Future is making a play for No. 1 on the Billboard charts with his new drop, Mixtape Pluto. According to Hits Daily Double, the release will pull in between 120-135,000 album-equivalent units.
Future’s ‘MIXTAPE PLUTO’ is projected to debut at #1, selling 120-135K first week
Diamond-certified, three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning hip-hop star Future continues his unstoppable streak with the release of MIXTAPE PLUTO on Sept. 20. The 17-track project, a nod to Future’s raw essence, also arrives alongside the official music video for “TOO FAST,” directed by Kid Art. Set against the backdrop of Harlem, NYC, the visual reflects the highs and lows of Future’s whirlwind lifestyle.
MIXTAPE PLUTO was executive produced by 808 Mafia’s Southside, with Wheezy serving as co-executive producer. Paying tribute to the legendary Dungeon Family and the late Rico Wade, the album cover showcases infrared purple lighting beaming from the Dungeon Family house in Atlanta, where Future’s musical journey began in Wade’s mother’s basement. The mixtape, notably without guest features, showcases Future’s unfiltered artistry and lyrical prowess.
In addition to the digital release, exclusive merchandise and physical versions of MIXTAPE PLUTO are available on freebandz.com. Fans can purchase limited-edition t-shirts, CDs, and two vinyl variants—black and green—featuring 11 key tracks from the album.
This project follows the massive success of Future’s earlier collaborations with Metro Boomin, WE DON’T TRUST YOU and WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU, both of which topped the charts. These albums cemented Future’s dominance in 2024, with the single “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar spending three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
MIXTAPE PLUTO represents Future’s return to his roots, offering fans a pure distillation of his sound and influence. Stripped down and unapologetically authentic, the mixtape is a powerful statement from one of hip-hop’s most inventive and influential figures, solidifying his legacy as he closes out an iconic year.
Future’s NSFW new video for “Teflon Don” cheekily references the Atlanta rapper’s past preoccupation with pills with references to anti-overdose medications. Throughout the video, Future raps the Mixtape Pluto standout while flanked with stock cars wrapped in blown-up drug info labels for Suboxone and Narcan — two drugs designed to help treat opioid addiction or its consequences. Some of the cars are also wrapped with blown-up black-and-white photos of nude women from old gentleman’s magazines.
Ironically, Future admitted in a 2019 interview that he’d given up drinking lean and popping prescription pills, but that he didn’t stop rapping about them for fear of disappointing fans who’d become accustomed to his substance abuse subject matter. He even expressed dismay at the idea that it was those lyrics that inspired his WRLD On Drugs collaborator Juice WRLD to first try combining codeine and soda pop. Still, that hasn’t stopped Future from rapping about those subjects, such as on his Save Me standout, “Xanax Damage” — although more recent releases such as I Never Liked You and We Don’t Trust You shifted focus to his toxic approach to romance rather than his fascination with getting high.
Fortunately for us, MIXTAPE PLUTO‘s title does most of the talking when discussing Future’s new project. Occasionally sharp street odes, brazenly warped and sleek flows, and drowsily self-confident vocal tones? Check. Psychedelic pads, brutal bass, and insistently intoxicating instrumentals? Check. Classic cuts that define the Atlanta legend’s discography? We’ll see a few years down the road… All in all, this is probably the most straightforward, simple, and easily definable hip-hop record to drop in 2024, which also makes it a bit of a tough cookie to review.
After all, much of the new and notable discussion around MIXTAPE PLUTO revolves around comparisons to Future’s two 2024 studio collabs with Metro Boomin. This actually benefits this new tape’s place in his discography, as the raw, woozy, yet still grounded trap here earns its worth when contrasted with the high-budget presentation and melodic compromises of those LPs. Pluto instead focuses on what most of his hardcore fanbase loves from him. He sounds like the coolest and highest man on the planet over the sonic equivalent of sitting in the middle of a club, a smoke session, or both and not being able to fully make out what you’re listening to.
Let’s start strong first: Future’s a bullet train on “SKI,” he switches between melodic accents on “OATH,” and he stretches himself out on “SOUTH OF FRANCE” without losing control of the wheel. However, sleepy deliveries and stagnant schemes on “MJ” force the production to carry the weight on occasion, whereas the opposite is true on “BRAZZIER.” On the other hand, “TEFLON DON” stuns with its in-and-out operatic samples (plus a dynamic vocal delivery), and the woodwinds on “PRESS THE BUTTON” make magic with a fantastic Fewtch onslaught.
