Before the Fame

Travis Scott is one of the biggest names in hip-hop today, however, he didn’t become well-known overnight. He put in a lot of work, and if you consider all he has done from the beginning to the present, his trip is crazy. It’s incredible to watch how he’s transformed the rap scene with his initial mixtapes and festivals. This is a summary of Travis Scott’s journey from a young child with a dream to one of the most significant artists of his generation.

Travis Scott, who is also known as Jacques Webster ll, was born in Houston, Texas, on April 30, 1991. He always dreamed of being a famous musician and was raised in the Missouri City neighborhood. Travis became interested in music since his grandfather and father were involved in it; his grandfather produced jazz music, and his father was a musician. Travis was not satisfied just with following in their footsteps; he wanted to invent something distinctive and unique that had never been done before. He began by playing the piano and drums, but he soon discovered hip-hop because he enjoyed its energy.

Student and Expert Opinions & Statistics

Before we dive into how Travis Scott became one of the most influential artists of his generation, a 2023 survey conducted by Complex found that 78% of hip-hop fans between the ages of 16-24 ranked him among the top five most innovative artists in the genre. 

Dr. Anthony Reynolds, a musicologist at NYU, adds to this perspective, saying, “Travis Scott’s work pushes the boundaries of modern music production. Albums like Utopia show a sophisticated understanding of how soundscapes can create immersive storytelling. For a young audience, this is transformative, as it redefines what hip-hop can achieve artistically.” His expert analysis highlights the genius behind the music, but it’s the emotional connections that got fans hooked.

I asked four students at Oakmont Regional High School if they listened to Travis Scott, I asked a senior, a junior, a sophomore, and a freshman.  Alex King said, “ Of course I do, my favorite song is “fe!n”, didn’t he have a concert where people died?” After interview wing Alex King, I then interviewed Gianna Gerbick, (junior). After I asked the question she replied, “I know him, didn’t he have a baby with Kylie Jenner?” I proceeded to ask a sophomore, Max Boudreau and he exclaimed, “I don’t listen to Travis Scott, I think he is absolutely terrible.” The last peer I asked was Grayson Smith, a freshman at Oakmont, he stated, “ He’s a top 3 artist for me”. Overall 75% of students at Oakmont had positive feedback on Travis Scott.

The Breakthrough (2011)

  When Travis was a teenager, he even tried going to college for a bit at the University of Texas at San Antonio, but he quickly realized that it wasn’t for him and decided to move to New York City to pursue his music career, his parents gave him money for books and food but he took the risk and used it to buy the plane ticket to NYC. After having no luck in NYC Travis decided to take one more chance and fly to Los Angeles and move into his friend’s dorm room at USC, he kept his music releasing.

Eventually, Travis Scott’s breakthrough came in 2011 while working on his first solo project, “Owl Pharaoh“. Somehow he managed to track down Kanye West’s engineer, Anthony Kilhoffer, and super producer Mike Dean, sending them samples of his work. A few months later, in 2012, he completed “Lights (Lovesick)”, a song and music video that would catch the eye of hip-hop legend and producer T.I.

All at the same time, Kilhoffer, who had ties to Kanye, took notice of the “Lovesick” video. This led to Kilhoffer managing Travis and introducing him to Kanye in 2012, leading to a G.O.O.D Music contract. Scott’s networking skills and determination resulted in three record deals between 2012 and 2013: Epic Records and G.O.O.D Music in 2012, and T.I.’s Grand Hustle in 2013, the latter still publishing his music today.

The Release of “Owl Pharaoh” (2013)

When Travis Scott dropped his debut album “Owl Pharaoh” he received attention from artists and fans all over the world, to the world he wasn’t just another rapper or one of Kanye’s many failed proteges. Travis Scott was a new style from insanely strange but melodic beats to the flow in these beats. “Owl Pharaoh” is known as Travis Scott’s worst album in 2024 by many of his fans, but without the album, we might have never heard of Travis Scott.

Travis surrounded himself with great musicians and producers who seamlessly fused elements of hip-hop, rock, electronic music, and R&B, and Scott crafted a background tone that felt at once familiar and groundbreaking. The album’s dark southern hip-hop sounds still had a unique blend to it, challenging what could be achieved within the restrictions of the hip-hop industry. This is just the start of Travis Scott’s fame.

