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Travis Scott: The Epic Journey of a Superstar Rapper

Travis Scott, born Jacques Bermon Webster II, is one of the most popular and influential rappers in the world today. With his unique vocal style, experimental beats and cinematic music videos, Travis Scott has carved out a unique lane in the hip-hop industry. This blog post will give you a comprehensive overview of Travis Scott’s musical journey, collaborations, personal life and continuing impact on pop culture.

Introduction

Born in Houston, Texas in 1991, Travis Scott began his music career in the late 2000s, releasing his first mixtape in 2009. After signing to a major label in 2012, Travis Scott rose to fame with the release of his debut studio album Rodeo in 2015, which was a major critical and commercial success [1].

Known for his distinctive vocaldrone and integration of music genres like hip hop, trap and psychedelic rock, Travis Scott’s artistic aesthetic is heavily influenced by his hometown of Houston. As a producer and lyricist, Travis Scott frequently uses dark, moody soundscapes in his music to match the ominous themes in his lyrics.

With his gritty, lo-fi sound and experimental influence, Travis Scott has been praised for his ambitious, cinematic approach to crafting concept-driven albums and grandiose live shows. By 2017, Travis Scott was an established superstar in the rap game, known for his groundbreaking, genre-bending musical style.

Discography

Travis Scott has released a total of three studio albums, as well as several mixtapes, EPs and collaborative albums [2]. Here’s an overview of his discography:

Studio Albums:

  • Rodeo (2015) – Debut studio album featuring hits like “Antidote” and “3500”. Went platinum.
  • Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016) – Second album with hit single “goosebumps”. Went platinum.
  • Astroworld (2018) – Third album named after old Houston theme park. Features hits like “Sicko Mode” and “Stargazing”. Went double platinum.

Mixtapes:

  • Owl Pharaoh (2013)
  • Days Before Rodeo (2014)

Notable Songs:

  • “Antidote” (2015) – Triple platinum single
  • “Goosebumps” (2016) – 4x platinum single
  • “Butterfly Effect” (2017) – Double platinum single
  • “Sicko Mode” (2018) – Diamond certified single
  • “Highest in the Room” (2019)

Notable Features:

  • “Franchise” by Travis Scott featuring Young Thug & M.I.A (2020)
  • “Hot” by Young Thug featuring Travis Scott (2021)
  • “Fair Trade” by Drake featuring Travis Scott (2021)

Collaborative Albums:

  • Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho with Quavo (2017)

Musical Style & Influences

Travis Scott is known for his versatile vocal style and integration of genres such as hip hop, trap, psychedelic rock, R&B and even shoegaze. He frequently uses layered autotune along with his naturally deep voice to give his vocals a melodic, dreamy effect. His production often features distorted bass, synth atmospherics, strings and tribal drums layered into ominous, hazy soundscapes [3].

Scott’s musical aesthetic is heavily inspired by his hometown of Houston, Texas, including the chopped and screwed remixing style and references to Houston culture in his lyrics. Other influences cited by Travis Scott include Kid Cudi, Kanye West, T.I., Bon Iver, Mike Dean and Toro Y Moi.

Record Labels

Early in his career in 2009, Travis Scott signed a production deal with Kanye West’s GOOD Music imprint. In 2012, he signed with Epic Records and launched his debut EP via the label. Scott’s relationship with Epic spanned his first two albums Rodeo and Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight [4].

In 2017, Travis Scott officially announced he had signed with Universal Music Group’s Interscope Records for a new deal worth a reported $6 million. All his subsequent releases including his #1 album Astroworld have been through Interscope. He also launched his Cactus Jack Records label under Interscope.

Collaborations

Travis Scott is well-known for his many collaborations with other top artists in hip hop. Some of his most frequent and noteworthy collaborators include [5]:

  • Kanye West – Travis Scott is signed to West’s GOOD Music label and they often feature on songs together.
  • Quavo from Migos – Formed duo Huncho Jack together, close collaborators.
  • Drake – Worked together on multiple songs like “Sicko Mode” and “Fair Trade”.
  • Young Thug – Frequent collaborators on songs like “Pick Up the Phone”.
  • The Weeknd – Appeared together on “Wake Up” and other tracks.
  • James Blake – Worked together on atmospheric song “Stop Trying to Be God.”
  • Frank Ocean – Recently collaborated on remixes of songs “Lens” and “Provider.”
  • Future – Southern rap icons have joined forces on songs like “3,500”
  • 21 Savage, Post Malone, Rosalia – Other notable collaborators of Travis Scott.

