Honest
by Future
  • Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: Apr 22, 2014
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 101 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 101
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 101
  3. Negative: 22 out of 101
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  1. ben_zo77
    Apr 30, 2014
    8
    I can always appreciate a rapper who pushes the limits of what's acceptable. Old-school rap fans will not like most or all of this album. Honest is, however, unmistakably and refreshingly bold. Future is beginning to perfect his skills. The record is not without weak spots, but the best few tracks propel Honest into the conversation of AOTY (so far) with ScHoolboy Q's "Oxymoron" andI can always appreciate a rapper who pushes the limits of what's acceptable. Old-school rap fans will not like most or all of this album. Honest is, however, unmistakably and refreshingly bold. Future is beginning to perfect his skills. The record is not without weak spots, but the best few tracks propel Honest into the conversation of AOTY (so far) with ScHoolboy Q's "Oxymoron" and Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's "Piñata." There will be more albums like this one in the post-Yeezus rap game. ~ 8.2/10

    Also, "Side Effects" from the deluxe edition is a must-listen.

    1. "Look Ahead": Future's bold and talented. Look ahead, and be ready for the takeover. (5/5)

    2. "T-Shirt": It's intense, but lacking clarity. (3/5)

    3. "Move That Dope" (ft. Pharrell, Pusha T & Casino): Mike Will does it again with a dope beat. Pharrell's and Pusha T's verses were particularly impressive. (4/5)

    4. "My Momma" (ft. Wiz Khalifa): Nice wordplay prevents this from being a big weak spot. (3/5)

    5. "Honest": He addresses accusations that he's lied about his net worth and his lifestyle. I like the switching between auto-tuned Future and his raw vocals. (4/5)

    6. "I Won" (ft. Kanye West): The album really picked up with this track. He and Kanye brag that they won, as they are with Ciara and Kim K, respectively. (5/5)

    7. "Never Satisfied" (ft. Drake): Would've been longer if Drake hadn't asked Future to drop his verse because he didn't like it. (4/5)

    8. "I Be U": He narrates a molly-fueled sexual experience with Ciara. The murmured lyrics augment his storytelling. (4/5)

    9. "Covered N Money": If he actually wants to be "Future Hendrix," he needs to stop making songs like this one. (2/5)

    10. "Special" (ft. Young Scooter): "I took all my problems and I turned it all into hits // I can channel my anger now I can go make me some billions" (5/5)

    11. "Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)" [ft. André 3000]: This is probably the best track on the album, with a big assist from André. (5/5)

    12. "Blood, Sweat, Tears": Future's made it, but not without pain along the way. (5/5)

    13. "Big Rube Speaks": Big Rube's poetry is a nice ending to the album. Future was born to reign. (4/5)    … Expand
  2. squanto_
    Apr 25, 2014
    8
    Honest is a very solid, versatile album from Future that shows growth in songwriting, mastering of his auto-tuned crooning, and better overall cohesiveness than his previous studio effort, Pluto.

    Honest boasts a heavyweight feature and production list, and Future more than held his own. Pusha T and Casino fit the Mike WiLL-produced Move That Dope well, and Pharrell was his normal self,    Honest is a very solid, versatile album from Future that shows growth in songwriting, mastering of his auto-tuned crooning, and better overall cohesiveness than his previous studio effort, Pluto.

    Honest boasts a heavyweight feature and production list, and Future more than held his own. Pusha T and Casino fit the Mike WiLL-produced Move That Dope well, and Pharrell was his normal self, providing a good verse with a fast, but smooth delivery. Wiz Khalifa's "My Momma" verse relied on delivery and repetition, as the lyrical content was very lacking. I was very disappointed in Kanye West's verse on "I Won", but Future's hook is radio-ready and will be seen on your Twitter timeline on a consistent basis over the next few months. "Never Satisfied" plays home to a top notch Drake hook over a Mike WiLL beat in a too-brief-interlude-like track similar to Jay-Z's "Beach Is Better" from the same producer. And finally, Future comfortably trades bars with Andre 3000 in "Benz Friends" which takes fans back to the good old Outkast days.

    The stand out tracks are -- and there's a lot of them -- "Honest", "Special", "Never Satisfied", "I Be U", "Benz Friends", and "Blood, Sweat, Tears". "Honest" has become one of the most played tracks in my iTunes just months after its release as a single. Future brings a memorable hook and passionate verses over piano-heavy Metro Boomin' production. I love the strings TM88 uses in the "Special" beat (Southside, you're a fool for letting TM88 leave 808 Mafia), and I can't help but think Future is taking aim at his flow-biters (I'm looking at you, Migos) with the hook. As mentioned, Drake does work on "Never Satisfied", but Future's array of melodies on the track is a thing of beauty. "I Be U" is a hit and Detail's drum work is too nice. Being a huge Outkast fan, "Benz Friends" is right up my alley -- I like the hook, the symbolism, and Future's shout out to Lil Boosie! Lastly, "Blood, Sweat, Tears" is a moving track that should be locked up by movie soundtracks.

