The Top 5 Travis Scott Transitions
While his tracks are being worked over by some of the most recognizable names in the rap game, Travis Scott still somehow has a distinct sound in his music that we almost instantly attribute to him. From the laser-sharp trap jumps on Owl Pharaoh to the thunderous drags on Rodeo, Travis and his producers manage to mesh beats and drums to give us star-studded project after another. Let’s look at when they best pulled it off in a single song.
Below are my picks for the best Travis transitions; unfortunately songs that are better BEFORE the transition versus afterwards will not make the cut (ex. Oh My Dis Side).
“Pornography”, Rodeo
Giving us passionate and dreamy imagery, Travis calls us to jump out of our hell and into fantasy stardom with him. After a pleasant T.I. interlude, he proceeds lyrically to cut the beat up, instructing us of the dangers of fame and drugs and telling us what’s really real. Travis does not get much more aggressive, or better, than this.
“Quintana Pt. 2", Days Before Rodeo
The bridge is so underrated, and I really don’t understand why T.I. hasn’t been on more recent Travis projects. He comes in with the heat, instantly making the song a standout on Days Before. He opens the gate further for Travis, who comes in and closes the song beautifully. A transition and transition-back makes this one of La Flame’s best.
“SICKO MODE”, Astroworld
Maybe the first part could be a little longer, and maybe the second could have been more cohesive, but then there’s Tay Keith. On the third and final section and over masterful mixing, Drake spits a verse better than anything he had on Scorpion, and Travis proves that the two are officially on the same playing field. Overplayed and mainstream, but there’s no doubt behind the talent on this one.
“way back”, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
I’m a sucker for a long outro, so a song like “way back” really gets me going. The segue is Travis at his rawest form, taking us far, far back into his past and inflecting on his path. His melodically-auto-tuned voice over a lullaby puts “way back” at number two for turning a good song into one of his best. Shoutout James Harden.
“90210", Rodeo
“90210” may be my three or four favorite Travis songs of all time. With a team of producers and Kacy Hill who so perfectly compliments every part, Travis busts out the song of his career that, in my opinion, he would later try to match with “SICKO MODE”. He set a high bar for himself on his first album; I really hope he can set a new one, and at some point soon.