Now that the UTOPIA era has passed, Travis Scott focuses on the future. After all the upheaval of the past few years in the wake of the ASTROWORLD tragedy, 2024 found the Houston rapper in a more meditative, ceremonial mood. From finally giving Days Before Rodeo a proper DSPS release to moving a jaw-dropping 361,000 physical copies in its first week, Scott’s fanbase made sure to pull out all the stops to solidify his legacy. Best of all, the project scaled the Billboard 200 weeks later, a feat that proves a decade-old mixtape can still command cultural relevance today.
The first real taste of his next era came in January with “4X4,” a hard-knocking single that he previewed in smashing fashion first at WWE Monday Night Raw and again at the College Football National Championship halftime show. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, though responses have been mixed among critics and fans.
In a recent telephone conversation, Scott confessed he is hesitant to drop the name just yet because he is convinced it is one that “people aren’t going to understand.” One thing we know about Travis is that he loves to push the envelope, whether through his psychedelic production, his cinematic visuals, or his world-building, which turns each album into a fully-fledged sonic and aesthetic experience. If the title of his next project is as abstract as he makes it out to be, it’s another ambitious step up that he’s taking, just like UTOPIA was.
Travis was already a master of mystique, allowing his music to speak for him. With the hype machine kicking into high gear once again, it’s safe to say fans won’t have to wait much longer to see what lies ahead.
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