Future Speaks on Juice WRLD and the new Generation

4.8.20

@future for XXLMagazine

Future landed himself the cover of the Spring 2020 XXL Magazine. Being on the cover for any magazine seems like an amazing accomplishment, so congratulations to Future for still making moves during this time alone. While his major story behind the cover may be “How the Influential Rap Star Found His Inner Peace,” the excerpt that is getting the most attention is his remarks in regards to the new generation of hip-hop, and mainly, finally recognizing the passing of Juice WRLD.

I believe that Future and Young Thug were the two main artists that played a part in what has turned into the “SoundCloud” or “Mumble Rap” era of hip-hop. So, I would assume that he is cool with all the new kids, and whatever their different styles may be. While asking for thoughts or advice for the younger generation, in pure Future fashion, his only advice is, you have to do it on your own.

"You really got to maneuver on your own and become your own person or just gotta be like, your own boss, so, everything that happens, it comes from you."

-Future, XXL Interview

Basically, when asked about the current standard in hip-hop, being constant arrests, acts of violence, and a sudden burst of deaths too soon, Future seems unfazed. He says it is not dangerous to be a hip-hop artist today. There is simply an abundance of artists today, way more than in the past, and this is just life. Apparently, nothing strange is happening, we just hear about more bad scenarios because there are more people around.

I do not necessarily feel this way. But I’ve never pictured Future being able to have any real emotions, feelings, or true stands on important issues. When you are constantly high on whatever it may be, like Future, you’re just chilling and not caring about anything else in the world. I felt a bit uneasy about these comments, and almost wished he had a bit more to say, a bit more remorse, for the talents gone too soon. Everyone does have their time, it’s true. But when it comes from premeditated act of violence, that should have been stopped, there is an issue at hand. This is not life’s natural course of action.

Where I feel the most uneasy is Future’s take on Juice WRLD. Yes, all the headlines read “Future is still heartbroken about the loss of Juice WRLD.” Well, it has been three and a half months. I think everyone who cared about this man is still mourning. The two put out a joint project titled “WRLD On Drugs,” where it did seem that the duo was a perfect match. An older artist with the new world favorite, with the same interests and similar sound.

It is mentioned that in a past interview, Juice WRLD shared with Future that he was in fact, that reason that Juice started drinking lean. In the new interview, Future explains that there are plenty of artists who drank lean before him. Future having an influence on people doing lean or drugs is not his intensions, and he is not trying to steer anyone into participating in these acts throughout his music. All he is doing, is just being him.

When you’re on the radio with millions of fans world wide, when your’e on covers of magazines, just being a well-known celebrity, you know you are going to have influence on your fans. Of course people are going to look up to you, listen to your music and find out who you are and what you’re into. They may look to you for advice, getting them through real life situations. They might look to you for how to dress, and they’ll look to you for how to act. That is just the way society is. I do not think Future was intentionally hurting anyone, or bringing them to do drugs. Of course not. But I do think it is silly to think that he didn’t play a part in things like this. Juice WRLD told him straight up, he was influenced by Future to do these things. I wish Future had a little more remorse. It makes me worried about him, too. Where are your real feelings? Bottling them up has not seemed to work for musicians in the past, either.

I really only listen to Future when he is a feature on a song. I like when he is seemingly having fun on an upbeat track. What I do not like is when it sounds like he is using “I’m high autotune” and his voice is just low, monotone, and unenjoyable. So, for the amount that I actually do listen to Future, I do not disown the music. However, I am not a fan of his interviewing skills.