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

Rating: 5.0

Future and Metro Boomin have returned once again with another sonic odyssey. However, this album falls short in maintaining the consistency needed to achieve its intended appeal. The production is inconsistent and lacks the utmost effort. I found myself trying to force myself to love it, but it just felt cringe-worthy.

WE STILL DON'T TRUST YOU is ridiculously long, clocking in at 88 minutes. It's a double disc that lacks direction and introspection, unlike the first installment which felt more polished and complete. Future and Metro Boomin try to defy expectations, but some moments feel recycled from their previous works. The song titles sound promising, but they end up being the same generic instrumentals by the renowned producer, Metro Boomin. Future doesn't bring his A-game here; his lyrics are repetitive and boring. I almost dozed off during the listening experience.

WE STILL DON'T TRUST YOU feels like a direct sequel to Future's 2017 album, HNDRXX. Future attempts to sing, but it falls flat. Instead, they rely heavily on autotune, which detracts from the listening experience. However, a couple of standout moments include the namesake and lead single (“We Still Don't Trust You”) and (“This Sunday”). The opening track has a refreshing blend of 80s pop and modern trap influences, while the latter exudes the same vibes as HNDRXX, showcasing Future's artistic prowess in a slow trap ballad.

Another standout moment is the J. Cole feature on (“Red Leather”). Future truly shines with this kind of production, delivering hard-hitting lines like, “Don't lie to me, I'm on God levels/ Forever's not long enough/ If it's endless, what we doin'?” He then continues delivering more caption-worthy bars such as, “If your love was a drug, maybe it would be acid/ I know I lost your trust, but I made you relapse/ I gotta be on a pill to tell you how I'm feelin'”. This track might just be the best on the album. Future's songwriting truly stands out. J. Cole also drops some thought-provoking lines like, “My energy was never on some toughest nigga shit/ I was just a conscious rapper that would fuck a nigga bitch”. It's worth noting that he removed the Kendrick Lamar diss track (“7 Minute Drill”) from streaming platforms. The lyrics really make a statement, addressing the whole situation. I didn't expect this collaboration between the two rappers, but it was definitely a pleasant surprise after the letdowns on disc 1.

Disc 2 feels like a bunch of tracks that didn't quite make the cut for WE DON'T TRUST YOU. The beats are heavier and filled with bass, unlike disc 1 which had more of pop and R&B influence. There's nothing really thrilling here, just the same old topics and that familiar Metro Boomin drum sound. This album doesn't care about validation or praise, it just wants to be consumed without judgment. It's like another album that comes and goes. Personally, I don't see myself revisiting it in the future. It's the worst sequel I've ever heard. If it were a film, I wouldn't even bother watching it, I would've just stick to the trailer.

WE STILL DON'T TRUST YOU disappoints in terms of providing a compelling and engaging listening experience that would make you want to replay it. It had the potential to be a stronger follow-up, but it falls short and leaves you feeling unsatisfied, with no desire to revisit it.

Outstanding tracks: “Red Leather”, “This Sunday”, “We Still Don't Trust You” & “Out Of My Hands”