Music / Future Shock

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Future Shock is the 35th studio album by jazz icon Herbie Hancock. Released in 1983 through Columbia Records, the album marks a shift to a much more electronic sound influenced by the nascent Hip-Hop and electro scenes. It was one of the best-selling albums of his career, especially thanks to the international hit "Rockit", which popularized scratching and was a Trope Codifier for the electro genre.

Tracklist

Side One

1. "Rockit" (5:28)
2. "Future Shock" (8:05)
3. "TFS" (5:47)

Side Two

1. "Earth Beat" (5:13)
2. "Autodrive" (6:27)
3. "Rough" (6:58)

The CD reissue adds a megamix of "Rockit".

Future shockin' tropes:

• Answer Cut: "Rough":
  Woohoohoo, I want the beat and I know you want too!
  Who said that?
• Cover Version: "Future Shock", a Curtis Mayfield cover.
• Crapsack World: "Future Shock":
  We've got to stop all men
  From messing the land
  When what we understand
  This is our last and only chance
• Epic Rocking: The title track, which is over 8:05 minutes long.
• The Future Will Be Better: Subverted with "Future Shock", which warns for the future if the government isn't stopped from messing the land.
• Instrumentals: All tracks are instrumental, save for "Rough" and "Future Shock".

• Minimalistic Cover Art: Computer graphics seen from space with the moon (or Earth?) on the background.
• New Sound Album: Back in 1983 this was the first album by a jazz artist to feature hiphop and electro influences. The scratching sounds by Grand Mixer D.S.T. on turntables were also innovative.
• One-Word Title: "Rockit", "TFS", "Rough"
• Only Known by Initials: "TFS".
• Record Producer: Bill Laswell.
• Shout-Out:
  • The album title is a nod to Curtis Mayfield's song "Future Shock", as well as the book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler.
  • Future Shock has a shout-out to both Superfly and What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.
• Surreal Music Video: "Rockit" and "Autodrive".
• Trope Codifier: "Rockit" was the very first pop hit to include rhythmic record scratching on turntables and introduce it to future generations of DJs.
• Voice Changeling: A lowered voice can be heard in "Rough".