Album Review: Future & Metro Boomin – WE DON'T TRUST YOU

Rating: 7.8

The album kicks off with the namesake (“We Don't Trust You”) a bass-filled instrumentation crafted by the renowned producer, Metro Boomin. Future, the rap mogul, delivers his best performance yet. It serves as a remarkable opener to their long-awaited collaboration. The intro is elevated by Future's signature ad-libs, “If Young Metro don't trust you, I'm gon' shoot you”. It's a well produced Trap ditty that sets the mood for the main event. WE DON'T TRUST YOU has been teased on different social platforms, and Metro Boomin even gave a sneak peek of some tracks earlier, like (“Cinderella”) featuring Travis Scott. This created a lot of excitement and anticipation among die-hard fans. The album received mixed reactions from fans, and the hidden features added an extra layer of excitement to the whole experience.

WE DON'T TRUST YOU gives Future another opportunity to showcase his competence as a rapper and maintain his illustrious legacy in Hip-hop. The album starts with solid production by Metro Boomin, providing Future with another set of expertly crafted beats for him to effortlessly flow on, reminiscent of their previous successful 2015 collaborations like (“Jumpman”) with Drake from What A Time To Be Alive and (“I Serve The Base”) from DS2. Future sounds evocative evoking a sense of nostalgia in certain moments. His evolution as an artist is evident. He acknowledges his legacy and position in the Hip-hop subgenre, Trap. Despite revealing his feud with Drake in (“We Don't Trust You”), he clearly references their beef over a woman, “Can't be 'bout a ho, 'cause we sharin', dog”. Even though the album is almost an hour long, it still keeps things exciting. There are some unexpected moments and guest features that make it even more interesting. One of the most surprising moments is in the first half, especially the outstanding (“Type Shit”), which features Travis Scott and Playboi Carti. Playboi Carti brings a fresh vibe – he's been a significant Trap icon for quite some time, and his new unique voice adds another layer that would make Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) want to sample it.

Future effortlessly maintains a consistent and simple style throughout. It's impressive how he has remained consistent for over a decade in his career. Metro Boomin certainly understood the assignment and delivered exceptional beats. Some of these tracks are truly larger than life. On (“Claustrophobic”) we get to experience Future's finest performances. The lyrics are skillfully crafted, and the beat feels tailor-made for him. (“Like That”) is an undeniably remarkable track. Kendrick Lamar reunites with Future, following their previous collaboration on the remix of (“Mask Off”) in 2017. Kendrick's verse is filled with boldness as he takes aim at Drake and J. Cole. He fearlessly references their 2023 joint effort (“First Person Shooter”), rapping “Fuck sneak dissin', first person shooter/ I hope they came with three switches”. Notably, J. Cole acknowledged Kendrick's talent in (“First Person Shooter”) stating, “Who's the best MC? K-Dot, Aubrey, or me? We're like the big three, starting our own league/ But right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali”. Will Drake respond, or will J. Cole rise to the occasion?. (“Magic Don Juan (Princess Diana)”) is also another pure art turned into music. The beat switches and Future rapping along with the background voices on the second part, makes it a fun listening experience.

WE DON'T TRUST YOU is a prime example of what modern Trap music should be. The songs are flawlessly produced, mixed, and mastered. Every track stands out and adds to the overall vision that Future & Metro Boomin envisioned. New producers and rappers should take notes from the duo. Longevity like this can't be bought, it's earned. With a tracklist of 17 songs and a total runtime of 59 minutes, the first half of the album stood out for several reasons. One of the major highlights was the unexpected appearance of Kendrick Lamar, which added an exciting element to the overall experience. Additionally, Playboi Carti's delivery on (“Type Shit”), Travis Scott's special performance in (“Cinderella”), and The Weeknd's brief appearance on (“Young Metro”) were noteworthy moments that elevated the album. These elements contributed to making the first half of the album truly memorable.

This album is truly an exceptional masterpiece, crafted by a producer with an impressive discography and a rapper who has undoubtedly made a significant impact in the Hip-hop community with nothing left to prove. This album creates a powerful and unforgettable moment that should be embraced and savored in the most profound ways. It's safe to say that it deserves Grammy consideration to recognize the hard work and dedication that went into it.

WE DON'T TRUST YOU is an astonishing body of work that doesn't aim to cater to a wide audience. Instead, it focuses on the dedicated listeners who are already familiar with Metro Boomin's established musical universe. With its distinct sound and style, this record serves as both a testament to Future's artistic prowess and an open invitation for new listeners to explore his sonic realm.

Favourite Tracks: “Slimed In”, “Magic Don Juan (Princess Diana)”, “Cinderella”, “Type Shit” & “We Don't Trust You”