Texan Mosaic

by RILEY GOLDEN/Editorial Assistant

Houston rapper Travis Scott has developed a very specific sound during the course of his mixtapes that was only amplified in his debut album.

Scott made his studio album debut at the end of 2015 with a still highly listened to, 16-song album, “Rodeo,” featuring Kanye West, Future, 2 Chainz, Schoolboy Q, The Weeknd, and even Justin Bieber.

“Rodeo” is Scott’s follow-up to 2014’s “Days Before Rodeo,” which was a well-received mixtape. Before that mixtape was another called “Owl Pharaoh,” which was good, but Scott has continued to improve and mold his sound.

Scott gained recognition from West with several breakout music videos on YouTube. Since then, West and Scott have been working on the Travis Scott sound, along with help from rapper Kid Cudi and record producer Metro Boomin.

On certain songs on “Days Before Rodeo,” Kid Cudi’s influence was very noticeable, but not so much on “Rodeo.” You hear more of West’s influence on Scott’s debut album. Yet Scott has developed more of his own sound since the days of his mixtapes.

One of my favorite parts about the album is how versatile it is. You can listen to it while getting ready to go clubbing with your friends or when lying in bed trying to go to sleep. I think that’s part of the allure of the Travis Scott sound. The album gives off a very chill, but have-fun, vibe.

As much as I like this album, it is not necessarily for the faint of heart. Like most rap albums, “Rodeo” is quite explicit about Scott’s sex life and drug usage.

When I first listened to the album, I didn’t really pay attention to it, and I fell victim to thinking that the whole album sounded the same. Although Scott does have a very specific sound, when you really listen to the album, you realize that the beats are all pretty different, and the songs are even structured differently.

One of the only things I don’t like about the album is the monologues from fellow rapper T.I. There’s one on three different songs. Though they don’t ruin the songs, they aren’t great, and I think the album could do without them. That being said, there isn’t one song that I don’t like. There are a few songs that I don’t like as much as the others, but I still like every song on the album.

One of my favorite songs on the album is “Maria I’m Drunk,” featuring Bieber and rapper Young Thug. The beat and chorus are just plain good, and Bieber raps an enjoyable verse.

Although nearly six months old, people, including me, still really vibe to “Rodeo.” Therefore, I give it 5 out of 5 stars.