Future, born Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn, has become an inspiration for many artists that have gained popularity in the last five years, helping to popularise the use of Auto-Tune when rapping and singing. Throughout his career, Future has comfortably cemented his style of boasting about his lavish lifestyle and the masses of women he attracts, but fans want something different as we’ve come to hear this style all too often. On June 7th, Wilburn released his surprise EP, ‘SAVE ME.’ Through the emo influenced cover, and melancholic themed posts on Instagram prior to the release, fans got ready for what was hoped to be a deeper side of Hendrix we have never seen before.

Wilburn begins the EP with a refreshing new sound, displayed on ‘XanaX Damage,’ a track where we see Future expressing sorrow over a women he only seems to love when he’s at his lowest, indicating that he is depressed whenever they are together. This track gives the listener exactly what they had hoped for going into this project, a heartfelt Future pouring his heart out through his layered vocals, whilst hitting the perfect vocal inflictions over a hard hitting instrumental.

Though we get a positive start to the project with ‘XanaX Damage,’ the EP instantly begins to go in a different direction to what was promised, beginning with the track, ‘St. Lucia.’ It’s a boastful track about money and women over a generic trap beat that we have heard from Future time and time again, marking the beginning of the downward spiral this project takes. Through the next three tracks, we get more of the same themes, with the same subject matter coming up in the track ‘St. Lucia.’ Generic songs such as ‘Please Tell Me,’ and ‘Government Official,’ make for a disappointing middle portion of the EP that brings nothing new to Future’s discography.

Despite the lacklustre start the the EP, excluding the first track, the project picks up through the final two tracks, ‘Extra,’ and, ‘Love Thy Enemies.’ These two tracks execute exactly what fans were hoping for going into this EP from Hendrix. We see an introspective and emotional side of Future, displayed through experimental heartfelt singing that encapsulates the listeners interest and attention. On the second last track, ‘Extra,’ Future raps about his girl’s criticism of his excessive lifestyle, and all the things he wastes his money on. This allows the listener to hear a more introspective perspective of Wilburn’s lavish lifestyle, instead of the boastful accounts he usually delivers. Future ends the EP with an emotional performance on, ‘Love Thy Enemies.’ The track is an exact embodiment of what the entire project should have been, showing a less-known fragile side of Wilburn. The track acknowledges his inner struggles, past break-ups and his fear of being misunderstood. This makes for a perfect ending to the EP, giving the fans exactly what they were hoping for when going into this project.

Future’s seven-track EP, ‘SAVE ME,’ gave us high hopes, which unfortunately were quickly destroyed. SAVE ME gave us more of the same Future we have heard many times prior to this release. Generic, boastful songs, which add no individuality or personality to his discography. The idea for a new, introspective project from Future was there, but unfortunately it was poorly executed.

3.2/10

Written by Sam Dehnert