Kevin Torres, Contributing Writer
Houston rapper, Travi$ Scott, has finally released his long awaited debut album entitled Rodeo, and many fans were excited to finally listen to La Flame’s vision on a CD.
Many consider him to be Kanye West’s protégé (and secret “mastermind” behind the critically acclaimed album, Yeezus). Rodeo, in some ways, falls short of the actual wild ride fans all expected to hear. The 14 track album (16 if it’s the deluxe version) has a hard time remaining entertaining even though well-known features are sprinkled throughout the tracks. Artists like West and The Weeknd give the album a different edge, especially on the track, “Piss On Your Grave.” In that track, Scott and West rap on a dark, industrial-sounding instrumental introduced to the listeners by a psychedelic rock solo. The song is short and simple, only lasting two minutes and 46 seconds, but it does the deed as West and Scott go back and forth with nothing but lyrics portraying raw emotion.
Some parts of the album feel forced, and it drags on for too long. The second song of the album is entitled “Oh My Dis Side” featuring Atlanta rapper, Quavo, from the Atlanta hip-hop trio, Migos. This song, which runs for five minutes and 51 seconds, gets tiring after the third minute. For some reason, this track has a long, unnecessary outro, just like in the case of the leading single “3500”, featuring Atlanta rappers, Future and 2 Chainz.
Although there are some uneventful parts in the album, that doesn’t mean the whole project is boring. With interesting features hidden throughout the album, like in the case of track number 11 entitled “Maria I’m Drunk”, Scott enlists the help of long time friend and collaborator Young Thug, and the second coming of the pop-sensation Justin Bieber. This song tells the tale of Scott’s dependency on weed, as well as his urgency to have a lady “get lost” with him.
Rodeo is consistent in keeping the same vibes and themes prominent throughout the album, which include substance abuse, the struggles it took to get where he is, his wanting a female companion in his life without any real attachments, and the depressive “turn-up” state that Scott and thousands of teenagers throughout the country can relate to. By the end of track 16, entitled “Ok Alright”, both Scott and Hoover St.’s finest, Schoolboy Q, show us what it means to “go in” with regards to lyrics. By the end of the song, we finally witness Scott’s long awaited “Rodeo”, a ride that could’ve been longer and more intense, but definitely left listeners satisfied.
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