How Travis Scott’s ‘Rodeo’ launched his career

Travis Scott is known today as one of the biggest superstars in music. He’s had deals with NIKE, Reese’s, Fortnite, and now McDonald’s with his new meal. However, it wasn’t always that way. Before he released my favorite rap album of all time, “Rodeo,” things weren’t always the best. In 2012, Scott was homeless and sleeping on his friend’s couch when one of his songs just happened to be discovered by rapper T.I. “Rodeo” was Travis Scott’s debut studio album. It was released on Sept. 14, 2015. Enormous names like Kanye West, The Weeknd, and Justin Bieber appeared on the record. The album debuted at Number 3 in the U.S. Billboard 200 charts.

I wouldn’t limit this project to just the rap category. This album is art and it revolutionized the rap game. “Rodeo” was really the beginning of Scott’s superstardom.  Most die-hard fans say it is his best work. Rapper T.I. is somewhat of a narrator on the album, he pops in and out of some tracks talking about the struggles Travis Scott has had to go through in his life. In the album’s first track, “Pornography,” T.I. states, “At that moment, the one known as Jacques turned to Scott.” Jacques Webster is Scott’s birth name; Travis Scott is his stage name.

The album had 2 singles on it, “3500” and “Antidote.” “Antidote” was Scott’s first massively popular song, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song “90210” is regarded as Scott’s best song ever by many fans. Starting with discussing Scott’s drug and prostitute addiction, to transitioning into his rise to fame and realizations in life, this song is truly two songs put into one. The lyrics, “My granny called, she said ‘Travie, you work too hard/I’m worried you’ll forget about me’/I’m falling in and out of clouds, don’t worry, I’ma get it, granny,” hit very hard. They show that he still keeps family ties while trying to deal with his wild lifestyle and newfound success.

The album is 16 songs and 75 minutes long, averaging over four and a half minutes per song. That’s a long album in general, but for rap it’s almost unheard of. “Rodeo” is in a lane of its own, though. From the multiple beat switches, layered auto-tuned vocals, and extravagant production, this album is truly one of a kind.