The last time Future didn't drop at least two projects in one year was 2013. Since then he's dropped a slew of albums and mixtapes, two collaborative projects, and even a movie soundtrack. To add to the ever-growing list of music is an EP, a first for a rapper that's been actively working since 2009.
Throughout his career, Future has explored the topics of pain and heartbreak using different approaches, such as singing or rapping or doing both over different types of production. The approach to Save Me can be compared to Future's 2017 album HNDRXX which became one of his most critically acclaimed projects due to his melodic crooning over more poppier sounding beats. His melodies on Shotgun are strikingly similar to Fresh Air on HNDRXX, with Future hitting falsettos and yearning for a companion on his daily endeavors. The intro to XanaX Damage has Future hitting lower notes and speaking on a woman he only seems to love when he’s at his lowest point. Future's various deliveries can be grating to some but due to the topics he uses, he makes these notes work.
While his singing on this EP is reminiscent of HNDRXX, the production is more similar to 2016's EVOL, which featured some of the darkest production he's ever been a part of. This type of production makes songs like Please Tell Me and Extra hit harder and gives Future an extra layer to work with alongside his singing.
Two issues hold this EP back from being a high level Future project, which are its length and a lack of diversity. Tracks like XanaX Damage and Love Thy Enemies are cut short and while they are still good in their current state, they could be even better if there was more time for those songs to develop. Government Official is also the only song to switch the EP up from its constant theme of pleading for love. Future excels the most when he diversifies himself and gives himself more time to present his thoughts.
It is rumored that there will be at least two more projects around the same length of Save Me coming in the near future. While Save Me was a solid effort from Future, he still leaves more to be desired, and there are growing expectations of a high quality project from Future as a result.
Final score: 7/10
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