Although trashed by most critics at the time, “Rodeo” has aged incredibly well as a flagpost release signifying the hip-hop of the time and the future. As a Kanye West protege, he became the poster boy for hip-hop nepotism, but as his future albums would tell, Travis had more to him than just Kanye. Travis brought to the table what many in his generation did, taking the southern trap and making it even more queasy and druggy with a nihilistic, morose attitude. But “Rodeo” extends the style to the mainstream without cheapening it especially compared to contemporaries like Future. In fact, he even made it artsier with deep, cavernous production and infectious hooks. In hindsight, “Rodeo” seems like the natural precursor to the emo rap of the late ‘10s and atmospheric beats of popular hip-hop today.
Inspired by artists like Kanye and Kid Cudi, Travis Scott never was the best rapper or lyricist, but he was a master of atmosphere in his beats. Put on any track by Travis and it’s clear how much attention to detail goes into the general vibe of the track, not much unlike psyche rockers of old. Syrupy trap beats, swirling keys, fluttering guitars and, of course, Travis’ iconic autotune voice all come together to create a nocturnal, trippy experience. His charisma and raging live shows have earned him a spot in pop culture, but it’s also gotten him in deep sh*t. The recent Astroworld tragedy killing ten people has stained his legacy and only time will tell how Travis rebuilds his reputation. Or maybe he’ll keep spending millions on luxury sports cars. Who knows?
