20 Great Slept-On Future Songs From 2013

"Maison Margiela"Nineteen-year-old Metro Boomin’ has been finding a lot of chemistry in the studio with Future recently. He produced “Karate Chop” (which can still bring a house down) before teaming up with DJ Spinz for “Honest,” and those two producers collaborated again for “Maison Margiela,” initially the first song on Metro Boomin’s 19 & Boomin mixtape but quickly re-released as it’s own single. The melodic verses, the stunting chorus, the claim that “Freeband Gang, we the new Rocafella,” all add up to another murky banger for Future and Metro. Photo Credit: Getty Images

"Rehab” (Amy Winehouse)Continuing his ambivalent attitude towards drugs, Future pays respect to Amy Winehouse on the same song where he claims he’ll be an “astronaut forever, even in my afterlife.” Molly and it’s consumption aren’t a new topic for rappers, but Future can find a million different ways to make it sound dope on “Rehab (Amy Winehouse),” where he actually admits that he needs to go to rehab. But as long as he’s healthy, it sounds like Backwoods and double-cups are helping him make some of the year’s best music. How he’ll deal with his affinity for outerspace going forward is something we hope he’ll hash out in his music. “Rehab” is also clear evidence of why Future and Drumma Boy should do more work together. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Vevo

“No Love For You” (Feat. P. Sonata & Young Scooter)What other rapper do you know that can transition from a verse to a hook as well as Future can? Everything he touches turns to gold, and that’s why you see him popping up on so many features, from B.o.B. to Neyo to Pusha T. The Plutonian rapper shows off his versatility on “No Love For You” as he takes care of the first verse and the more lasting chorus. Every time he links up with Young Scooter for a song, they strike gold. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Vevo

Chief Keef - “Dead Broke” (Feat. Fredo Santana and SD)The hook on “Dead Broke” is why Future is rap’s most fascinating character right now. Nobody, not a committee of songwriters, an imitator or a pure vocalist, would think of “singing” this chorus like Future does. To call it croaking doesn’t even begin to do justice to the ingenuity of the pronunciation, the delivery, the phrasing. Future once said that he was a fan of Bob Dylan not for his lyrics, but for the rough, scratchy quality of pain in his voice. Keep that in mind the next time you’re trying to decide if you like his music. Photo Credit: Vevo

B. Smyth – “Win Win”Mike WiLL Made It might have been off disappointing his core fanbase with high-profile placements on Miley Cyrus’ album this year, but he also kept up his consistent production in lesser-known places, like on B. Smyth’s “Win Win.” Smyth comes correct with a hook that slays while his verses toe the line between rap and R&B, but Future shows up at the end to stamp the track with his distinct lingo. He still manages to scream, hit a falsetto in the middle, and then fall on his “Karate Chop” flow at the verse’s finish. Pure virtuosity. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Getty Images

“Chosen One (Full Version)”There are so many feelings that this song conjures up in my chest when Future sings, “Bought a Phantom ‘cause I always wanted one!” You may have first heard this song on the F.B.G.: The Movie mixtape with a second verse from Rocko (the song subsequently got a little radio play), but TM88 and South Side liberated the full Future-only version with another verse from him. This should have been a single. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Getty Images

“No Love”Last year we were blessed with Future’s moving ballad that Rihanna microwaved for herself with “Loveeeeeee Song.” If you haven’t yet glimpsed Future’s emotive ability to touch hearts, please listen to that song on repeat ad infinitum, or peep one of his latest lovey-dovey songs, ironically titled “No Love.” It’s hard to tell what he means when he says, “Ain’t fell in love with no pussy,” because he spends most of the song talking about missing a woman’s touch, bringing his girl around the homies (which he never does), and wanting to be her husband. This slipped under the radar pretty quickly, but it’s just another radio-friendly song that could be a smash hit. No biggie. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Vevo

“Keys”“Keys” sounds like it could have been recorded around the time of Astronaut Status. It has that same creeping crunk that “Itchin” had, complete with organs that zip up and a canoodling synth in the background. It's got few sounds but they're all maximized, and "Keys" can probably provide the right soundtrack for any of your illegal activities. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Vevo

Stuey Rock – “Blow Them Bands”Ever since Future dropped the life changing “Magic,” anything he does with KE On The Track is a necessity. Here he hooks up with Stuey Rock, and together the two have a history of recording heat together, from “Eyes On You” to “Pussy So Good.” This deserves more than a couple listens. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

“Brain On Drugz”Back to the drugs. Over an atmospheric beat by the Looney Tunez, Future admits that it’s bad to tell kids that his “Brain On Drugz,” but maybe it’s like Lil’ Wayne once said: “When I’m on the drugs, I don’t have a problem with that.” The track does leave an ambiguous impact, though. Does Future really think drugs are bad? Or is he too involved to think otherwise? [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Instagram/future

Stuey Rock – “Anyway”Last year, Future laid down a heartstopping chorus for Rocko’s “Squares Out Your Circle” and Stuey Rock’s “Anyway” is in the same vain. Where Future encourages people to keep the lames out of your vision on Rocko’s track, on “Anyway” he’s saying the same thing in a different way – don’t listen to nonbelievers. Listen to how he belts out that hook. We need that Adele collaboration ASAP. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Vevo

“Ain’t Neva Seen”Speaking of thug motivation, this shit might make you bang your head into your windshield. It might make you break your neck worse than “Break Ya Neck” did. Don’t be within arm’s reach of any living being when Future asks, “Have you ever seen a droptop Hummer?” because you will definitely want to punch something. Nayvadius claims that he made the first song about “Mollys” before boasting about getting rich off a planet that doesn’t even exist any more. How do you top that? [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Instagram/Vevo

“How It Was”Rockstar pulled a hefty amount of boss moves for Grand Theft Auto V, but none bigger than securing an exclusive song from Future Hendrix. They had the Internet fiending for a song from a videogame. Props. They probably went through a bunch of songs that Future submitted and looked for the best soundtrack to step out of a mansion with tons of guns and cash to. “How It Was” is that song. “Hit the block and sell drugs, that’s exactly how it was,” he says on the hook, and that’s pretty accurate if you play GTA V. More obscure rap styles. Another undeniably catchy chorus. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed] Photo Credit: Vevo