Futuristic in Concert
Surfing waves of wordplay, rapper Futuristic lays it down with a sincerity, speed, and fury that truly set him apart. Born in 1991 in Illinois, Futuristic started rapping alongside his brothers in first grade for a talent show, and the rest was history. In 2012, he dropped his brassy, R&B-tinged first LP, ‘Dream Big,' which situated him as a nimble rapper capable of verbally dancing atop his classy beats and production. His 2015 third album, ‘The Rise,' was his big break, scoring him two massive singles: "No Way" and "The Greatest," which together garnered almost 40 million views on YouTube. Futuristic's flow in "The Greatest" was particularly solid, evoking Kendrick Lamar, Busta Rhymes, and Eminem in his mastery of rhythm and speed. ‘The Rise' peaked at No. 139 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and at No. 13 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
His following album – a collaboration with Devvon Terrell – drew him comparisons to Drake for his combination of rapping and singing; still, he showed off his hungry, aggressive side on tracks like "Bodied" and "I Want It All." The collab landed Futuristic his highest placement on the U.S. Billboard 200 (No. 82) and saw him hit the U.S. Rap at No. 10. Then 2017's ‘Blessings' furthered Futuristic's winning streak, especially in banger "Talk (feat. Tech N9ne & Devvon Terrell)" and "Not the Vibe." Futuristic is well-known for his D.I.Y. approach, which involves his numerous independent album releases, self-booked tours, YouTube video uploads, and general administration of his own brand. The rapper was even profiled in Forbes for his incredible ability to guide and market his career according to his own principles and values.