Move over Birds in the Trap…
Travis Scott has done just about everything you could hope for as a rapper in modern day hip hop. Countless Grammys, millions of streams smash albums and a seemingly never-ending list of number ones, there are few mountains left unclimbed by the Houston-born producer. Which makes the fact that his latest album, Utopia, has managed to capture the raw essence of (while outshining) all of his previous works to date, in what’s a total musical triumph for the new-age GOAT.
Featuring Beyonce, The Weeknd, James Black, Kanye West and Drake to name a few, the project is a 19-track treasure trove for any hip hop fan, and even manages to branch off into pop and R&B while remaining true to its roots. It’s a total home run for Travis, and judging by how long we’ve had it on repeat since it dropped last Friday, it looks like its replay value is just as strong.
To celebrate the new album, we figured we’d take a deep dive into its every nook and feature-filled cranny. Check it out below.
Beginning with the eastern-influenced ‘HYAENA,’ from the jump you already know this is set to be one of Scott’s most adventurous projects to date. Rapping atop metallic synths with a fast-paced flow that throws it back to the days of 2015’s Rodeo. It’s a bit surprising to hear this level of rhythmic prowess if we’re totally honest, with Travis seemingly embracing his producer/arranger hat in recent years as opposed to his rapper roots. It’s the first sign that perhaps, old mate has finally come full circle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N20q-391r48
This sentiment continues on the third track, MODERN JAM,’ with Travis utilising a rather minimal drumline as he raps about summer jams. That is before he incorporates a variety of gospel keys, vocals, and inflections, in what sounds like a spacey prayer to the hip-hop gods for some form of blessing upon the new record. It’s interesting to note that Travis really steps back after his verse and lets the soundscape do the talking, proving that, despite his obvious desire to prove he’s one of the GOAT rappers in the game, he’s just as good as a producer and arranger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP11JfxI4XE
The following record ‘MY EYES’ sees him slow things down all the way for a quiet and stirring soul jam that feels very reminiscent of the early Travis Scott, the one learning at the feet of Kanye. It’s a fleeting but enjoyable shot of nostalgia, one that is swatted away by ‘GODS COUNTRY,’ which ironically features his former mentor. Together, the two craft an eerie hip-hop number that feels like a spiritual successor to 2013’s ‘Wolves” from Ye’s Life of Pablo album, with threatening synths and calculated high hats interwoven through Travis’ frenzied ad-libs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pildU9lK6vM
Then, comes what is easily one of the most highly anticipated collabs on the record, with Travis linking up with Drake on ‘MELTDOWN.’ Of course, after the mammoth success of 2018’s SICKO MODE,’ the two have set quite the standard to live up to. Thankfully, they manage to do so and then some, opting to go for a moody hip-hop gem the two have virtually mastered. Both MCs hit hard and fast with vicious bars that dissect love and pop culture, all the while reminding us that despite all of their millions and success, they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
It seems virtually every major artist in the world is chomping at the bit to work with La Flame, as evidenced by Queen B herself, Beyonce, appearing on ‘DELRESTO (ECHOES).’ To call this record hip-hop would be a lie. The two truly dig into their own corner of the 808s sphere on the record, each taking turns singing in tandem with melancholic synths as they craft what we can only describe as a glitch-hop jam of dazzling proportions. It’s kind of unnerving at points as well (but in the best way), especially around 3:20 as Beyonce’s raw vocals intermingle with total precision and grace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM34QWOrz4A
We can indeed confirm that Utopia might be the best album of features this year, with Travis managing to keep the Kanye, Drake, and Beyonce train going with none other than 21 Savage, who puts it all on the line in ‘TOPIA TWINS’. Joined by Rob49, the trio delivers one of the catchiest tracks of the year, the three dons going ham on their respective bars.
Thankfully, if you’re like me and occasionally get overwhelmed by too many hard-hitting bars in one song, you’ll be treated to a slight reprieve in the following cut, ‘CIRCUS MAXIMUS,’ which sees Travis embrace the softer and more romantic side of his persona as he taps R&B heartthrob, The Weeknd. Together, the two, well, you already know what’s about to happen. The two titans mesh genre and feeling as they draw from soul, rap, and electro spheres for a spacey gem that has infinite replay value. Easily one of the standouts from the whole album, it’s safe to say we’re gonna need a whole project from these two.
The latter half of the album is a total descent into the darkest depths of Travis’ psyche, one that comes to a head on ‘LOST FOREVER’, the highly anticipated single seeing Travis embrace his southern roots as he teams up with Westside Gunn for a fiery duet that’s startlingly rife with feeling. Featuring a moody drumline and child-like vocal snippets, the stage is perfectly set for Travis and Westside to put it all on the line. Westside, in particular, steps up to the plate and then some, pulling no punches as his tenor tone shines with youth.
Never one to not stick the landing, Travis pulls out his secret weapon for the third last track, bringing together The Weeknd and Bad Bunny for the electric ‘K-POP’. Bridging continents, fanbases, and genres with ease, the three take the best part of their respective artistries for a mid-tempo groove that straddles the line between pop and hip-hop. From Bad Bunny’s Spanish utterances to the vibrant synths and gentle claps, the track as a whole is an easy-going bop that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It also shows how far Travis has come as an artist. In that, he can make a track like ‘KPop’ while maintaining his authenticity as one of the hip-hop pioneers of this generation.
The final two tracks ‘TELEKINESIS’ and ‘TIL FURTHER NOTICE’ see Travis slow things all the way down for a satisfying conclusion, tapping Future, SZA, 21 Savage, and James Blake for the final pair. It’s a wild list of collaborators for just two tracks, and both cuts step up to the plate, with the former seeing Future and SZA add their signature brands of hip-hop and R&B as Travis holds a semi jam sesh for all of us to sit in on.
The latter is a groove-laden meditation on life, death, and most importantly, the world of hip-hop, with 21 Savage trading bars with Travis until they’re almost all rhymed out. Thankfully, honorary member of the rap world, James Blake, slides on in with some autotuned harmonics that tie the two MCs together, all the while bringing the entire Utopia album to a thrilling conclusion.
Travis Scott’s new album Utopia is out now. You can buy/stream it here.