As such, there are many caveats to consider. MIXTAPE PLUTO‘s biggest flaw is definitely its sequencing, as the first five tracks sound so similar that so-so records like “LIL DEMON” and “READY TO COOK UP” lose their value when stacked up against better cuts in that same section. It’s not until “TOO FAST” and its admittedly basic presentation that we get a change. As cringe as many find Future’s chorus on “PLUTOSKI,” and as much as that instrumental deserved better, it’s actually one of the most fun parts of the mixtape, thanks to ditching the self-serious attitude. On the topic of ditches…
It’s called MIXTAPE PLUTO: no one really cares about subpar mixing on occasion here. But, for example, “OCEAN” could’ve been a more outstanding highlight if it wasn’t for the overwhelming bass tone. Elsewhere on this tape, Future does shift sub-genres to break up the vibe, even if the results are mixed. “MADE MY H*E FAINT” is almost rage-like but doesn’t land too hard, whereas “SURFING A TSUNAMI” has a surprising synth swell bolstered by a strong chorus. “TOLD MY” contains two welcome Koopsta Knicca samples produced by DJ Paul, calling back to his Southern roots, which are also referenced in the project’s cover art. It depicts his late and legendary cousin Rico Wade’s Dungeon bathed in pink light.
Many have speculated on whether the disappointingly messy “LOST MY DOG” tributes Rico, but it’s actually about a friend that Future lost to fentanyl. It’s probably the most overt exploration of the pain on the other side of his hedonistic exploits. Otherwise, his lines are up to standard, but they’ll only stand out when they’re particularly funny or, frankly, petty. “No, I didn’t birth you, but I designed you” and “Counting up so much dog s**t, it look like cow s**t” are right out of this catalog’s playbook.
Speaking of the catalog, where does MIXTAPE PLUTO fall within it? Is it really reminiscent of Future’s early 2010s dominance, or does it feel like a step back from his global superstardom? For our money, it’s firmly on the former. A confident carelessness here resulted in plenty of bangers like the nasty closer “AYE SAY GANG.” The 40-year-old also feels right at home with Southside, Wheezy, and more of his iconic producers, plus new names like BROCKHAMPTON’s Romil Hemnani. But it mostly fits among the Monsters and Beast Modes by checking off a list, not for being a front-to-back thrill ride.
Most cuts here would sound much better in isolation, not in quick succession. Isn’t that a betrayal of the mixtape and long-form album format? If so, why are we willing to give MIXTAPE PLUTO the benefit of the doubt? As we alluded to, part of it is precedent, another part of it is the context of 2024, and, honestly, it’s just a really easy project to enjoy. Future might be missing some of the more formal and sophisticated draws of his later career highs, yet we haven’t felt this intoxicated by his roots in a tracklist of his in a while. So, our rating is contingent on this: play this on shuffle, listen to it with a friend or two or fifty at a house party, and let it compliment another, more engaging experience to worm itself into your brain.
Yet again, hip-hop heads are asking themselves if Gunna and Future have beef. Back in May, the “Pushin P” collaborators appeared to subtly shade each other. Now, supporters have called out Future from removing a Gunna verse off his latest project, Mixtape Pluto.
With Future’s new body of work officially on streaming platforms, listeners were shocked to see that Gunna no longer appeared on its song, “Told My,” despite his verse previously being teased.
Over in his Instagram stories Gunna (viewable here courtesy of HipHopDX), seemingly addressed the removal, writing: “It’s not personal. It’s just business.”
Users online aren’t convinced that there still isn’t tension bubbling underneath the surface. But it is important to note that Gunna wasn’t the only artists fans seemingly axed from Mixtape Pluto.
Based on clips shared ahead of its release, Travis Scott recorded a special verse for the Mixtape Pluto record “South of France.”
However, considering the project marked Future’s first solo release since 2020’s High Off Life, others argued that he wanted to make a creative statement on his own. Based on reports, he did just that supposedly setting an Apple Music record in the process.
