The Future (Guy album)

The Future had a much darker tone in stark contrast to their debut. Most of it had to do with things going on behind the scenes. A year after the release of their debut album, they fired their manager Gene Griffin - who they claimed allocated funds from the group.[2][3] This revelation angered all of the members, and particularly infuriated lead singer Aaron Hall - so much so that he didn't sing on half of the album. Hall revealed:

"There came a time where I just did not want to sing a single note. To be honest, it was the money. It just became too depressing. We were the biggest group in the world and we were flat broke. It took its toll".[4]

As a result, Teddy Riley assumed the duties of lead vocals for the remainder of The Future.

Also on a tour with their MCA labelmates New Edition, things got out of hand between the two acts.[4] Although New Edition were headliners, Guy happened to upstage them a few dates into the tour. This created a rivalry backstage that turned deadly. One of New Edition's production managers Ronald Boyd shot and killed Anthony Bee - a member of Guy's security detail.[4][5][6] Guy would dedicate the song "Long Gone" to the memory of Bee- as well as Wrecks-N-Effect member Brandon Mitchell, who was also killed in the same year.[7][4] The Future contained songs where they attacked their former manager Gene Griffin and his then-proteges, Motown Records recording group Basic Black.[7] By the time they released the fifth single "Let's Stay Together" in early 1992, Guy called it quits and embarked on separate endeavors, with Aaron and Damion Hall releasing solo albums and Riley starting the group Blackstreet.[2][4]

A couple of the songs from The Future have been covered. Priority Records singer Toni Estes covered the song "Let's Chill" from her 2000 debut Two Eleven.[8] Singer Charlie Wilson also covered "Let's Chill" from his 2005 album Charlie, Last Name Wilson.[9] R&B singer Case covered the song "Smile" on his 2009 album The Rose Experience.[10]

The Future peaked at sixteen on the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached number one on the R&B Albums chart. By January 1991, it was certified platinum in sales by the RIAA after sales exceeding one million copies in the United States.

Although Alex Henderson of AllMusic felt The Future was not as strong an album as its predecessor, he still gave a positive note to the work, calling it "one of the more appealing – and certainly more authentic – examples of "new jack swing."[1]

• "Where Did The Love Go", "Yearning for Your Love" and "Smile" are not available on the vinyl release of The Future.
• "Wanna Get With U" [Club Version] is not available on the cassette release of The Future.

Information taken from AllMusic.[13]

• The Future at AllMusic
• The Future at Discogs

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1991 (U.S.)