Simply after we all thought Future and Metro Boomin had performed their ace, revealed their jokers, and dropped their Draw 4, they’ve gone and tossed a significant Wild Card, one which doubles down on their early 2024 reign, by some means manages to bolster their already-cemented legends—and sure, extends and complicates the Drake vs the Universe beef much more.

We must always have seen this coming when Metro revealed this second album’s title, We Nonetheless Don’t Belief You. Initially when he and Future first introduced their plan to drop two tasks simply weeks aside, followers assumed they might be serving up a redux of one among Future’s largest profession flexes—that second in winter 2017 when he dropped a self-titled album, boasting a few of his largest rap hits thus far, after which seven days later dropped HNDRXX, one other, arguably higher (not debatable, to be trustworthy—it is factually higher) full-length album that totally indulged in his R&B skillset.

However, in a post-“Like That” world, the second album title made that idea seem to be much less of a lock. That Nonetheless appeared a little bit too aggressive for an R&B album, and Metro captioning his title-announcement put up “job’s not completed” urged he and Future had been extra inquisitive about spinning the block on Drake once more. The joke, naturally, is on us, for not assuming that if any duo can be able to pulling off each, it’s these two. Nonetheless is certainly the religious sequel to HNDRXX followers (learn: I) have been pleading for since ‘17, and it reminds us that subliminals nonetheless hit once they’re crooned.

However these two know what they began, and so they know there’s bloodlust within the air—so in one more swerve, Future and Metro’s R&B album features a shock package deal of six new rap songs, on which much more direct pictures are fired.

Earlier than we get to that although, it have to be mentioned: very like HNDRXX stood taller than FUTURE, when the mud settles, We Nonetheless Don’t would possibly—would possibly—clear its admittedly very glorious rap predecessor. Boyz II Males interpolations, Ginuwine flips, a Brownstone pattern, like a half dozen Weeknd options along with his voice in full angelic ethereal mode—Future’s vocal efficiency and Metro’s manufacturing have by some means shifted into a good larger gear. From subverting expectations with a frisky little Miami Vice-type groove to begin, the undertaking simply sounds nice high to backside with nary a skip. When you’re maintaining rating, that makes basically 35 heaters, give or take, that this dynamic duo has given us prior to now three weeks alone, not counting the brand new album’s bonus rap songs. It is nonetheless early within the 12 months, however it’s going to be a tall order for any mainstream rap tasks within the pipeline to outdo these two.

Now, to the drama. The lion’s share of the rap neighborhood is extra targeted on Drake and Kendrick, but when even half of the narratives swirling round Future and Drake are true, then there’s actual disdain right here. So, one thing as innocuous as say, We Nonetheless Don’t Belief You observe 5, “This Sunday,” interpolating Drake’s traditional Views album minimize “Really feel No Methods” comes off right here as calculated and petty, particularly contemplating it has led the plenty to understand that “Sunday” existed first—Drake was really the one doing the interpolating, which is why his 2016 observe lowkey at all times had a Future credit score. Is that this Future simply liberating a long-sought-after loosie, very like the primary album’s “Ice Assault,” or this one’s “Crimson Leather-based,” which we’ll get to in a minute? Or is he additionally sneakily reminding everybody that whereas Drake’s given him plenty of hits, their affect on one another has at all times gone each methods?