What's Future's Real Name?

In case you haven't heard, Future will participate in his first VMAs performance at the 2016 MTV VMAs on Sunday, August 28. This is exciting news, and also more reason to really get to know the Atlanta-based rapper. For instance, what's Future's real name? It's not Future, of course — there are very few rappers who use their given names, exclusing rappers like Tupac Shakur and Pharrell Williams. It's definitely a stage-name heavy industry, which makes a lot of sense for marketing purposes. However, Future's real name, according to a Broadcast Music, Inc. database, is pretty showman-worthy itself: It's Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn.

So, why Future? The story behind Future's moniker choice is kind of inspiring. During an interview with MTV News he revealed that the name came from his ties with the Atlanta hip hop, R&B, and soul musical collective, Dungeon Family, which includes groups like Outkast and Goodie Mob. In the interview, he says that a member of the collective, G-Rock, bequeathed this powerful name on Wilburn because, as he put it to the young rapper, "'You're the future. You're the future. You're a young man. You got energy. You're ambitious. You're the future of the Dungeon Family.'" So, yeah, it's definitely a nickname that holds a lot of meaning for the rapper.

Future is definitely doing his darndest to become the future of Dungeon Family, for the record. He's released four albums in four years, released an album with Drake in 2015 called What a Time to be Alive, won and been nominated for several BET Awards, and is now appearing at the 2016 MTV Music Video Awards. Not only do I wonder when this artist sleeps, I also have to say it really feels like he's fulfilling his mission.

Interestingly enough, just because Future's real name isn't Future doesn't mean that no one around him is named Future. The rapper, who shares a child with singer Ciara, named his son in a "Junior" sory of way — not with the Future's real name, Nayvadius. Instead, Ciara announced on her Instagram in 2014 with a caption shortly after the baby's birth, "Future Zahir Wilburn. 9 lbs 10oz. May 19 2014." Yes, there is someone named Future, and that is Future's actual son. Future may be the future of the Dungeon Family, but it seems Future Jr. is the future for his father and mother. That's a very sweet idea.

I'm very excited to see what Future does with his 2016 VMAs performance. The artist clearly has lofty goals, and it will be interesting to see him fulfill them — not to sound all Doc Brown or anything, but this rapper proves the future is what you make of it.

Images: Giphy