The year is 2014, all the ragers of the time have been bumping the same 14 songs on SoundCloud off of mixtape Owl Pharaoh by Travi$ Scott (real ones know that it was with the money sign at first). Travis had announced on Twitter (now X), that he was going to release new tracks soon on SoundCloud, and so we all waited patiently. Fast forward a decade later, Travis Scott celebrates 10 years of Days Before Rodeo with a re-release on all digital streaming platforms.
We knew since Owl Pharaoh that Travis was a pioneer when it came to bringing a new sound and vibe to the young kids who were tired of the radio. We paid attention, holding on to faith that young La Flame would bring us the sound we were craving, even though we didn’t even know what it was yet. We got a small taste with Owl Pharaoh, but we had no idea what we were in store for.
Then August 18th, when we opened the orange app (the SoundCloud application used to be orange), we were greeted with cover art of a blue sky, a moon, bold red lettering, and our favorite experimental artist’s back displayed across on the front.
I can remember to this day hitting play and hearing Quintana pt. 2, Skyfall, and Drugs You Should Try It, for the first time. (The breakdown of Quintana pt. 2 at 3:29 is still something I have on repeat to this day.)
Days Before Rodeo consisted of 12 tracks, production by non other than Travis’ right hand man, Metro Boomin, and features from household names such as Young Thug, T.I., Big Sean, The 1975, Migos and Peewee Longway. This mixtape contained beats and sounds we had never heard before, in an interview with Sway, he describes DBR like “nothing…nothing out there…new food, something you never tasted before.” It all makes sense as to why still 10 years later, Travis Scott celebrates this rare gem of art.
Travis says DBR was about “creating a vibe for the culture, for kids like me.” That he did, he talks about wanting to break the barrier of normal sounding music. He destroyed that barrier by creating a sonic masterpiece. To this day, there is nothing that sounds like this album, if anything does it’s released by Travis himself.
He emphasizes in the same interview with Sway, “people keep overlooking it as a mixtape, that’s why I keep stressing this is a free album, don’t undermine us because we didn’t put a price tag on it. I’m giving the people the option to expand their mind”.
That’s exactly what happened, our minds were completely open and introduced to a brand new sonic escape. With deep and dark autotune vocals, bass-heavy production, and moody and self-assured lyrics, we were brought a raw, experimental energy. Not only was this the beginning of Travis’ sound, but this was also blueprint for a sound that inspired many artists that were to follow after him.
This album was just the beginning for Travis, for an entire era and generation. Already making big moves behind the scenes as a producer on massively huge #1 albums such as Yeezus and Magna Carta, Travis was connected with people who were had already set a name for themselves such as T.I., Ye (aka Kanye West), and Jay-Z.
In interviews he explains his sound was influenced by people such as M.I.A, Bjork, Kid Cudi, and Ye. Travis mentioned how his name derived from Kid Cudi’s real name, Scott Mescudi. Then years later in 2020, Travis actually created the first track Cudi has, that was a No.1 hit “The Scotts”.
To be influenced and then become an influence to those who you idolized, has to be the a milestone that only certain people can reach, and Travis is one of them.
Present day, August 17th 2024 and Travis Scott celebrates at Fanatics Fest with the announcement that the re-release of his second mixtape album will be happening. 10 years after only being able to listen to it on SC or Youtube, all the OG ragers lost their minds. (Especially on X, I know because I am in fact on rager X)
6 albums, various features, and production appearances later, Travis Scott is exactly who he always was, a trailblazer.
He continues to be the vanguard of a generation of kids who were born to rage. Worldwide tours, performing at the Grammy’s, curating his own creative label Cactus Jack Records, headlining huge festivals/ events such as this years ComplexCon & Rolling Loud, there is no stopping Travis.
Travis Scott Celebrates Renown Album Days Before Rodeo
This re-release means so much more than re-introducing old songs( also apparently new songs) remastered by Mike Dean to his fans. This re-release is an emphasis on the impact this album had on the people who believe in creativity and experimentation within art.
As a fan since 2013, I truly believe this is Travis’ way of showing everyone that he was born for this. He’s always known who he was and who he was meant to be.
For the ragers who have been by Travis’ side since Owl Pharaoh and Days Before Rodeo, this is for us. For those who are newer fans, this is for you too, this is who Travis Scott is and who Travis’ will always be, a visionary legend.
Days Before Rodeo will be hitting all Digital Streaming Platforms on August 23rd, but you can cop the 3 different box sets on his online store available now. This includes physical vinyl records, hats, and hoodies. Make sure you get your merch before it runs out!