    Mike WiLL Made It did a superb job as the executive producer of the album. Every beat is strong, and though I was hoping for more Metro Boomin production, it's impossible for me to point to a song and say Metro deserved that spot instead. Each beat transitions smoothly into the next, as does each message that Future delivers.

    Excited to see the growth of Future's skill sets, and I'm really looking forward to his next studio album "Future Hendrix".

    Some of my favorite lines from Honest:

    "I hustle everyday and you don't have a clue
    After you get money and all your dreams come true
    It's like everything that surround you get brand new
    I can't never forget the struggle and I pay dues
    Can't let the money and fame come between my crew"
    -- Future [Never Satisfied]

    "They hate I made it
    They love when I struggle they love when I suffer
    I got all the scars to prove it
    I took my scars and made a movie...

    ...They trynna' predict my next move but I say [forget] politics
    Long as I stick to the formula I'm never gon' switch"
    -- Future [Special]

    "I told that [girl] I don't [care] about a Benz,
    And I don't want no [girl] who need to have that kind of friendship"
    -- Andre 3000 [Benz Friends]

    "I was zippin' through the city and I don't give a [care]
    1994 Toyota Land Cruiser because
    That [thing] ain't never broke down on me, why would I do that to her?
    Simplism, symbolism, I'll pull up at a club
    And might not never buy a new car again, if I can help it"
    -- Andre 3000 [Benz Friends]

    "Fly on [his] back while he Superman
    But if I'm in a wheelchair, you still there?"
    -- Andre 3000 [Benz Friends]

    "All I ever wanted for you was to believe in me
    I came, I struggled, I made it, I conquered
    One hunnid, I kept my word, I kept my word, I promise
    You envying dedication and some hard work
    We redefined gravity, go way beyond Earth"
    -- Future [Blood, Sweat, Tears]    … Expand
  3. corbinwellsssss
    May 24, 2014
    10
    One of the best albums to come out in this year, great Beats great lyrics. Nice features all around a really nice album to vibe to at any time of the day.
  4. Dave_Acker
    Apr 25, 2014
    8
    This is an extremely different album from Pluto. All of the songs have an interesting twist to them. Future's improved writing and flow are complimented by Mike Will's banger beats through out the album.
  5. Zanerap
    Apr 22, 2014
    10
    Future really evolves from Pluto and has a great mix of bangers and R&B songs. The songs "I won" and "Benz Friendz" are two of the bet songs this year and really carry the album along with "Honest" and "Move That Dope"
  6. MrLahey
    Apr 22, 2014
    10
    best album all year. every song is a classic. some bangers some soft songs it has it all. and im just being honest. so great man i listen to this album BANGING in my whip. t shirt soty
  7. adhamhany
    Apr 29, 2014
    7
    A little too long and has a bit too much auto-tune. But aside from that, the lyrics, rapping, and production are pretty good. I enjoyed a lot of tracks from this album (Move That Dope, I Won, I Be U, and Side Effects), and will probably be listening to them for quite some time.
  8. ihavevocaloid
    Apr 9, 2015
    7
    Future has crafted an album that shows that he's not the "autotune garbage non-lyrical repetitive-production rap nonsense" that people think he is. Future's lyricism has improved a lot with this album, as well as the production on this album. I didn't like the love songs that Future once stated he wanted to make more of, it really doesn't continue what Future is known for. However, I likedFuture has crafted an album that shows that he's not the "autotune garbage non-lyrical repetitive-production rap nonsense" that people think he is. Future's lyricism has improved a lot with this album, as well as the production on this album. I didn't like the love songs that Future once stated he wanted to make more of, it really doesn't continue what Future is known for. However, I liked the majority of the songs on here, "Move That Dope" even being a revolutionary track that would have been popular 20 years ago. Grade: B. Highlights: "Move That Dope", "Benz Friendz", "How Can I Not", "My Momma". Worst songs: "I Be U", "Side Effects"… Expand
  9. Urbanlistener
    Apr 28, 2015
    8
    The near-perfect production, the choice of guests and Future talent as an MC make this album a really solid one and a contestant for 2014's best rap album.
  10. BouchetSmith
    Feb 28, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of modern 'trap'-rap's finest album. It feels like a real album, as in much more thought has been put into it compared to your usual mixtapes. Raw emotion, heavy-hitting beats, beautiful melodies, a verse by Andre 3000...… Expand

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Discussed Album of 2014
98
#98 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The Wire
    Jul 21, 2014
    80
    Future is one of the few true artist of Auto-Tune, and the emotional honesty lying behind trad-rap boasts bleeds from his words in a minor key and a pitch as subtly tremulous as a wobbling bottom lip. [Jun 2014, p.63]
  2. RapReviews.com
    May 20, 2014
    70
    This album makes up for substance with slickness.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    May 5, 2014
    70
    Future stays true to himself and clearly shows where he stands. Even when he goes simple, there is an appeal, at least somewhere in there.
    Read full review
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