New artists come a dime a dozen, but Atlanta rapper, Future is slowly looking to become a rising icon. Putting a chokehold on the radio airwaves with his hit single, “Tony Montana,” Future has a bright one ahead of him. Having already spent years in the music business, Future has honed his craft under the wings of the Dungeon Family, an Atlanta-based music collective of acts like OutKast and Goodie Mob. Most recently he’s made noise of his own with the release of his mixtape, True Story. Future is ready for the world to understand why he can hold the honor of such a name. On a recent visit to NYC, Future spent some time with Parlé Magazine, he breaks down what he’s been up to and more.
Parlé Magazine: Let’s talk about the mixtape, True Story. Tell me what the thought process was like when you were putting that together.
Future: I wanted every track on there to sound as close to my life, I want you to be able to listen to the mixtape and understand Future.
Parlé: Did you envision that the single, “Tony Montana” would be such a hit?
Future: Nah, I didn’t think it would blow up but I wanted it to. You have high expectations for records that you put out. When you first record them, you make sure you do it for the right reasons. I was doing the track for the streets and the club.
Parlé: The video looks great. It was shot in Santo Domingo, why did you choose there?
Future: Because we couldn’t get to Cuba.
Parlé: I also heard that Drake approached you for the remix, how did that come about?
Future: People don’t know that he approached me. When he approached me, it wasn’t just for the song, it was for the movement and he wanted to find out what he could add to it.
Parlé: You grew up in and with the Dungeon Family, correct?
Future: My cousin, Rico Wade, made who I am today, influencing the way I dress, the way I speak and the way I carry myself. He started the Dungeon Family with the leadership ability to lead so many artists, run a record label and be a producer. Soaking up his characteristics makes me into a much better artist.
Parlé: How did the name Future come about? Are you that confident to carry the moniker?
Future: I am very confident to handle the name. The name Future came from the Dungeon Family, being around a lot of older dudes telling me that they can see the future in me. And then I lived up to their expectations.
Parlé: With so many Atlanta-based artists, how do you set yourself apart?
Future: I don’t just rap, I give you melody. You wouldn’t get my songs from your average rapper because I’m being diverse and making astronaut music
Parlé: Do you have plans for your next single?
Future: The next single is “Magic.” T.I. jumped on the record fresh out of jail.
Parlé: Why did you choose “Magic?”
Future: When choosing songs, I let the people choose my songs. I put mixtapes out and don’t pick a single, I let the people decide. The people picked “Magic,” “Racks” and the people picked “Tony Montana.”
Parlé: How do you plan to stay true to yourself in the music industry?
Future: Things that occurred in my life make me who I am. Some people don’t understand the fact that every interview and every spin can make or break you.
Parlé: BET selected you to be part of their ‘Rising Icons’ series, how has that impacted you?
Future: I have weird theories and being a ‘rising icon’, shows me that I’m going up.
Parlé: What keeps and will continue to keep you stuck to the ground?
Future: Ten years from now, I can call someone in jail who has been in my life before I took off and they could remind where I could have been.
Parlé: Do you feel that people are going to ride off of your shine?
Future: Yeah they are. When you get success no one is going to care about the music anymore. They want to know if you can get them a check today.
Parlé: I’ve heard that you have your own company as well. What’s the FreeBandz movement?
Future: It’s a label, a clothing line and a lifestyle. Basically it stands for waking up every day and having the free opportunity to be whoever you want to be. Bands represent money, FreeBandz, no one can’t tell you, that you can’t make a large amount of money.
Parlé: What’s next for you?
Future: The album, Pluto, FreeBandz apparel, the movie for “Tony Montana”, the production side of things and shout out to Santo Domingo for allowing us to shoot “Tony [Montana].”
Parlé: For the people who haven’t heard you yet, tell them why they should listen to you.
Future: I’m setting trends and I’m taking you where music should be five years from now. I create my sound as I go and give the people what they want.
Future’s debut album, Pluto, will be released at the top of 2012. There’s more to him than “Tony Montana” and “Racks,” he’s in this game to change it and have people realize that the name is more than just that. Keep your ears open to what the Future has in store.
Images by Jay Bastien for Parlé Magazine
Also Check Out:
Future – True Story mixtape download