R&B/Hip-Hop

The top spot of the Billboard 200 albums chart is becoming particularly familiar territory for Future in 2024. After visiting the apex earlier this year (along with producer co-star Metro Boomin) on the We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You sets, he takes a third trip there this week with his Mixtape Pluto set.

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The new record — billed as a return to the rapper’s mixtape days, with 17 tracks and no credited features — bows at No. 1 this week with 129,000 units in its first frame. In addition to the set being Future’s third to top the Billboard 200 this year, it’s the 11th total in his career, moving him into a four-way tie (with Bruce Springsteen, Eminem and Ye) for fifth place among all artists, behind only The Beatles (19), Jay-Z, Taylor Swift (both 14) and Drake (13).

What do these accomplishments mean for Future? And what do we make of his mixtape-era return? Billboard staffers answer these questions and more below.

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1. Future’s Mixtape Pluto debuts at No. 1 this week with 129,000 units, marking his third No. 1 album in the last six months, after the We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You sets with Metro Boomin. On a scale of 1-10, how impressive is that accomplishment for Future in 2024? Christopher Claxton: A 9. For Future to have three No. 1 albums in 2024 is a very impressive accomplishment, on top of the accomplishment of just releasing three albums in a single year. We live in a very competitive music landscape, with ever-evolving trends, so to continue to stay on top of an all-genre chart is remarkable.

Kyle Denis: I’d say about a 7. We’ve already seen him achieve No. 1 album debuts in back-to-back weeks, so this feels like the natural step. In 2024, this feat is particularly impressive to me because of 1) how crowded the marketplace is with major mainstream releases and 2) how dominant of a presence Future has been this year without necessarily plastering his face and name across every possible channel. Outside of “Like That,” Future’s 2024 success hasn’t been tied to a single track, which means his fans are showing up to consume each new release in its entirety – something every artist strives for.

Angel Diaz: I give it a 10 on the impressive scale. The mainstream media were trying to leave rap for dead because they secretly believe its pop culture dominance is still a fad. They were reminded that rap music is but a cog in hip-hop culture and Future is one of its most influential figures. Nobody sings the blues quite like he does. 

Michael Saponara: 9. It’s amazing Future is still doing this at 40. He’s an ageless wonder in what’s typically a young person’s game. His voice spans generations and fans just won’t get sick of him no matter how many times he wants to drop. It’s not like his subject matter has changed all that much over the course of his career – making this run even all the more impressive. When it comes to the last decade of rap’s Mount Rushmore, make room for the Atlanta legend. 

Andrew Unterberger: 8. It might really be a 9 or a 10 but it’s hard to be actively impressed by Future’s commercial consistency at this point because it’s been such a constant the past decade — he may not put up single-week numbers like the pop A+ listers, but he seems much less susceptible to any ebbing tides or major consumption shifts than many of them are.

2. It’s also Future’s 11th career No. 1 album, putting him in a tie for the fifth-most of any artist, behind only all-time hitmakers The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z and Drake. What do you think the main reason is that Future has been able to amass such a tremendous total of chart-toping albums in the last decade? 

Christopher Claxton: I believe the main reason Future has been able to amass such a tremendous number of chart-topping albums over the last decade is his incredible consistency and dedication to the craft. Future has been in the rap game for well over a decade, staying true to the core sound that his fans fell in love with while also showcasing versatility. He’s not afraid to mix new styles, flows, and production approaches with what he’s already doing, and it works for him every time. He consistently drops projects almost every year, allowing him to ride the hype of his previous work to promote the latest.

Kyle Denis: I think the main reason is how frequently he releases sets; his 2024 run is a bit reminiscent of his 2014-15 run, during which he put out four mixtapes and two albums. Not only is he dropping music at an incredibly fast rate, but he also rarely wavers qualitatively. Whether he’s going full trap or playing around with hip-hop’s more melodic pockets, Future consistently delivers strong projects to a fan base that has bought into his brand and sound for over two decades now. 

Angel Diaz: Good music that no one else on the planet can replicate. All they can do is either get inspired or bite. 

Michael Saponara: “I told my b—h, ‘If I gotta be faithful, I might fall off,’” Future raps on “Told My.” It’s that kind of dedication to the Future persona that keeps him at the top of the game. His quality hasn’t dipped and fans know what they’re getting pretty much every time out. Future also has a keen ear when it comes to finding the right crew of talented producers matching his vision, in addition to being a malleable collaborator that’s able to mesh with any of rap’s A-listers or even crossover into the pop world.

Andrew Unterberger: Fans don’t really demand anything of Future except for More Future, and he gives it to them early and often. It’s a winning (and repeatable) formula!

3. “Teflon Don,” “Too Fast” and “Lil Demon” are the set’s highest-debuting songs on the Hot 100 this week — though each lands in the 21-25 range, and all 17 of the album’s tracks appear on the chart. Does any of them seem like an obvious breakout hit from the album? Christopher Claxton: An obvious breakout to me is “Too Fast,” which is one of my favorites from the project. It’s classic “toxic” Future — he talks about succumbing to the temptations of success and blowing his money on high-end items for a woman he really shouldn’t be spending money on, especially since he doesn’t even know if he likes her or not. The track also explores the idea of living a fast-paced lifestyle, which many can relate to in one way or another. He plays with the idea that maybe he achieved rapid success and everything he’s accomplished is “too fast,” and that success may come at a cost.

