Travis Scott

Overview

Jacques Bermon Webster II, known professionally as Travis Scott, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer recognized for his psychedelic trap style. His music, often described as a blend of traditional hip-hop and lo-fi, has earned him five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, more than 100 charting songs, and ten Grammy Award nominations. Scott has also won a Latin Grammy Award, a Billboard Music Award, and multiple MTV Video Music and BET Hip Hop Awards.

Scott rose to prominence in the early 2010s through affiliations with Kanye West's GOOD Music and T.I.'s Grand Hustle. His debut studio album, Rodeo (2015), debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. He followed this with two consecutive No. 1 albums: Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016) and Astroworld (2018). During this period, he also contributed to platinum singles by artists such as Rihanna, SZA, and Drake, and released the collaborative album Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho with Quavo.

In November 2021, a fatal crowd crush occurred during Scott's performance at his Astroworld Festival in Houston, resulting in 10 deaths. A grand jury later declined to indict Scott in relation to the incident. He returned to live performances in May 2022. In July 2023, Scott released his fourth studio album, UTOPIA, a genre-crossing project that topped the Billboard 200 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Throughout 2024, he was featured on tracks by artists including 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, and Asake.

Early life and origins

Jacques Bermon Webster II, known professionally as Travis Scott, was born on April 30, 1991, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in a suburb of the city and began making music as a teenager. His stage name is derived from the name of a favorite uncle and the given name of one of his influences, Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi).

Scott's early career involved several collaborations. In 2009, he formed the duo The Graduates with Chris Holloway and they released an EP. The following year, he formed another duo, The Classmates, with OG Chess. Scott produced the pair's two full-lengths, Buddy Rich and Cruis'n USA, before the group disbanded near the end of 2011.

After dropping out of college, Scott moved to Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. He began recording on his own and eventually met rappers T.I. and Kanye West. In 2012, Scott signed his first major-label contract with Epic Records and a publishing deal as an in-house producer for West's GOOD Music. He appeared on the label's compilation album Cruel Summer that same year. In April 2013, he also signed a record deal with T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint.

Scott's debut full-length project, the mixtape Owl Pharaoh, was originally scheduled for a 2012 release. However, its release was delayed due to sample clearance issues and his growing profile, which included being named to XXL Magazine's Freshman Class of 2013. The mixtape was eventually released in May 2013 and later earned a nomination for Best Mixtape at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Career

Travis Scott began gaining traction in the early 2010s after moving to Los Angeles, where he connected with T.I. and Kanye West. He was hired as an in-house producer for West's GOOD Music label and appeared on its 2012 compilation, Cruel Summer. In April 2013, Scott entered a joint-venture record deal with T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records. His debut full-length project, the mixtape Owl Pharaoh, was released in May 2013. It featured guests such as T.I., 2 Chainz, Toro y Moi, and Justin Vernon and earned a nomination for Best Mixtape at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards. He followed this with a second mixtape, Days Before Rodeo, in 2014, which was promoted with the singles "Don't Play" and "Mamacita."

In March 2015, Scott headlined the U.S. Rodeo Tour with support from Young Thug and Metro Boomin. That same month, Rihanna released the single "Bitch Better Have My Money," which Scott co-produced. His debut studio album, Rodeo, arrived in September 2015 on Grand Hustle and Epic Records. Preceded by the singles "3500" and "Antidote," the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. By the end of the year, "Antidote" became his first platinum-certified single. In 2016, Scott was featured on tracks by Wiz Khalifa, Rihanna, and Kanye West and released the hit collaboration "Pick Up the Phone" with Young Thug and Quavo. His second album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, was released in September 2016 and went straight to the top of the Billboard 200. It included features from André 3000, Kid Cudi, and Kendrick Lamar.

