Let’s start off with what we know about Travis Scott. He more than usually goes by La Flame, Kanye West is his mentor, he tends to come across shy in interviews, all the while being known for one of the most raucous, electrifying shows (or rodeos, if you will) on the circuit and of course, the fact that he’s triller than most.
Scott first emerged on the scene and signed to Epic Records in 2012, before gradually closing deals with both T.I.’s Grand Hustle imprint, & Kanye Wests’ production company, humbly known as Very G.O.O.D Beats. Since then, he’s released two mixtapes, Owl Pharaoh & Days Before Rodeo and he’s worked with elite industry talent, including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Drake & the aforementioned Dr. West.
Rodeo, Scott’s third offering and first major label release, was in large part a chance for a relatively apocryphal artist to showcase his talents to the masses. Would he be able to outlast the pressure of Wests’ shadow and seize the moment? Would the copious big name features outshine the leading man? Would he confirm he is worthy of all these co-signs?
Scott delivers gloriously from the gate with the aptly titled “Pornography“, placing swift rhymes together over hard hitting snares, declaring that in fact, he doesn’t owe anybody a thing. The track, narrated by T.I., let’s you know rather quickly that this album will be miles beyond typical. Scott pulls listeners down a rabbit hole of raw, caged emotions before you’re able to get your bearings. He states his love and admiration for his hometown on “Dis Side” a secondary track to “Oh My” which features Migos member Quavo. “3500” the lead single from the album sits nicely on the track listing, allowing for Scott to escalate the pulse and mood, and also making way for other uptempo songs like “Wasted” featuring Three 6 Mafia alum Juicy J & my personal favorite, “90210” featuring new comer Kacy Hill. By the time The Weeknd begins to croon on “Pray 4 Love“, anybody with a keen ear should have been able to connect at least some of the dots that pertain to Scott’s life. The man loves his Mother, he loves his lean & pills and he loves displaying himself to the world the way he envisions himself within his own head, heroic. Personally, I cannot for the life of me find a song on this album that I didn’t enjoy listening too. Even being someone who has (luckily) never been stricken with the unfortunate likes of ‘Bieber Fever’, I found myself absolutely marveling at how Justin and Travis were able to coexist, yet be so juxtaposed on the hauntingly beautiful “Maria I’m Drunk” – a song to most definitely look out for. Scott, echoed by the always inebriated Young Thug, sings about trust while Justin calmly tells a young lady he would love to see exactly what it is her booty does.
“Antidote“, “Impossible“, “Apple Pie” & “I Can Tell” all show that Scott is able to stand on his own without any other artist there to chime in. Solo he sounds just as hungry and witty as ever, something that’s becoming increasingly rare these days among newer hip-hop acts. “Piss On Your Grave” Scott’s collaboration with Kanye West, could have been better however. Coming in at just under three minutes, forty three seconds of that being pure instrumental, the track leaves a lot to be desired from the duo. It seems to be more of a precursor to what could be in store from these two down the road while still being relatively entertaining none the less.
Perhaps the best song on the album, to me, is one that can only be found on the deluxe version. “Ok Alright” featuring standout TDE member Schoolboy Q, is as elegant as it is suggestive. Scott and Q are an absolutely perfect pair, dishing feverishly about quick sexual escapades, water whipping that ‘work‘ and getting to the money. The production on this album is also noteworthy. Scott enlisted frequent collaborator and friend Metro Boomin’, the timeless Mike Dean, Zaytoven, Sonny Digital & Pharrell Willams. Each bringing their own sounds, Scott was able to master them individually and add to them proficiently and sonically, increasing the value of this album ten fold. All in all, this album is a must have for anybody who stays current with hip-hop, it’s trends and peaks and all of it’s different and various side excursions. Scott is continously growing into his own with the help of West and T.I. and there’s no question his stock will only rise higher from here on out. Don’t skip this album, trust me, you’ll regret it later. Straight Up!
Notable Tracks: “Ok Alright“, “90210“, “Nightcrawler“, “Oh My Dis Side“, & “Apple Pie“.
Next Potential Singles: “Maria, I’m Drunk” and “Pray 4 Love”.
Rating: 4.5/5
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