Future has returned with his first solo studio album, The Real Me, in four years, arriving shortly after his widely praised performance at the World Cup. The album marks a noticeable shift in direction, with Future attempting to be more introspective and personal, a refreshing change from the repetitive themes that have defined much of his catalog. He also goes completely solo with no guest features, which is a major departure considering many of his biggest records have been collaborations.
The project is presented as a more genuine and authentic look at Future, moving away from the usual themes of drugs, women, and luxury. On songs like “No Misery,” “Radio,” and “If I Could,” he delivers some introspective music, reflecting on his life and coming across as a much more mature version of himself. It’s also interesting to hear him lean further into melodic and R&B-inspired production.
However, one of the biggest issues with the album is its bloated 22-track runtime. There are simply too many filler songs that don’t contribute to the album’s introspective, personal theme. There are still standout moments, including “California Girls,” “Money Over Everything,” and “Kick,” but many of the project’s strongest songs end up buried beneath repetitive, familiar Future tracks that add little to the overall experience.
“Alice,” despite being one of the album’s more interesting songs, is completely out of place. Positioned as the second-to-last track, it sounds like a Chris Brown-inspired West Coast song and creates a sudden, awkward change of pace. It was likely included less for cohesiveness and more to give the album another potential hit.
The decision to have no features was also a bit confusing. It makes sense on the more personal songs, but many of the “filler” songs sound like they were originally intended to include collaborations before committing to the “no features” concept. A few carefully chosen features would’ve been interesting to see, and they could’ve elevated the project without taking away from the direction.
Overall, The Real Me is a solid album that shows genuine artistic growth. Future proves he has much more to say than his usual subject matter, and the introspective moments are some of the strongest music he’s released in years. It’s definetly a decent album with plenty of standout moments, but one that ultimately plays it a little too safe.
VUZE SCORE: 5.3/10
By: Ed Roobi