybe? Yeah, let’s go with Uzi.
What is your favorite song on SAVE ME?
Evan: It’s still too early to tell; I need more time basking in the glory of depressed Future. However, my early favorites are “XanaX Damage” and “Love Thy Enemies”.
Jack: “Love Thy Enemies” hit different during the first listen-through.
Hunter: “Extra” - I just love Future’s vocals on this track
Ralph: My favorite song is the least cohesive one with the rest of the project, “Government Official,” because the track is a bright shining light on a very dark album.
What is your least favorite song on SAVE ME?
Evan: Also still too early to tell, but probably “St. Lucia” since it really isn’t anything too unique compared to the rest of the project.
Jack: I’m going to go with a cop-out answer and agree with Evan. “St. Lucia” didn’t really stand out to me.
Hunter: “Shotgun” - I love the beat but I can’t stand the chorus
Ralph: I agree with Hunter on this one. “Shotgun” sounded too much like a track that didn’t make the final cut of HNDRXX, and for good reason.
What string of bars made you say, “Oh, shit. Hendrix too next level for these lame asses,”?
Jack: I’ll have to read the lyrics for this. Definitely something in “Love Thy Enemies”.
Evan: If we’re being honest, I’ve never really been one to dissect Future’s bars too much. Of course he has some legendary bars, but there aren’t a staggering amount of Hendrix bars that have made my jaw drop (except “Codeine Crazy”, I would tattoo each lyric on my body). Future is excellent in the way that he can convey his message solely through the tone of his voice and his overall energy on the track. While he’s a talented artist in my book, let’s be honest-- Future isn’t a lyricist. Future is a performer, an entertainer. He’s good at providing a unique experience, and as a listener, that’s all that really matters at the end of the day.
Ralph: SHAMELESS PLUG
Future dropped The WIZRD in early January, and SAVE ME in the middle of summer. Is there going to be a final project come fall or winter to cap off the trilogy?
Evan: I definitely think so; Future can’t help himself from going on release rampages. If he’s going to continue to build on this new R&B sound, the winter will be prime time for another installment of depressing, drug-addiction bops.
Jack: A winter release to coincide with SAD season would be perfect. If I’m gonna be deep in my feelings, I want R&B Future right there next to me.
Ralph: Okay, hear me out here. The Weeknd recognizes himself as the King of the Fall, he has consistently dropped during this time of year throughout his career. He and Future have collaborated on several tracks in the past, and so far I’ve adored each one (“Low Life,” “Comin’ Out Strong,” “All I Know,”). Can you imagine what a 12-track Future and Abel album would sound like while you’re sitting underneath an oak tree with leaves falling towards your feet? I’m simultaneously excited and depressed about how much this album would influence my psyche.
Comments