What you need to know:
It took five years for Travis Scott to release a new album. But this 2023 he returns with ‘Utopia’, a highly anticipated album with which he confirms his status in current rap.
The huge Travis Scott, who is one of the biggest rappers today, finally releases Utopiaa 19-rola album that promises not to lower the level to which the native of Houston has accustomed us.
At first glance, Travis Scott surprises us with an overwhelming list of collaborators that has a bit of everything. Beyoncé, Bon Iver, Sampha, Drake, Playboi Carti, 21 Savage, The Weekend, Young Thug, James Blake, Kid Cudi, Bad Bunny, Future and SZA participate in this album.
Travis Scott brought in top-tier talent on the production, joining Boi-1da, Metro Boomin, The Alchemist, and Pharrell Williams, among dozens more. It surprises that in the production credits of “Thank God” we find Kanye West, and for “Modern Jam”, Guy Manuel de Homem-Cristo joined (Daft Punk).
And coming from very different areas, James Blake and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) write and produce several tracks on Travis Scott’s new albumin what is a pleasant collaboration that is not surprising, but we did not expect so many songs.
Travis Scott brings us many subgenres with the same seal of quality
Travis Scott did not move from rap as the basis for this album, but he took advantage of gathering a lot of talent, to explore different areas. We have a pop ballad like “MY EYES”in which the rapper shares a microphone with Sampha, with pianos that are close to the genres dreambreaking into a very classic Travis rap.
On his fourth studio album (not counting the album with Quavo), Travis Scott also turns to see some R&B, we listen to songs like “DELRESTO (Echoes)”, which has hints of dark and danceable electronica, behind the voice of Beyoncé and the synthesizers of James Blake. Something like this also happens in “LOOOVE”, perhaps darker, but the composition of Pharrel Williams is noticeable in the background, in one of the songs in which Travis lets himself go the most in the speed of his verses.
Something similar happens in “CIRCUS MAXIMUS”, a war march reminiscent of Kanye’s “Black Skinhead”, with the identity of Travis Scott and an ideal collaboration with The Weekend. The synthesizers are in the pure style of Dawn FM of the Canadian singer, but the rapper’s rhymes go perfectly in this song.
The most eclectic song on the album is undoubtedly “K-POP”, in which the base of Afrobeat (preceding reggaetón) joins the voice of Bad Bunny and the verses of The Weekend.. Somehow, Travis Scott manages to ensure that the atmosphere continues to have its sound identity, at no time did we feel out of Utopia. This mix of rap with reggaetón, and electronic progressions has amazing production from Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jahann Sweet and BNYX.
Dark textures and memorable rhymes are the ones that Travis Scott gives us with this album
Even though that him astroworld (2018) left very high expectations for Travis Scott’s next LP, the rapper took his next project seriously, and he once again gives us great rhymes, which will remain in rap history And they are already grabbing attention.
In “MELTDOWN”, Travis Scott calls Lionel Messi and Tom Brady: “The boy going Lionel Messi, I go Tom Brady (Woo)”. Mentioning two of the greatest athletes in history, the rapper reiterates that he is on a comparable level with them.}
For “SKITZO”, Travis Scott himself refers to his alliance with Air Jordan: “Keep it right there with my postcode (Postcode), I been jumpin’ out the gym with no Jordans on (Woah)”. His Jordan Cactus Jack are among the most sought after and the new release is currently rumored. It seems that Travis himself has the humor to talk about the alliance, in a move that both helps marketing and the story he’s created.
On a Travis Scott album heavily focused on synthesizers and dark or gloomy progressions, As in “FE!N” or the closing “TIL FURTHER NOTICE”, the production of James Blake is noticeable and in “Modern Jam”, the beat is very powerful, the production by one of the members of Daft Punk.
Knowing what it causes in people, that’s why Travis Scott is let go with the line of clothing, accessories and physical versions of the albumwhich of course they can get in the rapper’s official site. And maybe it’s too early to ask for it, but it would be incredible if he came back to our country to present this great album, now with a completely solo show.
