‘EVOL’ By Future Album Review: A Chart-Topping Yet Disappointing Effort

Future’s fourth studio album EVOL surprises with a big debut on the top of the music charts. The prolific Atlanta rapper is still on the top of his game, yet he fails to bring his work to the next level. Rather, he opts out for a familiar trap sound and raps about drugs, sex and a life of luxury.

‘EVOL’ by Future Album Review

Future’s new album was one of the most anticipated releases of early 2016, but it is questionable whether it lives up to the expectations. EVOL comes with no announcement about a month after the surprise release of the mixtape Purple Reign, produced by DJ Esco and Metro Boomin.

For the most part, especially in the first half, the album is rather monotonous but still an easy-flowing record. It is not until the last few songs that the mood changes slightly, becoming more intriguing to the listener. Still, despite being released exclusively on iTunes and Apple Music, Future’s EVOL manages to climb to the very top of the Billboard Top 200 chart in the week of its release, selling the equivalent of 134,000 copies.

The album is rich in its instrumentals and beats on songs like “Ain’t No Time” and “Maybach.” It is most explosive on tracks like “Photo Copied” and “Lie To Me,” where Future’s rap is most in line with the trap music strain in recent hip-hop releases. However, the rapper’s usually poignant lyrics often give way to repetitiveness and unexciting cliches.

“Low Life” featuring The Weeknd is perhaps the most vocally thrilling track on the album. The Weeknd’s cameo livens up the mood, but this song perhaps comes too late, being the penultimate one on the album. The beats are reminiscent of The Weeknd’s early work on Trilogy, and Abel Tesfaye‘s sultry vocals and eerie lyrics reinforce that feeling. Finally, EVOL concludes with another song emphasizing instrumentals and beats —”Fly Sh– Only.” The melody sounds anxious and confused, which stands in contrast to the mellow vocals on the hook.

Ultimately, EVOL seemingly disappoints at times because Future, being at the top of his game at the moment, may have set the bar for himself a little too high. Regardless, he proves that he is still capable of topping charts and delivering a consistent quality in his music.

Get EVOL here!