DS2

DS2
Studio album by Future
Released	July 17, 2015
Recorded	2014–15
Studio	TreeSounds Studio in Atlanta Chalice Recording Studios in Hollywood
Genre	Hip hop trap
Length	42:28
Label	A1 Freebandz Epic
Producer	Future (exec.) Rocko (exec.) Metro Boomin Sonny Digital DJ Spinz Frank Dukes Southside Zaytoven Cassius Jay Allen Ritter
Future chronology
56 Nights (2015) DS2 (2015) What a Time to Be Alive (2015)
Singles from DS2
"Fuck Up Some Commas" Released: March 2, 2015 "Where Ya At" Released: July 18, 2015 "Stick Talk" Released: February 1, 2016

DS2 (abbreviation of Dirty Sprite 2) is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist Future. The album was released on July 17, 2015 by A1, Freebandz and Epic Records. The album serves as the sequel from his breakout mixtape Dirty Sprite (2011).^[1] The album was supported by three singles; "Fuck Up Some Commas", "Where Ya At" featuring Drake and "Stick Talk".

Upon its release, DS2 received generally positive reviews from critics, and was ranked as one of the best albums of 2015 by several publications. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and sold 126,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in February 2016. As of February 2016, the album has sold 344,000 in the United States.

Background

On July 10, 2015, Future posted the artwork and announced his new album, titled DS2, would be released on July 17, 2015.^[2] The tracklist of the album was released on July 15, 2015.^[3] In an interview with Power 105.1, he explained the official album title was abbreviated to DS2 in order to avoid a lawsuit from Sprite.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Fuck Up Some Commas" was released on March 2, 2015, along with a music video. The song was later announced to be included on the album's deluxe edition.

The album's second single, "Where Ya At" featuring Drake, was released on July 18, 2015.^[4] The song was produced by Metro Boomin.

"Stick Talk" was later sent to rhythmic radio as the album's third single on February 1, 2016.^[5]

Album artwork

The basis for the album's cover art is a stock photo sold through Shutterstock with the title "Color drop in water, photographed in motion. Ink swirling in water. Cloud of silky ink in water isolated on white background. Colorful ink in water, ink drop." The image was created by Sanja Tošić, an artist based in Slovenia. Although she did not know who Future was until The Fader contacted her to ask about the album art, Tošić said that she is now a fan.^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	80/100[7]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Billboard	[9]
Consequence of Sound	B+[10]
Exclaim!	8/10[11]
HipHopDX	[12]
Noisey	A–[13]
Pitchfork Media	8.4/10[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]
Spin	8/10[16]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[17]

Upon its release, DS2 received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 80, based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[7] AllMusic wrote that with DS2 Future solidified himself as, "a strange and yet in command figure standing at the center of a slick, inventive swirl of music."^[8] Kris Ex of Billboard stated, "Produced by a handful of trusted Atlanta trap producers, DS2 is gothic, narcotic and full of overcast skies."^[9] Complex wrote of the album, "If you've followed Future's recent moves, DS2 is not unprecedented, but it greatly enhances the brooding ambiance of his recent work, a dive further into the abyss."^[18] Brian Josephs of Consequence of Sound stated, "DS2 is his strongest campaign yet, and it's the first time a new Future album has met all expectations."^[10] Calum Slingerland of Exclaim! wrote that "the majority of these beats hit to hurt, and though the emotional Future that listeners have come to know through past cuts "Throw Away" and "My Savages" has been dialed back, the honesty and vulnerability come through when it counts."^[11] Sheldon Pearce of HipHopDX stated, "Dirty Sprite 2 doesn't survey any new territory for the croaking crooner, but it magnifies the depth of his distress and channels it into an even richer multilayered sonic experience."^[12]

Reviewing the album's deluxe edition for Noisey, Robert Christgau deemed DS2 a "miserable minor masterpiece" that is "all the proof we needed that money can't buy happiness".^[13] Meaghan Garvey of Pitchfork Media stated, "Future was always straightforward, never ashamed to confess his depression or infatuation, but the narratives never felt so focused, nuanced, or vulnerable than here."^[14] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone stated, "It has little of the far-reaching ambition of Honest, but what it lacks in bold stroke, it more than makes up for in consistency."^[15] Drew Millard of Spin stated, "Dirty Sprite 2 is a tremendous compendium of everything you want from a Future album in 2015."^[16] Pat Beane of Tiny Mix Tapes stated, "DS2 finds a hellish, motivating power by articulating how it's possible to have the best time of your life during the worst time of your life. And it all sounds so good."^[17]

Accolades

Country	Publication	List	Rank
US	Complex	The Best Albums of 2015[19]	2
UK	Fact	The 50 Best Albums of 2015[20]	6
US	HipHopDX	Top 25 Albums of 2015[21]	*
UK	NME	Albums of the Year 2015[22]	37
US	Noisey	The 50 Best Albums of 2015[23]	2
US	Pitchfork Media	The 50 Best Albums of 2015[24]	19
US	Rolling Stone	The 50 Best Albums of 2015[25]	26
US	Stereogum	The 50 Best Albums of 2015[26]	18
US	Tiny Mix Tapes	2015: Favorite 50 Music Releases[27]	8

* denotes an unordered list

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 151,000 equivalent album units; it sold 126,000 copies in its first week.^[28] On February 9, 2016 DS2 was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[29] As of February 2016, the album has sold 344,000 copies domestically.^[30]

