Imagine how Future’s ubiquitous trap songs like “Mask Off” would sound without auto-tune, fancy studio equipment enhancements and perfect production touches. How would his voice preside over sophisticated raw instrumentals live? Well, it turns out we (almost) got the chance to experience it.
Future was initially set to perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, but he never showed up. So, Zaytoven, his producer, stepped up to the plate and performed for him minus the actual vocals. With a crew laced with flutes, pianos and guitars, the Atlanta-based produced performed several of the rapper’s songs like “Peacoat,” “Layup,” “Mask Off” and his own “Mo Reala” off his Trapholizay album.
While we never know the reason why some things happen, NPR’s Rodney Carmichael thinks the mishap was a mere act of the higher power. “The Lord works in mysterious ways. It might sound cliché, but there’s really no better way to describe the circumstances that led to prolific producer Zaytoven’s impromptu Tiny Desk,” he wrote.
“After several hours of waiting, with the band all warmed up and ready, word came that Future would be a no-show,” he continued. “So, to our thrill, Zaytoven redeemed the occasion with his own Tiny Desk concert, featuring instrumental versions of a couple of the earliest hits he produced for Future’s Beast Mode, the mixtape that helped usher their respective rebirths in 2015.”
The same day the Tiny Desk episode was recorded Future dropped his latest album, The Wzrd. Watch the concert up top.