Scott's commercial presence grew in 2017 with features on platinum singles such as SZA's "Love Galore" and Drake's "Portland." His own single "Butterfly Effect," released in May 2017, also went platinum. In December, he and Quavo released a collaborative album, Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho, which entered the Billboard 200 at number three. Scott's third studio album, Astroworld, was released in August 2018. Named after a demolished Houston amusement park, the album debuted at number one and included the singles "Butterfly Effect" and "Sicko Mode." He closed out 2018 with multiple appearances on Metro Boomin's album Not All Heroes Wear Capes.

In 2019, Scott collaborated with Young Thug and J. Cole on "The London" and was featured on Ed Sheeran's "Antisocial" before releasing the solo single "Highest in the Room." At the end of the year, he released JackBoys, a compilation from his Cactus Jack Records label that became the first number one album of the 2020s. His 2020 single "Franchise," featuring Young Thug and M.I.A., also debuted at number one. After releasing the tracks "Escape Plan" and "Mafia" in November 2021, Scott released his fourth studio album, UTOPIA, in July 2023. The album, which featured guests like Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and Beyoncé, topped the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. In 2024, Scott was featured on records by 21 Savage, Future and Metro Boomin, Mustard, and Asake.

Style and influences

Travis Scott's musical style is frequently described as a blend of traditional hip-hop and lo-fi, often characterized as "ambient" and "psychedelic trap." His vocal delivery is a distinctive, heavily processed style that is part-sung and part-rapped. Scott has cited Kanye West and Kid Cudi as notable influences. His stage name is partly derived from Kid Cudi's real name, Scott Mescudi.

Scott's career began with affiliations with Kanye West's GOOD Music and T.I.'s Grand Hustle in the early 2010s. His early projects, such as the 2013 mixtape "Owl Pharaoh," showcased a wide range of collaborators including T.I., 2 Chainz, Toro y Moi, and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, establishing his tendency for genre-blending. His sound evolved through his studio albums, from his 2015 debut "Rodeo" to the 2016 follow-up "Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight," which was described as a "woozy, mostly midtempo set." He considered his 2018 album "Astroworld" to be the true successor to "Rodeo."

His 2023 album, "UTOPIA," was noted as an ambitious, genre-crossing concept album, drawing comparisons to Kanye West's "Yeezus." The project featured a wide array of producers, including Scott himself, James Blake, and WondaGurl, and guest artists such as Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, and Bon Iver. Scott frequently collaborates with other artists, having worked on tracks with Kendrick Lamar, Drake, SZA, Young Thug, and Quavo, with whom he released the full-length collaborative album "Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho."

Recent highlights

In July 2023, Travis Scott released his fourth studio album, UTOPIA. The ambitious, genre-crossing album featured guests such as Bad Bunny and The Weeknd on the lead single, "K-pop," and Beyoncé and Bon Iver on "Delresto (Echoes)."UTOPIA topped both the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Scott's work throughout 2024 has largely consisted of features on records by other artists, including 21 Savage, Future and Metro Boomin, Mustard, and Asake.

Recognition and awards

Travis Scott has received numerous awards and nominations, including ten Grammy Award nominations. His 2023 album, UTOPIA, was nominated for Best Rap Album. He has won a Latin Grammy Award, a Billboard Music Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and multiple BET Hip Hop Awards. His early work also gained recognition, with his 2013 mixtape, Owl Pharaoh, earning a nomination for Best Mixtape at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Many of his recordings have been certified platinum by the RIAA. His single "Antidote" was his first to achieve platinum status, later followed by his own single "Butterfly Effect." Scott has also been a featured artist on several platinum-certified tracks, including Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money," SZA's "Love Galore," Drake's "Portland," Miguel's "Sky Walker," 2 Chainz's "4 AM," and Trippie Redd's "Dark Knight Dummo."

Similar artists

Comparable artists to Travis Scott include fellow rappers and collaborators such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, 21 Savage, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and Lil Wayne. The list of his peers also features A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Gunna, Lil Tecca, Quavo, Don Toliver, Ty Dolla $ign, Offset, Baby Keem, and Sheck Wes, as well as producers Metro Boomin and Mustard.