Future Is Tagged For MTV Jams' Fab 5

'I'm a trendsetter. The Future is now,' rapper tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by James Smith

Future
Photo: MTV News

The future is unpredictable, but Nayvadius "Future" Cash is taking all bets. The Atlanta spitter broke out in late 2010, appearing on YC's club hit "Racks" and segueing into rap's collective conscious with his own party starter "Watch This." Known for his repetitive and catchy hooks, plus his melodic bars, Future has earned himself a spot on MTV Jams' 2011 Fab 5 roster.

Conceived in 2005 on MTV Jams, the Fab 5 is a collection of the year's most outstanding new hip-hop artists who have made a visual impact on the road to releasing their debut albums. Fab 5 alumni include Juelz Santana, Tony Yayo, Paul Wall, Young Jeezy, Kid Cudi, Drake and 2011's first inductee, Big Sean. This year, MTV Jams, MTV News and Sucker Free will bring you 2011's hottest new hip-hop upstarts, and they get no hotter than Future!

"Future is a painter, very creative, very original. I'm a trendsetter. The Future is now," the rapper said. Growing up in Atlanta's Zone 6 section, Future had to look no further than his own family for musical inspiration. As the younger cousin of Organized Noize (Outkast, Goodie Mob) producer Rico Wade, Future soaked up tons of game.

"I got the nickname Future from the Dungeon Family," he said of the collective that is made up of Outkast, Goodie Mob, Organized Noize and others. "My dog G-Rock used to always tell me, 'You're the future, you're the future. You're young, man. Keep dreamin' and settin' new goals and achieving new goals and just reach to the top and stay at the top.' "

Though he hasn't quite reached the heights that he plans to, the 25-year-old is well on his way. The Astronaut Kid, as he calls himself, established his sound on a pair of mixtapes he dubbed 1000 and Dirty Sprite. Since then he has been on a tear. Future is now heralded as Atlanta's biggest young street artist and his latest tape, True Story, reflects his popularity. According to the rapper, all of his material is based on real events that have happened in his life.

"Right now we represent music with substance, music that has meaning behind it. It's just motivational music, everyday life stories and just put it all together on the track," Future said. "I make music from my soul, so it comes across to my fans the same way. So when it touches them, it touches their soul and it comes across right." So far it has!

Check back here every Monday for the next three weeks to find out who will join Big Sean and Future in the Fab 5. And tune in to "RapFix Live," where each artist will be highlighted.

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