Who’s had a bigger year than Future? In February, he became the first artist to notch back-to-back No. 1 debuts in consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart, replacing his self-titled fifth proper studio album with HNDRXX.
In May, Future launched the Nobody Safe tour, which feels more like a full-scale rock concert than a traditional hip-hop show. The rapper fronts a full band and brings out a rotating all-star roster of guests. Vegas gets a taste this weekend, when the tour wraps at T-Mobile Arena, but Future isn’t done roaming the world; he has already announced the HNDRXX tour, which begins July 8 at Summerfest in Milwaukee and will include dates in Portugal, Mozambique, Toronto, Australia and all over Europe.
Powering these mega-shows and chart success is perhaps Future’s stickiest single yet, “Mask Off,” a track so hypnotic, it spawned its own social media challenge, in which other artists and musicians (and fans, too) duplicated its memorable flute hook.
“‘Mask Off’ was a career-defining moment for Future, and its success was a watershed moment for hip-hop globally,” said Epic Records president Sylvia Rhone, who presented Future with a “global plaque” this month recognizing the Metro Boomin-produced track’s dominance.
That’s a lot of musical accomplishment in one year. And it’s only half over. The Nobody Safe Tour with Future, A$AP Ferg & Migos at T-Mobile Arena, June 30; Future and Migos at Drai’s at the Cromwell, June 30.
