FUTURE PROOF: ALBUM REVIEW
Erick the Architect has been a big deal in the indie hip-hop scene for about a decade now, and on his newest solo project, “Future Proof EP,” he sits back and reflects on his career and the world around him. Erick made his name as part of the group Flatbush Zombies, who absolutely took over the world in the early 2010s. Flatbush Zombies were always on a different wave, pushing the indie hip-hop scene to weirder places than most could have imagined. On “Future Proof” he goes the opposite direction. The project offers a unique look at life after the hype behind the Flatbush Zombies has subsided a bit. Erick the Architect is growing and changing and it’s beautiful to see an artist evolve right before our eyes.
Back in the early 2010s, Flatbush Zombies’ music was inseparable from drugs. Their debut mixtape was, in fact, titled D.R.U.G.S. and they were doing everything to put forward a trippy image. So, it’s stunning to hear Erick rap, “While many still living off highs, I wonder how they stay grounded… Used to feel I wasn’t shit without weed,” on the song “I Can’t Lose.” This move away from drugs completely changes the music we hear. The EP is restrained rather than free-flowing and tightly arranged to the point that it almost becomes predictable. The samples are crisp and the drum patterns are simple and powerful.
The themes on the project are deep in their simplicity. For example, on the song “WTF” Erick the Architect addresses at length the police violence of 2020. He says, “And they foolish if they think that lootin' shit is all we doin'. It's bigger issues brewin', I'm just tryin' to join the movement.” The sentiment behind his bars is simple, but that simplicity allows him to address complex issues head-on. He completely kills any discussion over the “looting” last summer by showing how obvious it is that looting is only a symptom of something bigger. He uses this same framing whether talking about the chaos of 2020, relationships, or even death.
This same simplicity echoes through the instrumentals on the project. Erick has always been known for stretching the limits and going out of his way to get experimental with his beats, but, on “Future Proof” he strips the layers back and works with beautiful vocal samples. The song “Let It Go” features one of my favorite sample flips of the last couple of months, as Erick expertly flips a beautiful, echoey, soul sample. Erick and Loyle Carner take turns gliding over this beat, crafting a serene and accepting atmosphere. The instrumentals on this album just feel affirming, as Erick the Architect brings you into his world.
The album has a relaxed energy and slides in and out of different rhyme schemes and rhythms. Every song has a very similar sound, but rather than that being a detriment, it creates a state of calm that permeates the entire project. It’s easy to digest but will leave you thinking. Erick the Architect has transcended Flatbush Zombies, and for this project, he floats on his own. “Future Proof” is a compact and genuine statement that is a perfect listen any day.