When we look back at 2024 in the hip-hop history books, we won’t be able to tell that story without Future’s prolific run. After two Metro Boomin collab albums that kicked off a legendary rap battle, he’s back with MIXTAPE PLUTO. While the discussion around this new project didn’t come with as many extracurricular narratives, it clearly still resonated with audiences. Moreover, HITS Daily Double reports that the mixtape is projected to sell anywhere between 120K and 135K units in its first week. This means that it has a solid chance of cinching another No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart for the Atlanta MC, which would mark his 11th album to do so.
Of course, we won’t know for sure until the official charts drop next week, but this is still a big win for Future. However, some fans still expressed confusion around MIXTAPE PLUTO. Some teased features for the project, including Travis Scott and Gunna, didn’t end up appearing. In fact, the latter seemed to address this issue online, which fueled more theories and rumors about the potential reasons why.
Nevertheless, there’s a good reason as to why fans are enjoying Future’s latest mixtape so much. As the title suggests, MIXTAPE PLUTO is more evocative of his classic 2010s releases than his Metro collabs, on which we only got a slight taste of them through the bonus tracks on WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU. Sure, these collab albums held plenty of shades of 56 Nights and other tapes, but this new record and its impressive production credits fully lean into Pluto’s talents and classic appeal.
Meanwhile, Future’s influence continues to loom large over much of the rap world. For example, Playboi Carti puzzled fans when he dropped the single “ALL RED,” mainly because he sounded so much like his “Teen X” collaborator. While this is a more obvious and direct comparison, this isn’t even counting the countless rap projects that owe much of their identity to Fewtch in recent years. With projects like MIXTAPE PLUTO under his belt and its subsequent success, it’s no wonder he’s still a king.
This was a pretty massive release week for hip-hop albums and singles, and our latest Fire Emoji playlist update is here to round the best of the best up for your convenience. Leading the way is Future’s MIXTAPE PLUTO, a hotly anticipated project that marks his third of the year. “TOO FAST,” “LIL DEMON,” and “READY TO COOK UP” are easy highlights to shout out for their woozy energy. In addition, we also got a new LP from Lil Tecca, PLAN A. While the record has a solid amount of variety and dynamism to it, we think that “I CAN’T LET GO” is a particularly electrifying note to start your journey with.
Also on Fire Emoji is the continuation of another wild 2024 run: The Alchemist’s new album The Genuine Articulate. It’s a short but very sweet effort, and we’d recommend “Details” with Larry June to hear one of the smoothest sample flips of the month so far. As far as other albums to look forward to, GloRilla recently released a single for her upcoming project Glorious, “Hollon.” It’s her trademark Memphis formula, but with more eerie synths and a more cavernous bass tone to spice things up from her work’s usual (but still enjoyable) muddiness.
But let’s keep it moving on Fire Emoji with some quick single shout-outs. Nardo Wick and BossMan Dlow have some pretty menacing but chilled-out chemistry on “Oh S**t,” whose piano keys contrast the more dark chords quite well. As part of his new comic book/single series, Kid Cudi released “DONT WORRY” with Chip Tha Ripper, a compelling mix of dreamy soundscapes and buzzing bass. On a slightly similar psychedelic tip, we have the latest auto-croon jam from TiaCorine, “Different Color Stones” and its playful attitude.
Meanwhile, Meek Mill pulled up in a “CYBER TRUCK” on his new single, which is exactly his style of sharp snares and confident flows. Ray Vaughn and SiR rep Top Dawg on the former’s new song “Everybody Dies,” which might be the most well-rounded release of the week. Finally, we wanted to pay tribute to Rich Homie Quan’s memory by pointing you to his posthumous “Song Cry” single, notable for its emotional vulnerability and the dark context it now falls under. But through his catalog, his loved ones and fans can continue to celebrate his life and preserve his legacy. Let us know what your favorite Fire Emoji inclusion was this week, as well as what else we missed, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for more great music releases around the clock. Rest In Peace Rich Homie Quan.
Heading into this weekend, Futurehad most of the hip-hop community’s ears due to his MIXTAPEPLUTOproject arriving. It’s here as of yesterday, September 20, and it’s his third release of 2024. With a title such as this one, fans were looking forward to hearing that sort of Future again. So far, a lot of listeners are pretty pleased with the results. However, there are some out there who a little let down. Leading up to it, there was some real hope that Future would include the contributions of Gunna and Travis Scott.