Track listing

DS2 – Standard version[31][32]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Thought It Was a Drought"	Nayvadius Wilburn Leland Wayne Allen Ritter	Metro Boomin Ritter	4:25
2.	"I Serve the Base"	Wilburn Wayne	Metro Boomin	3:08
3.	"Where Ya At" (featuring Drake)	Wilburn Aubrey Graham Wayne	Metro Boomin	3:27
4.	"Groupies"	Wilburn Wayne Joshua Luellen Sonny Uwaezuoke	Metro Boomin Sonny Digital Southside	3:06
5.	"Lil One"	Wilburn Wayne Luellen	Metro Boomin Southside	3:27
6.	"Stick Talk"	Wilburn Luellen	Southside	2:50
7.	"Freak Hoe"	Wilburn Wayne	Metro Boomin	2:54
8.	"Rotation"	Wilburn Luellen Wayne	Southside Metro Boomin	2:45
9.	"Slave Master"	Wilburn Luellen Wayne	Southside Metro Boomin	3:18
10.	"Blow a Bag"	Wilburn Wayne Uwaezuoke Luellen	Metro Boomin Sonny Digital Southside	3:19
11.	"Colossal"	Wilburn Xavier Dotson	Zaytoven	3:04
12.	"Rich $ex"	Wilburn Wayne Luellen Adam Feeney	Metro Boomin Frank Dukes Southside[33]	4:00
13.	"Blood on the Money"	Wilburn Dotson Wayne Joshua Cross	Cassius Jay Zaytoven Metro Boomin	4:46
Total length:				42:28

DS2 – Deluxe version (bonus tracks)[34]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Trap Niggas"	Wilburn Luellen	Southside	3:04
15.	"The Percocet & Stripper Joint"	Wilburn Luellen	Southside	2:36
16.	"Real Sisters"	Wilburn Dotson	Zaytoven	2:54
17.	"Kno the Meaning"	Wilburn Luellen	Southside	3:45
18.	"Fuck Up Some Commas"	Wilburn Luellen Gary Hill	DJ Spinz Southside	3:57
Total length:				57:24

Charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35]	98
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[36]	5
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[37]	95
French Albums (SNEP)[38]	161
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39]	85
UK Albums (OCC)[40]	56
US Billboard 200[41]	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[42]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[43]	Gold	344,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Future Announces New Album 'Dirty Sprite 2'". Rap-Up. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
2. "Future Announces DS2 Album And The #FutureHive Goes Wild". MTV. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
3. "Here's The Official Tracklist For Future's 'Dirty Sprite 2'". Complex. July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
4. "Future Announces Release Date For 'Dirty Sprite 2', Shares First Official Single 'Blow A Bag'". Billboard. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
5. "Rhythmic/Urban Radio Update (1/19/16)". Retrieved April 15, 2016.
6. "Future's DS2 Cover Art Is A Stock Photo By A Slovenian Artist Who Had Never Heard Of Future". The Fader. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
7. "Reviews for DS2 by Future". Metacritic. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
8. Jeffries, David. "DS2 - Future". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
9. Ex, Kris. "Future Pledges Allegiance to Highs & Lows of Self-Medication on 'Dirty Sprite 2': Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
10. Josephs, Brian (July 20, 2015). "Future - DS2". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
11. Slingerland, Calum (July 20, 2015). "Future DS2". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
12. Pearce, Sheldon. "Future - Dirty Sprite 2". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
13. Christgau, Robert (October 2, 2015). "Future Is the Proof We Need That Money Doesn't Buy Happiness: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Noisey. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
14. Garvey, Meaghan. "Future Dirty Sprite 2". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
15. Weingarten, Christopher R. "Future DS2 Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
16. Millard, Drew. "Review: The Lurid Pill-Popping and Flip-Flopping of Future’s ‘Dirty Sprite 2′". Spin. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
17. Beane, Pat (August 24, 2015). "Future: DS2". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
18. Drake, David (July 20, 2015). "Review: Future's 'Dirty Sprite 2' Is Reckless, Tormented, and More Honest Than 'Honest'". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
19. "The Best Albums Of 2015". Complex. 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
20. "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". Fact. December 9, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
21. "The Top 25 Albums Of 2015". HipHopDX. December 23, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
22. "NME'S Albums Of The Year 2015". NME. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
23. "The 50 Best Albums Of 2015". Noisey. 2015-12-03. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
24. "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". Pitchfork Media. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
25. "50 Best Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
26. "The 50 Best Albums Of 2015". Stereogum. 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
27. "2015: Favorite 50 Music Releases". Tiny Mix Tapes. 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
28. Caulfield, Keith (July 26, 2015). "Future Earns His First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
29. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
30. Trevor Smith (January 13, 2016). "Charts Don't Lie: January 13th". hotnewhiphop. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
31. "Future (4) - DS2 (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
32. "Future – 'DS2' (Album Cover, Tracklist & Production Credits)". hiphop-n-more. July 15, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
33. "Metro Boomin on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
34. "DS2 (Deluxe)". iTunes. July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
35. "Ultratop.be – Future [US – DS2"] (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
36. "Future – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Future. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
37. "Dutchcharts.nl – Future [US – DS2"] (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
38. "Lescharts.com – Future [US – DS2"]. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
39. "Swisscharts.com – Future [US – DS2"]. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
40. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
41. "Future – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Future. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
42. "Future – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Future. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
43. "American album certifications – Future – DS2". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH