Exploring the Influence of Travis Scott
Written By: Elainey Bass
When you hear the name Travis Scott, some may associate him with the Kardashian family or the controversial tragedy that happened at one of his concerts. But for many, the one thing that comes to mind is the psychedelic, futuristic feel of Travis Scott’s music. It’s captivating and almost freaky how he can flow easily on a beat that seems fitting for outer space. His voice and aesthetic is unique, distinct, and often imitated. Over the course of his career he has created catchy songs that are recognized around the world; all while staying authentic and never switching up his sound. Throughout his success, he has influenced many artists throughout our generation and continues to take the lead of this particular sound of Hip-Hop.
Travis Scott released his debut album Rodeo in 2015. But before the album, Travis was blessed with the opportunity to work as a producer for G.O.O.D Music, which was owned by Kanye West, in 2008. He became Kanye’s protege soon after working on his Yeezus and Magna Carter albums. Taking this time into account, one can easily say that Travis has been in the game for a while now. He has put out three solo albums since then, with his most recent being UTOPIA. Even with much success over the years, he has shown love to other artists with a similar sound. Playboi Carti, Destroy Lonely, and Ken Carson are just a few that have put their own twist on the psychedelic rap scene.
Fully emerging in 2017, Playboi Carti came out of nowhere for most. Although he was releasing mixtapes around 2011 and 2012, Carti really did not peek, or blow up, until the release of his self-titled debut album. The Atlanta rapper was known for his radical fashion sense and mysterious persona. However, many people labeled him as a mumble-rapper and didn't really take to him as much as Travis Scott, despite the similarity of the production and overall sound of their songs. However on his second album, Die Lit, Travis Scott was featured on the song “Love Hurts” and was a fan favorite on the album. Playboi Carti eventually went on a hiatus but has slowly been making his way back into the limelight. The two continued to collaborate on songs, with most of them being on Travis Scott’s projects. Their most recent collaboration, “FEIN”, on Travis Scott’s UTOPIA album still has people buzzing about what’s next for Playboi Carti.
Destroy Lonely and Ken Carson are two younger artists that have emerged onto the scene with similar fanbases. The influence of Travis Scott, and even a little Playboi Carti, is very evident in most of their work. Keeping this in mind, it seemed only fitting that the two join Playboi Carti on his most recent tour. Even though Travis Scott has yet to collaborate with either one of them, the influence is still very much evident in their songs and style.
There’s no denying that Travis Scott has created his own lane and leaves a sprinkle of his aesthetic on many of the artists that are popular in this generation. It’s also easy to say that Kanye West may have even had a hand in developing Travis’s sound and artistry. Nevertheless, Scott continues to show why he will continue to have longevity in the rap game. With a different sound, both vocally and production wise, he never leaves his listeners bored. They always want more and may even go a bit overboard in the process. His concerts are known to be one big party, which has posed safety threats on many occasions. Despite this, his fans still continue to show up and show out, resulting in neverending love and support for his music and artistry.