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For many artists, you’d have to believe that the transition from being simply well known amongst fans to the artist with the #1 highest selling album in the world would be a shock. For Houston, TX rapper Travis Scott, it seemed to be a matter of time given his cult-like fanbase and the ever growing support of almost every project he had done up to this point. From his XXL freshman era mixtapes Owl Pharoah and Days Before Rodeo, to his well received debut album Rodeo, the somewhat mysterious rapper managed to maintain a relatively low profile in an era where every artist seems to be under a microscope, for better and worse. With popular songs such as 3500, Antidote, Quintana, Upper Echelon and Maria I’m Drunk, on top of countless features and probably the most popular ad-libs in rap today, Travis Scott eventually found himself on the short list of the most popular artists in rap music. This popularity would manifest itself in the release of his 2016 sophomore effort Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, a moody and melodramatic counter to the loud and boisterous Rodeo album. Led by the undeniably catchy Kid Cudi homage track Through The Late Night, coupled by strong features from rap giants Andre 3000 & Kendrick Lamar, the album ignited a commercial following that had some fans suggesting that Travis should be mentioned in the top tier of rappers in the game. Whether one agrees with that or not, there was no debating that he had arrived. For the next two years, fans would wait for what would have to be Travis’ coronation: the commercial album that was officially stamp his arrival as one of the biggest acts in the world. For most of that time, he would feature on several projects, with minimal to no update on the album. He even teased some sneaker collaborations with both Nike and Jordan, showing his audience that he has interests other than just music. He would drop one of the most popular tracks of 2017 with the hit single Butterfly Effect, produced by one of hip-hop’s rising super producers Murda Beats. The single carried much of the hype in anticipation for this new album. For fans, this album would mean their guy delivered on yet another project, further solidifying himself as one of the best rappers out. For skeptics, many wondered if Travis could put out a complete album- production, rhymes and structure. There was no doubting the pressure that was on to deliver. With numerous artists in the midst of career shaping and/or defining albums (Drake, Nicki Minaj, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, etc.), it would be a tall task for Travis to even deliver a top 10 project for the year; he responded with the number one album in country. Astroworld, his most sonically unique and ambitious album to date, takes his listener on a ride through the mind of an artist refusing to live in a box. From the infectious beat and hook to the standout intro track Stargazing, all the way to the surprisingly transparent and honest closing track Coffee Bean, every song has its own mood and feel that will be different for different types of listeners. There’s a solid chance that every track is a personal favorite for a large amount of fans. Whether it’s the harmonic trap blend on Yosemite, the airy and psychedelic mood on the Stevie Wonder assisted Stop Trying To Be God, or the loud and blaring Who? What! featuring hip-hop supergroup Migos, Travis provides a song or two for every type of rap fan. The standout track Sicko Mode, shows Travis maintain his own with perhaps music’s biggest commodity in Drake for one of the 2018’s best songs. While R.I.P. Screw pays homage to Travis’ roots and the legends from his home town. Astroworld is one of the most unique sounding projects we’ve seen on the mainstream rap scene in quite some time. And the reception has been extremely positive, from the sales (Certified Platinum in August) and a sold out tour beginning this fall, nobody can deny that this album was a clear success. Who knows where it will fall as far as grading content, but there are definitely quality songs on this album. Time will be the best judge for its impact, but there is no doubt that it has made Travis Scott a household name. Well deserved. Top 10 Songs: 1. Coffee Bean 2. Sicko Mode 3. Who? What! 4. Stop Trying to be God 5. Yosemite 6. Butterfly Effect 7. Stargazing 8. No Bystanders 9. Wake Up 10. R.I.P. Screw