Live Performances

Travis Scott is renowned for his explosive, moshpit-friendly live shows which frequently feature elaborate special effects and pyrotechnics. Scott is a natural-born entertainer who thrives on hyping up crowds with his raging energy. He often incorporates elements of theater, carnival rides and amusement parks into his live tours.

Some notable Travis Scott tours and residencies include [6]:

  • Rodeo Tour (North America, 2015)
  • Birds Eye View Tour (North America, 2017)
  • Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour (Worldwide, 2018-2019)
  • Astroworld Festival (Houston, 2018 – present)
  • Cactus Jack @ Dj Snake’s Encore Beach Club residency (Las Vegas, 2019)

Scott’s live shows are packed with crowd-pleasing hits, as well as previews of new tracks from upcoming projects. As his fame has grown, Travis Scott has performed at major festivals like Coachella, Rolling Loud, Wireless Fest UK and more.

Personal Life

Travis Scott keeps his personal life relatively private. However, some key personal life details are known [7]:

  • Age – Scott was born April 30, 1991. He is currently 31 years old.
  • Relationships – Scott has been in a high-profile on/off relationship with reality tv star Kylie Jenner since 2017. They have two children together.
  • Kids – Scott has a daughter Stormi (b. 2018) and son Wolf (b. 2022) with Kylie Jenner.
  • Real Name – Scott’s real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II. Travis Scott is his stage name.
  • Hometown – Born and raised in Houston, Texas where much of his family still resides.
  • Wealth – Forbes estimated Scott’s net worth at around $100 million as of 2022, making him one of the richest rappers.

Cultural Impact

As one of the most popular rappers of the late 2010s streaming era, Travis Scott has had a significant cultural imprint extending far beyond music. His artistic brand has strongly influenced youth fashion and culture. Some examples of Travis Scott’s cultural influence include [8]:

  • Fortnite – Scott held an in-game concert and created skins, emotes and merch with the gaming brand.
  • McDonald’s – Scott collaborated with McDonald’s on a celebrity meal deal in 2020. The promotion was a wild success.
  • Nike/Jordan – Designed and launched several sold-out sneaker collaborations. Travis Scott x Air Jordan is popular with sneakerheads.
  • Amusement parks – Scott’s aesthetic has inspired amusement park rides, events and music. He even launched his own Astroworld Festival.
  • Fashion – Scott’s style has been influential in streetwear and youth fashion. He has done collabs with brands like Helmut Lang.

With his creative vision extending beyond music into brand partnerships and pop culture at large, Travis Scott has proven himself to be the definition of a 21st century superstar. His impact on rap music and youth culture will continue to be felt for years to come.

Travis Scott’s Social Media

Stay updated on Travis Scott’s latest releases and news by following him on these verified social media profiles:

  • Instagram: @travisscott (33M followers)
  • Twitter: @trvisXX (9.7M followers)
  • Facebook: @travisscottlaflame (8M followers)

5 FAQs about Travis Scott

Travis Scott’s distinctive musical style and extravagant persona often leave people curious to learn more. Here are 5 frequently asked questions about the rap superstar.

Q: Where did Travis Scott get his stage name?

A: Scott’s real name is Jacques Webster. Travis Scott is a combination of his uncle’s first name, Travis, and his favorite uncle’s last name, Scott.

Q: What was Travis Scott’s breakthrough single?

A: Scott’s second studio album Rodeo in 2015 featured his first major hit song “Antidote”, which reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Q: How much is Travis Scott worth?

A: Forbes estimates Scott’s current net worth at around $100 million, making him one of the highest-paid rappers today.

Q: Is Travis Scott signed to a record label?

A: Yes, Scott is currently signed to Interscope Records and operates his Cactus Jack label under them. He initially signed with Kanye West’s GOOD Music.

Q: Where can you see Travis Scott perform live?

A: Scott tours worldwide frequently and also hosts the annual Astroworld music festival in his hometown of Houston, Texas.

Conclusion

From his humble beginnings in Houston to his current status as a global superstar, Travis Scott has had an eventful journey in hip-hop. With his artistic ambition and futuristic influence on music and culture, Travis Scott still seems to just be getting started. His cinematic aesthetic and experimental approach to rap will likely continue impacting the genre for years to come.