Emmanuel Elone: Well, I have to admit: Future impressed me with “Low Life”. Not only is the Metro Boomin beat tasteful and sophisticated with some pianos and an orchestra buried behind some mellow trap rap, but I can actually understand the words coming out of Future’s mouth! Sure, he isn’t saying anything that memorable or interesting (and the Weeknd also sings better than him, though that was expected), but it is a huge improvement from many of his other singles. With “Low Life”, Future shows that he has it in him to make more than Auto-tune-soaked trap ballads about lean; now all that’s left is for him to make an entire project full of “Low Life” quality songs. [7/10]
Chris Ingalls: Future and the Weeknd debuted this song live on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago. Now there’s a video. I’d like to be open-minded, but this does absolutely nothing for me. A sea of Auto-tune swimming in five minutes of dark atmospherics and a healthy helping of misogyny. I’m sure it’ll be a big hit. [3/10]
Chad Miller: The production here is really good. The Weekend’s contribution sometimes sounds a little awkward though, like he’s seemingly unenthused. That could be a result of the song being out of his preferred vocal range. Future’s lyrics are pretty annoying in places. “If she catch me cheating I won’t never tell her sorry” and “Oh that’s your wifey / I think I like her” are particularly obnoxious. I mean, maybe that’s the point, but that really doesn’t make anything much better. [6/10]
Pryor Stroud: Riding over a wave of nocturnal, ether-addled synth textures, “Low Life” showcases standout performances from both Future and the Weekend. Abel Tesfaye’s vocal, it bears mentioning, is particularly exceptional; unlike efforts in recent memory, where his Michael Jackson-aping delivery seems derivate and uninspired, his chorus guest spot drips with lip-to-lip intimacy here. The way he rolls the lyric over on his tongue — “Low life / Low life / Low life” — is saturated with a sensuousness that progressively picks up steam. The track, in sum, feels like an accelerating descent into the gutter-reality that both artists describe: strip clubs line the streets, drugs are being passed around, and everyone is having too much fun to care that the sun will be coming in a few hours. [8/10]
SCORE: 6.00