Towards the end of Future’s show at the Newport, the Atlanta rapper thanked Columbus and all of Ohio for being up on his early mixtapes. I have to say that while I wasn’t super deep into the early tapes, I had a bunch of friends who were.

Future was here in support of his new album, Honest which is out on A1 Records.

Columbus does have a knack for being up on the new Atlanta stuff whether it be Gucci Mane, or Rocko before they had hit records on the radio.

It was cool to hear Future be in tune with that.

Before Future hit the stage the Atlanta rapper’s deejay asked the crowd if they were ready to “Turn Up” for Future.

As rhetorical as this question is, the crowd responded with the love that this formality demanded to get the party started correctly.

Future’s deejay was flanked by a series of large lights on both sides that provided a mixture of a leaned-out night club feel, and a retro 70’s rock aura when they would blink on and off.

It was enough to be slightly disorienting in a “Trippy” way without being annoying .

A smoke machine dispersed a large amount of fog while these lights dominated the room.

A vocal sample of Al Pacino’s character in Scarface yelling “All I got in this world is my balls and my word and I don’t break them for anyone.” While a rapper liking Scarface isn’t exactly shocking, Future did have a hit song name “Tony Montana” and this was the Honest tour.

Sometimes you run the football for a touchdown when all you need is short yardage to take an early lead.

Future took this snap and jumped into “Karate Chop” while the crowd bounced up and down screaming the song’s catch phrase “Michael Jackson/Billy Jean.”

It was like a bunch of narcotics pulling up in a new Rarri. Perhaps while one was drinking codeine.

Future played his YC collab “Racks on Racks next.

The crowd sung the chorus ‘Resurrect” next.

“Racks” led into the aforementioned “Tony Montana.” which was a street hit that blew up into a radio hit with the Drake feature. You can’t really hear this song without thinking about Future and Drake’s on and off friendship.

After performing this hits, Future went into some Honest cuts such as “T-Shirt”, “My Momma” and “I Won” (sans Kanye for this show.)

Future then took the show to the next level by performing bangers that he was featured on.

He let Lil Wayne’s verse run on “Tap-Out” and then obviously “Bugatti” hit with upmost flash of light and gravity, so when the eerie sounds of “UEONO” came through the room went from satiated to fervent.

He did a couple more joints until hitting the apex one-two punch of his current hit “Move That Dope” and “Same Damn Time.”

Future’s microphone wasn’t loud enough during certain non-chorus parts to be perfect.

But as did most everyone in the room, I ended up screaming at the top of my lungs with a stranger during “Same Damn Time.” It wasn’t too big of a detriment.

At this point, Future had taken everything as for one could in terms of a trap-frenzy.

Future changed lanes in a manner that only he can.

He ended the lights with the auto-tune old soul power ballads, “Turn On the Lights”, “Love and Affection” and “Blood, Sweat and Tears.”

The room went from an aggressive wild-out to a couple swaying and swooning sing along.

This tour stop came on the heels of his wife R & B Star Ciara giving birth to Future’s son on May 19th. Future’s born name is Nayvadius Wilburn. Ciara, and Nayvadius named their child Future.

Besides the word Honest, Future is probably one the greatest words in the human language.

It is also a lot to live up to.

Future Sr. has lived up to the moniker Future being able to make powerful street hits records, and then backs it with experimental pop records that have hints of leading -edge nostalgia. Zapp’s “I Wanna Be Your Man” comes to mind.

The night ended with a loving, soft energy which a texture most rappers could not finesse without being corny.