The Release of “Days Before Rodeo” (2014)

After a year of Travis’s album “Owl Pharaoh,” he dropped his second mixtape “Days Before Rodeo”, which hinted at his next album as well. More than a sequel, this mixtape cemented Scott’s status as an artist while he was under pressure to meet the high standards of the business. Scott created an atmosphere that was natural and calming, speaking to the energy and anxiety of a generation that was craving for representation through a blend of gritty sounds, melodic hooks, and raw talent. His varied, genre-bending sound demonstrated Scott’s bold artistic approach, which helped him build a following of fans who valued his distinct musical style. One that was more about breaking tradition than supporting it to produce something unique and thrilling.

The Release of “Rodeo” (2015)

The release of Travis Scott’s first studio album, Rodeo, in 2015 was an important moment in both his career and the hip-hop landscape. With its combination of wild sounds, crazy performances by musicians like Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, and his unique blend of rap and melody, the album shown his smooth, creative style. Listeners were taken on an exciting and surprising journey by Rodeo.

Travis gained popularity as the lead track, “Antidote,” became a huge hit and went triple platinum. It was a mainstream hit that showed his ability to write music that appealed to audiences other than hip-hop fans; it wasn’t only a trap song. Rodeo established its status as one of the greatest trap albums ever throughout time.

Grammy Nominations

While awards like the Grammys aren’t everything, they do show how much an artist matters in the music world. Travis got nominations for his groundbreaking album Astroworld (2018), which included Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song. Even though he didn’t win, those nominations proved how much of an impact he had on hip-hop. It was more than just personal recognition, it showed that his sound was helping shape the genre’s future.

Super Bowl Halftime Show (2019)

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the biggest stages in music, and in 2019, Travis Scott brought his energy to the event. Performing alongside Maroon 5 at Super Bowl LIII, Travis delivered an explosive set that reached millions of viewers worldwide. While the football fans might remember the final score, everyone else remembers who performed, and Travis showed he’s a top-tier artist with the ability to own a global stage.

Cactus Jack Records (2017-Now)

Travis Scott started Cactus Jack Records to make an impact beyond his music. As the boss of the label, he’s been guiding new artists and helping shape the future of the music scene. This move has boosted his own career and given him the chance to help young artists shine. The label’s lineup includes Travis, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, SoFaygo, and WondaGurl.

Fortnite Virtual Concert (2020)

What a crazy time to be alive, Even people who didn’t know what Fortnite was or tried to pretend it didn’t exist noticed. This wasn’t just a huge moment for Travis Scott´s career; it was a massive deal for music and entertainment as a whole. His virtual concert in Fortnite was so wild. Many would not think it but in my opinion, this is where Travis Scott got to another level of status in the industry.

Astroworld Crown Crush (2021)

The tragic events at Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld Festival are one of the saddest moments in recent music history and a dark mark on his career. On November 5, 2021, during his show in Houston, Texas, a massive crowd surge broke out. It left at least ten fans, aged 9 to 27, dead and hundreds injured, forcing the festival to stop immediately.

After the concert, videos surfaced showing Travis Scott continuing to perform despite the crowd begging for the show to stop. At one point, he paused briefly to call security for a fan in distress but then went on with the performance. Even as an ambulance was making its way through the crowd, Scott, seemingly unaware of how serious things were, encouraged fans to go wild, which sparked even more backlash. After the tragedy, media outlets looked into his past shows, pointing out a history of risky crowd behavior. This likely made Scott think the situation was under control and didn’t need the show to end.

Following the disaster, lawsuits piled up, starting with concertgoer Kristian Paredes, who demanded $1,000,000 for injuries he suffered. On June 29, 2023, the case took another turn when a Texas grand jury decided not to charge Scott, a choice that could affect both his career and how the live music world handles safety.

The Release of “Utopia” (2023)

Travis Scott’s Utopia is more than just an album, it’s like stepping into a completely different universe. From the moment you press play, you’re pulled into this futuristic world full of insane beats, wild transitions, and mind-blowing energy. It’s not just music; it feels like a journey through Travis’s imagination, where every sound is carefully crafted to take you somewhere new. If you thought Astroworld was his peak, Utopia proves he’s only getting started.

What makes this album so special is the way it pushes boundaries without losing what makes Travis, well, Travis. The production is absolutely unreal, every song feels like it could be a movie soundtrack. There are crazy drum patterns and these huge, cinematic moments that make you want to stop whatever you’re doing just to take it all in. And the way he blends genres and features is on another level; it’s like he’s showing off everything music can be when there are no rules.

In the end, Utopia is a masterpiece. It’s not just a collection of songs; it’s a full-on experience that shows how far Travis Scott has come and how far he’s willing to go. It’s the kind of album that leaves you surprised and makes you want to hit replay just to catch all the little details you missed the first time. Travis didn’t just make music with this one, he made art.