GRAMMY CHEW:
FUTURE SO BRIGHT

Future’s moment for Grammy glory may have arrived. By any yardstick—commercial, critical or cultural—his prominence over the last year has been undeniable.

The artist delivered I Never Liked You, his ninth studio effort, in April to resounding acclaim. The project marked the Freebandz/Epic superstar's eighth #1 album. It racked up 222k its opening week and was certified gold by the RIAA less than two months later, once again illustrating Future's sizable impact on the marketplace.

The double-platinum single "WAIT FOR U" f/Tems and Drake, meanwhile, saw Future pushing into new stylistic territory, embracing R&B and a more emotionally direct delivery. It skyrocketed to the top of the DSP charts, amping up chatter that Future was a shoo-in for Grammy consideration—with noms possible in AOTY, ROTY and SOTY as well as the Rap categories.

The Atlanta native has pumped out a staggering number of projects since his arrival. In February 2016, he scored his third #1 album with EVOL—hitting that milestone more quickly than any rapper before him. The following year, he made history by notching chart-toppers with HNDRXX and FUTURE in consecutive weeks. Despite all his success, however, he’s not been properly recognized by the Recording Academy.

Crowned the "Best Rapper Alive" by GQ earlier this year, Future has clearly reached a lofty new plateau. How will this translate come nomination time? Stay tuned.

Simon Glickman and Michael Dominguez contributed to this report.