“SOUTH OF FRANCE” (Travis) and “TOLD MY” (Gunna) were the respective cuts to have said guest appearances. But for whatever reason, the 17-song LP is feature-less. Some were respecting the decision, feeling that he was tailoring this project to his OG fans or just didn’t feel they were necessary enough. But as we said, there is quite a bit of frustration on the internet. “Future album got no features and he think we listening i’m f***ing crying”, one X user says.
So far, Travis Scott has not reacted to this development. Given that they were just working on a handful of songs off of WE DON’T TRUST YOU, things are most likely solid there. However, Gunna is seemingly addressing it after 24 hours, but he doesn’t seem as affected by it as people may try and make it out to be. “It’s not personal it’s just business”, he wrote on an IG story according to a repost from DJ Akademiks. For a little while, there relationship has been a little rocky perhaps due to the Young Thug and YSL trial debacle. But if Gunna is being candid and is actually referring to the Future feature, things look to be on the up and up.
What are your thoughts on Gunna seemingly reacting to his feature on Future’s MIXTAPE PLUTO being removed? Do you think he’s upset or is he being understanding? Are you disappointed in the project, why or why not? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Future and Gunna. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Future is currently the most hard-working artist in hip-hop. After releasing two albums produced by Metro Boomin this year, We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You, he’s returning to the well one more time with Mixtape Pluto.
For some fans, it’s the best of the three, for the same reason that the paired projects marked a return to form for Future in the minds of many longtime fans. Mixtape Pluto calls back to one of the most productive and fan-revered eras of the veteran trap rapper’s career.
Of course, I am referring to the Future era in which he released no fewer than five standout projects from 2014 to 2016. Beginning with the DJ Esco-hosted mixtape Monster and including Beast Mode with Zaytoven, 56 Nights with DJ Esco, What A Time To Be Alive with Drake, and, of course, DS2, and ending arguably with 2016’s Purple Reign and Evol, Future’s 2015 run was rivaled only by a few in hip-hop, and all of them are titans of the culture.
During this time, he released 10 platinum-selling singles, including some of his most beloved festival hype DJ playlist favorites, like “March Madness” “Jumpman” with Drake, and “Low Life” with The Weeknd. These time may not have produced his highest-charting, but it began Future’s string of multi-platinum hits (beginning with “F*ck Up Some Commas” from DS2 at No. 55) and it contains the densest concentration thereof (peaking with “Low Life” with eight certifications).
Unlike prior albums Pluto and Honest, and latter albums like Hndrxx, High Off Life, or even his Metro Boomin collabs, this success was driven by Future’s gritty solo charisma, with much less of the focus on melodizing his heartbreak. Instead, he growled dismissive dispatches from the depths of his hedonistic excesses, going out of his way to shoot down any suggestion of soulful introspection or simping.
He also needed little in the way of featured artistry to fuel his ascent. While Future himself was a hotly demanded guest star on works from other artists, including DJ Khaled, Mike Will Made It, Travis Scott, Ty Dolla Sign, and 21 Savage, the only collaborations of his from 2015 to chart were those from What A Time, a collaborative album, while “Low Life” with The Weeknd was the biggest hit he had to feature another artist in 2016.
He was at the height of his powers — which you could argue he most strongly taps into on his other mixtapes. Mixtape Pluto might not only apply to 2015 and 2016; it might also refer to his street-bred beginnings with tapes like the original Dirty Sprite or collaborative efforts like Super Slimey with Young Thug or Beast Mode 2 with Zaytoven.
The new tape indeed does find Future going solo for its 17 tracks. There’s a mixture of producers, but all of them provide vintage 808 and skittering snares — exactly the sort of backdrop over which the Atlanta native thrives. The hypnotic, chant-like choruses? They’re represented here on tracks like “Lil Demon” and “Aye Say Gang.” The rapping is as crisp as it’s ever been. And for those fans who love wounded Future, there are a few standouts like “Too Fast” and “Lost My Dog.”
Which is why Mixtape Pluto is hitting all the right notes with those fans who’ve been following him all this time. Future — an artist with roots that reach back to Atlanta’s initial epoch in the rap mainstream with Outkast and Dungeon Family — has transformed dozens of times over the course of his career, but the form he always seems to return to is the one that has the most potential to go anywhere and everywhere else. Mixtape Future is the best Future, because like the future, the possibilities are endless.
