Yesterday, DJ Esco was the first to hint at the possibility of a new Future mixtape, as he shared this clip via Twitter. The video shows Esco and Metro capturing some rare studio vibes while putting the finishing touches on "Purple Reign," which, as we've come to discover, provides a fitting finale to the mixtape from which it takes its name.
It's rare to call a Future track beautiful due to its tranquility -- "Codeine Crazy," perhaps -- but "Purple Reign" is even more downtempo. It's like the counterpart to Drake's "30 for 30," the introspective finale to a mixtape full of turnt-up shenanigans. Much of the credit for the track's wistfulness has to go to Metro, whose 808s have the pitter-patter of (purple) raindrops, but Future's voice is stirring in its softness.
"I just need my girlfriend," he sings on the hook, a rare sentiment from Future these days. Whomever or whatever -- his drink of choice, maybe -- he's speaking of, there's a heartbreaking void here, and it shows another side to his mostly thrilling "Purple Reign." What's made Future's dominance so powerful is that it's never been about victory -- that's just been the simple result of the realness of it all.
Quotable Lyrics
I just need my girl, I just need my girlfriend
I bought a couple Hublots like I'm pushing heroin
I bought a couple coupes I bought a couple Panameras
I'm acting like a Freeband Gang terrorist
