Purple Reign [Mixtape]
by Future
User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 36
  3. Negative: 6 out of 36

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  1. Mybabyblue
    Jan 15, 2017
    0
    ARE WE JOKING???? what the actual **** is this?? please go and listen "Wicked" and "run up" or every other song from this crappy mixtape and realize that this is just unbelievable, this mixtape was produced by 14 (AND I SAID 14!) different producers, and the beats are the most basic trap beats possible!! lyrically, still his fake gangsta attitude, and rapping is even worse, please, stopARE WE JOKING???? what the actual **** is this?? please go and listen "Wicked" and "run up" or every other song from this crappy mixtape and realize that this is just unbelievable, this mixtape was produced by 14 (AND I SAID 14!) different producers, and the beats are the most basic trap beats possible!! lyrically, still his fake gangsta attitude, and rapping is even worse, please, stop with this dumb **** and go to work in a factory… Expand
  2. nirvanafreak
    Jan 26, 2016
    3
    Favourite Songs:
    Least Favourite Songs: Track 1 to 13
    Future goes for quantity over quality and as a result everything he releases is bland, unfiltered, basic, one dimensional and extremely overrated. This mixtape is no exception and unfortunately I can't even really say it has any bangers on like WATTBA or DS2 did. Prince would definitely not be proud of this. Better Than Previous    Favourite Songs:
    Least Favourite Songs: Track 1 to 13
    Future goes for quantity over quality and as a result everything he releases is bland, unfiltered, basic, one dimensional and extremely overrated. This mixtape is no exception and unfortunately I can't even really say it has any bangers on like WATTBA or DS2 did. Prince would definitely not be proud of this.
    Better Than Previous Project?: No
    Try This If You Like: **** trap mixtapes    … Expand
  3. clem666
    May 22, 2021
    5
    Ouch. That's hard giving Future a 5. But it is justified and well deserved. There are many notable highs and lows throughout this record. 'Purple Reign' starts on traditional Future tracks 'All Right' and 'Never Forget'. He clearly didn't make a huge effort on those. 'Inside the Mattress' is the first highlight but it is clearly not enough to catch on the wasted time and work. The EP goesOuch. That's hard giving Future a 5. But it is justified and well deserved. There are many notable highs and lows throughout this record. 'Purple Reign' starts on traditional Future tracks 'All Right' and 'Never Forget'. He clearly didn't make a huge effort on those. 'Inside the Mattress' is the first highlight but it is clearly not enough to catch on the wasted time and work. The EP goes on that way for the next six songs. Highs and lows, few moments of lucidity and interesting moves and lines but are far too often drowned in flat and generic production despite the amount of producers who worked on it.

    Fortunately, the EP benefits from an amazing second wind that allows it to recapture our waning attention. 'Perkys Calling' is the second major highlight on 'Purple Reign' as it demonstrates how good Future can be in what we could call 'emo' songs. A humble piano line, a bit of well-dosed trap and some deep lyrics (for once) and here we go. He clearly explored this ability while producing the marvelous 'DS2'. But wait up! The EP doesn't end here, it goes on with 'Purple Reign', which goes in the perfect direction right after the last track. Great production, great singing from Future even if a bit repetitive. And finally 'News or Something' which is a testament to how incredibly powerful and consistent this EP could have been.

    It really is a shame that so many songs were just below average in term of quality as Future honestly can do much better. In conclusion: really underwhelming most of the time but 'Purple Reign' has its few pearls and diamonds.    … Expand
  4. chickenwim
    Feb 20, 2023
    8
    Arguably one of if not Future's best mixtapes to date. DJ Esco brings the best beats I have heard in a long time, especially in "Inside the Mattress" and "Bye Bye", although virtually every strong has a very strong beat as well as great vocals from Future. Great for a party or nightclub setting. Unfortunately, "Wicked" was omitted despite being arguably among Future's best, keeping thisArguably one of if not Future's best mixtapes to date. DJ Esco brings the best beats I have heard in a long time, especially in "Inside the Mattress" and "Bye Bye", although virtually every strong has a very strong beat as well as great vocals from Future. Great for a party or nightclub setting. Unfortunately, "Wicked" was omitted despite being arguably among Future's best, keeping this from a full 10.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Spin
    Jan 25, 2016
    70
    While Purple Reign is not a masterpiece, it is a thoughtful, if slight adjustment on the lens of where Future stands, at a crucial moment in his career.
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  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jan 25, 2016
    90
    It’s good because, beneath his relentless hedonistic pursuits and idealistic belief in the nobility of the unruly drum loops, Future preserves a romantic’s perspective on his panoply of inconsequential street life and crystalline musings from within the studio.
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  3. PopMatters
    Jan 22, 2016
    60
    When Kanye West went through a similar transformation from 808s to the absolute perfection of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, he laid a roadmap for what artists could do once they’ve hit that “acceptance” stage. Purple Reign hasn’t followed this template well, and the music comes across as flat because of it.
    Read full review
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