Futurereleased MIXTAPE PLUTO on Friday, his third release of 2024. The mixtape comes after two successful collaborations with Metro Boomin, on WE DON’T TRUST YOU and WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU, respectively. Of course, the former is most known for the track “Like That” with Kendrick Lamar, but it is still a project that received praise from Future fans. Historically, Future is known for working with many producers. Metro has become his most famous collaborator, but fans will fondly remember the days of his old mixtapes, where he worked with 808 Mafia, specifically Atlanta-based producer Southside. Notably, Metro Boomin does not appear at all on the new project’s tracklist.
Southside executive produced MIXTAPE PLUTO, a throwback to a previous era of Future’s career. He previously had an EP credit on 56 Nights, the 2015 mixtape that came in the middle of Future’s most prolific period as an artist. Additionally, he co-produced “TEFLON DON,” “LIL DEMON,” “SKI,” “PRESS THE BUTTON,” “BRAZZIER,” “SOUTH OF FRANCE,” and “MADE MY H*E FAINT.” Wheezy (whose tag is also voiced by Future) makes multiple appearances as well. “MJ” is one of those tracks, an early fan favorite online.
Future’s MIXTAPE PLUTO Production Credits Revealed
Prior to MIXTAPE PLUTO‘s release, Future penned a tribute to his cousin, the late Rico Wade. Wade’s house, whose basement is referred to as “The Dungeon,” is on the cover. Wade, who was part of the famed Organized Noize production collective (itself a part of the larger Dungeon Family collective), helped contribute to the success of OutKast, TLC, and Goodie Mob. He also helped shape Future’s early music. It was a touching tribute to one of the most influential producers in hip-hop history. You can read the comprehensive list of production credits for Future’s latest work below.
MIXTAPE PLUTO production credits:
1. TEFLON DON Prod. by Southside, FBG Goat, AyoPeeb, MoXart Beatz, Topp, London On Da Track and Desro 2. LIL DEMON Prod. by Southide and Smatt 3. SKI Prod. by Smatt, Gedo and Southside 4. READY TO COOK UP Prod. by Wheezy and Juke Wong 5. PLUTOSKI Prod. by Juke Wong, Southside and Wheezy 6. TOO FAST Prod. by Dj Champ, Ike, Taurus and McCoy 7. OCEAN Prod. by Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Jack Uriah and Wheezy 8. PRESS THE BUTTON Prod. by FBG Goat, Southside, BeatzBYRRose and Topp 9. MJ Prod. by Wheezy and Bryan Yepes 10. BRAZZIER Prod. by Southside and Dy krazy 11. SOUTH OF FRANCE Prod. by Wheezy, Southside and Car!ton 12. SURFING A TSUNAMI Prod. by Wheezy and CHE’ FUEGO 3000 13. MADE MY H*E FAINT Prod. by Southside and Wheezy 14. TOLD MY Prod. by Juke Wong, Wheezy, nothingto$ay and Dy krazy 15. OATH Prod. by Koncept P, Taurus, 808 Jayy and Rocaine 16. LOST MY DOG Prod. by FNZ and Atl Jacob 17. AYE SAY GANG Prod. by Neenyo, CHE’ FUEGO 3000 and Wheezy
Although Future is calling his new album Mixtape Pluto, he’s not straying too far away from the heartbroken habits that got him where he is. In the video for “Too Fast,” the first(!) single from the album, Future laments moving too quickly in love and letting his guard down too easily — especially when it comes to his bank account. In the chorus, Future lists all the gifts he’s given to women who only broke his heart in the end, coming to the conclusion that he’s got to do better research if he’s going to be spending all this money.
“Bought a Patek, I was movin’ too fast,” he worries. “New G-Wagon, I was movin’ too fast / Got the condo, I was movin’ too fast / Only sorry ’cause I was movin’ too fast / So we said I knew it wasn’t gon’ last.”
Mixtape Pluto is Future’s first solo project since 2022’s I Never Liked You, which generated Future’s first No. 1 single, “Wait For U” with Drake and Tems. However, it’s his third project this year overall after he dropped two collaborative albums with Metro Boomin: We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You.
You can watch the video for “Too Fast” above.
Mixtape Pluto is out now via Freebandz/Epic. You can find more info here.
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