In 2004 Kanye West illustrated his devotion to honing his craft with the line, “Lock yourself in a room doin' five beats a day for three summers.” While Kanye has since become as much a personality as an artist, trap king Future has taken West’s sentiment to heart through a year of seemingly-endless releases and music video premiers.

In the past year (and a few days, if we’re being picky) Future, a.k.a. Future Hendrix, has released five projects, and recently teased the release of a sixth. The dirty-sprite-motivated singer-rapper can be credited as a forerunner in the recent explosion of trap music, which has grown past its urban roots to fill trap houses and frat houses alike with triplet snares and heavy bass. While it’s easy to close your eyes halfway and sway to March Madness as if you too dropped jolly ranchers into your sprite and double-cupped it, it’s hard to fathom how Future has managed to build such an expansive discography in such a short period of time. His five projects in the past year represent only about half of his offerings. His prolific catalog of music is a delight for fans, but doesn’t come without some doubt. How does an artist release so much music without sacrificing quality or his own identity?

The surprising part about Future is he hasn’t lost either of these two elements in his percocet-laced rise to hip-hop chiefdom. This can be credited to two key aspects of his music: a formula for the times and a slew of producers with their fingers on hip-hop’s pulse. Of course, there are other elements involved, but it’s these two that define Future’s ability to continuously put out critically-approved bangers with ease.

The Formula

While odes to drugs and alcohol are as numerous in hip-hop as blunts are in a recording studio, Future has found a way to make songs about percocet, lean, adderall, coke, and weed even more appealing than ever. Breaking free of the stoner-rap of recent years, Future skillfully weaves his drug-addled lyrics in with sing-songy lyrics about women, watches, Jordans and trapping. While not a new formula (see nearly every trap artist ever), Future finds a way to do it without sounding boring (or bored). His lightly-gravelled and auto-tuned voice is oxymoronic; he could have just rolled out of bed and stumbled into the studio. He could have just taken three adderall and sprinted into the studio. We can’t tell which, but it’s something we can’t get enough of. You can understand him just enough. He’s too cool to touch. His lyrics don’t come off as bragging, they come off as honest. He’s one of the few artists you believe, no matter the content. While the truth may be stretched, or invented, he makes you believe him regardless. The content may not be all that original, but his delivery is. He has reinvented an old formula and made us all fall back in love with it. Now he’s seeing how much mileage he can get out of it, with excellent results.

The Production

Future’s success can’t be completely attributed to his lyrical ability or delivery. Behind every great artist is a slew of producers helping craft his sound. For Future, the past year has seen collaborations with Southside (and 808 Mafia in general), Metro Boomin, and Zaytoven (to name a few). Southside and Metro Boomin produced the lion’s share of Future tracks, with Zaytoven offering a handful of beats. Southside and Metro Boomin have been with Future for a few years now, and their good rapport only adds to their collaborations. These three are all tastemakers in their own respects.

Metro Boomin has his signature stamped on projects from Travis Scott, Migos, Lil’ Wayne, Chief Keef, Young Thug, and Waka Flocka Flame. His style is heavy and classic, with an extraterrestrial feel thanks to Star Trek-esque sound effects. His appeal is heightened by his young age; at 22 he's already been producing for big acts for three years. Southside is the head honcho of 808 Mafia, which he started with 1017 Brick Squad collaborator Lex Luger. His sound is classic Atlanta trap, which helped craft the rise of artists such as Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, and Chief Keef. He has also worked with Big Sean and 2 Chainz, artists whose positions at the top of the rap game are all but cemented. He has managed to weather the fall of many of his contemporaries (namely Waka and Gucci), and has stayed relevant as a tastemaker. Zaytoven is another trap stalwart, with his fingers on the keys for Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, Migos, and Young Jeezy. His sound is classic trap with a lighter feel; a easier and more sonic listen.

Looking at these (very) concise biographical sketches, it isn’t hard to see how Future has remained consistent with the quality of his work. He is backed by producers who have been crafting the sound of trap during one of its biggest moments. Key collaborators, along with a formula of smooth delivery and classic lyrics have placed Future at the top, and kept him there long enough to make us starry-eyed and begging for more. Thankfully, he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. What a Time to Be Alive may have been lackluster compared to his other releases since last October, but that had more to do with Drake’s inability to keep up than it did with Future’s own skill. Anticipation is high for Monster 2, and rightfully so.

This Year's Discography

Monster (October 2014)

Beast Mode (January 2015)

56 Nights (March 2015)

Dirty Sprite 2 (July 2015)

What a Time to be Alive (September 2015)

Monster 2 (TBA)