Kyle Denis: Funnily enough, only “Teflon Don,” struck me as an obvious breakout hit out of those three tracks. I wouldn’t be surprised if “Plutoski” and “Told My” pull ahead in the coming weeks.

Angel Diaz: “Too Fast” is the one. No one has made trickin’ sound so cool, yet sound so shameful. It’s probably one of his more insane songs if you really sit down and listen to what he’s saying. He’s just a guy looking for love, you know?

Michael Saponara: I don’t think there’s one specific song that will be the crown jewel rising to the top from Mixtape Pluto. If it was up to me, “Ski” would’ve been the hit record. I wish there was a collaboration with either a Travis Scott, Gunna, etc. that could’ve become the focus track to dominate the Hot 100. 

Andrew Unterberger: I don’t hear a breakout hit here, no.

4. The Mixtape Pluto title seems to signal a return on this project to Future’s mixtape days, which of course played a huge part in his early-to-mid-‘10s rise to stardom. Do you see his approach on this album as being notably reminiscent of those mixtapes (or notably different than how he’s handled his recent studio albums)? Christopher Claxton: I feel like Future’s past mixtapes were less polished than his studio albums, and the argument could be made that those early tracks captured Future at his most authentic self. By calling this project a mixtape, he could be implying that this album is less commercially focused and about reclaiming his dominance in trap music. I believe Future is revisiting an era where his artistry built his loyal fanbase, reconnecting with his street-centric, women-loving style.

Kyle Denis: With no features and a tonal shift away from the R&B-leaning cuts of 2022’s I Never Liked You and 2024’s We Still Don’t Trust You, Mixtape Pluto transports Future back into a strictly rap bag, through which he doubles down on the villainy and vulnerability that make his iteration of emo-rap so enthralling. There aren’t any obvious tentpole pop crossover attempts à la “Wait For U,” but everything feels a bit more insular, which is how the best – or at least my favorite – Future tapes feel. 

Angel Diaz: Yeah, the songs aren’t as glossy. Song like “Plutoski” have an endearing, unfinished quality as he sort of mumbles he way through the chorus. This tape is strictly for the streets and made to be played in a car at obscene levels. 

Michael Saponara: Going solo with no features and turning to longtime collaborators like Southside and Wheezy behind the boards lend to the nostalgia of the mixtape era. Song content and flows remain similar and he pulled on rapheads’ heartstrings while paying homage to the Dungeon Family with the purple-drenched Mixtape Pluto cover art. R.I.P. Rico Wade.

Andrew Unterberger: Calling a project a mixtape seems to be more about managing commercial expectations than anything else in 2024 — with no big guests or obvious singles, this album wasn’t going to do numbers like We Don’t Trust You, and Future seemed to understand that (and his fans don’t really demand that of him anyway). He’s got enough of a base that’s excited to be getting the raw Future that he still gets his No. 1 and adds to his impressive career totals here.

5. Future is just three albums behind Jay-Z and two behind Drake for the most No. 1 albums among all rappers. What do you think his chances are of ultimately passing them and standing along among rappers in Billboard 200 history?

Christopher Claxton: It’s entirely possible for Future to surpass Jay-Z and Drake to hold the record for the most No. 1 albums among rappers. Future continues to drop at least one project a year, consistently allowing him to close the gap. He’s only three albums behind Jay-Z, all he needs to do is drop three more fantastic albums next year like he did in this one and the goal has been reached. Yes, that’s no easy task but it’s well within his reach. Jay-Z and Drake are still active in the game, but the last time Jay dropped in terms of solo releases was in 2017 — so I think the only person Future has to worry about is Drake, an artist whose work continues to perform well on the charts. With Future’s ability to remain relevant, drop music very consistently and his dedicated fanbase, he has everything he needs. If he continues to drop music at this pace, I think he’ll have the most No. 1s among rappers by 2026.

Kyle Denis: I won’t outright say 100%, but it’s pretty damn close to that number. Between Jay-Z’s lengthy breaks between albums and the recent (partially Future-induced) cooling of Drake’s commercial might, Future could very well pass them both when all is said and done. It all depends on how each of those three artists gauges their release schedules and how their cultural-commercial pull holds up over the next few years. 

Angel Diaz: I wouldn’t bet the house on it, but it’s doable. I’m curious to see if Drake’s stock has really dropped as much as social media says it has. I think he has a couple more No. 1s in him, so it’ll be hard for Future to catch up. But Pluto seems to be in another one of his zones again, which means he probably has a couple more bangers to leave us with before he decides we’re not worth his time anymore. 

Michael Saponara: This definitely has a better chance of happening than I would’ve thought a few years ago. With his ability to hastily deliver projects quicker than the seasons change, the record is within reach. Jay-Z doesn’t appear to have anything on the horizon and Drake will continue to add No. 1s to his resume, but I’d bet he pulls back when it comes to his output compared to recent years.

Andrew Unterberger: It seems all but sure he’ll pass Jay, but bridging that two-album gap between him and Drake could be a little tougher. That said, last year that gap was five albums and this year it’s just two. No one would ever call Drake a slacker, but that level of productivity might be a little beyond even him, especially while he’s still reeling and retooling post-Kendrick beef. If I had to bet on it, I’d say he passes Drake eventually.