(Via Future's Facebook)

Future

O2 Academy Brixton

There was something up with Future last year. 2015 saw the singer-rapper drop five full lengths – the Beast Mode and 56 Nights mixtapes, his Dirty Sprite 2 album and What a Time to Be Alive, a collaborative record with Drake.

But while lot of this music sounded great in a club or on a decent car stereo, lyrically these songs told sordid tales of lean addiction and regrettable, emotionless sex. In this context, Future’s split with his former fiancé Ciara and his alleged estrangement from their son is more than just celebrity gossip, it’s essential information for understanding the pain and self-loathing of his recent music.

By achieving huge commercial success with his mumbled style, his influential triplet flow and vulnerable lyrics that subvert clichéd rap braggadocio, Future has become one of hip-hop’s most significant innovators, upsetting many older rap fans who’ve struggled to adjust in the process.

Tonight, almost 5000 fans wait eagerly for the Atlanta star at Brixton Academy for this sold out show (it’s worth nothing that Future is still less popular elsewhere – as with his last UK visit, the tour’s Manchester show was downgraded to a smaller venue). Before Future’s even stepped on stage, the warm up DJ has hyped the crowd up to a level many acts could only hope for, with everyone in the Academy’s seated areas up, dancing and mouthing the words to tracks like Young Thug’s Best Friend and JME’s Man Don’t Care.

  • (Via Future's Facebook)

Following an effective intro from the excitable DJ Esco, Future creeps from the side stage, mic in hind, in a fur-hooded parka, which he eventually peels off to reveal a sweat-soaked t-shirt. The set eschews his comparatively lighter singles like Honest and Turn On The Lights to focus on his hard-hitting 2015 material, which seems to be exactly what the crowd here wants. The show’s an impressive exercise in charisma – Future, Esco and regular producer Metro Boomin pounce across the stage with agility, UK duo Krept and Konan make a well-received cameo – but by throwing away DS2 tracks like I Serve The Base and Freak Hoes after a few bars, Future sometimes underestimates the attention span of his fans.

The highlight of the set is March Madness – a 56 Nights track that’s widely considered to be among Future’s best material. With the track played out in full and the venue’s lights dimmed, the crowd illuminate the Academy with thousands of iPhone screens, and the song itself is a strange blend of heartache and bravado. For those lucky enough to get a ticket, this was an opportunity to witness an artist who’s unlike anyone who came before him.