Travis Scott’s ‘Rodeo’ turns 10: Revisiting his groundbreaking debut album

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On September 4th, we’ll be celebrating a decade since the release of Travis Scott’s first studio album, “Rodeo.” This is a significant milestone that demands conversation, not just due to the excellent music it contained, but also because of its profound impact on Travis’s career and the broader rap genre moving forward.

In the early years of the 2010s, Travis Scott was primarily recognized as Kanye West’s protégé through his GOOD Music label. His mixtapes like “Owl Pharoah” and especially “Days Before Rodeo” indicated promising potential, but he hadn’t yet achieved full stardom. However, the launch of “Rodeo” catapulted him into individual success that has lasted to this day.

Over the past ten years, Travis Scott has risen to become a name known in virtually every home. There’s no denying his massive popularity within the music industry, whether it’s hip-hop or any other genre. With its tenth anniversary here, this is an ideal moment to reflect on the album, Rodeo, which marked the start of Travis’s remarkable rise.

Travis Scott’s Rodeo was a standout in 2015, and it stands out today

Back in the day, Rodeo stood out as a remarkable album right from its release, and this has become even more evident over time. Given his history and rise in the rap industry, it’s clear that Travis Scott had a unique edge to craft the masterpiece we now know as Rodeo.

Travis is originally from Houston, a city that significantly shaped the southern hip-hop scene. Additionally, he built ties with another prominent rap city, Atlanta. He was associated with T.I.’s Grand Hustle record label and collaborated with several Atlanta artists like Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, and Migos.

Concurrently, Travis drew significant inspiration from his collaborations with Kanye West. Prior to his more recent downfall, Kanye was widely recognized as a top-tier composer in the rap genre. He was admired for his skill in crafting captivating songs through intricate structures and grandiose visions.

Travis’s album, titled “Rodeo,” emerged as a natural culmination of diverse influences on him. This record was rooted in southern trap music, but it transcended typical conventions of the genre, showcasing intricate songwriting and grandeur, qualities that Kanye West is famed for. Consequently, this remarkable project distinguished itself, and in the most positive sense.

In the album “Rodeo,” this complex blend of grandiosity and trap-inspired elements is evident across various tracks. For instance, T.I. contributes a spoken narrative element to several songs, such as “Wasted” and the opening track, adding a unique dimension to the record.

Through the album, various artists, each with diverse styles, contribute multiple features. One second you might hear a smooth verse from Future, followed by Toro y Moi delivering a captivating bridge in the next moment. At certain points, Justin Bieber surprises with fitting rap verses.

Regardless of who the featured artist is on a particular track, Travis consistently weaves them into the overall album cohesively, often bringing out their best performances. Notable examples include 2 Chainz’s humorous contribution on “3500”, Kacy Hill’s beautiful vocals in the first half of “90210”, and The Weeknd’s mournful hook on “Pray 4 Love”.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at yet another masterful display of creativity in this album’s creation process. The tonal spectrum is impressively broad, yet there’s an undeniable psychedelic trap vibe that ties everything together. The beats are nothing short of astounding; whether it’s the electrifying “Nightcrawler”, a nocturnal banger that sends shivers down your spine, or the smooth and dreamy “Maria I’m Drunk”, a track that effortlessly carries the trap genre to unprecedented artistic heights.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but marvel at the ingenious use of beat switches in this artist’s music. A fair number of their songs incorporate these transitions, and they truly shine in some instances. For example, “Oh My Dis Side” moves from an echoing, cavernous soundscape to a lush, floral one, while “90210” seamlessly shifts from a frosty atmosphere to one that feels like a comforting instrumental hug.

It’s important to note that this project doesn’t delve too deeply into lyrical complexity, but that hasn’t been a defining aspect of Travis Scott’s music. Furthermore, despite Rodeo not being heavily introspective as a whole, it is still Travis’s most reflective album yet, with tracks like the second half of “90210” showcasing some of his most introspective moments to date.

In essence, Rodeo represents a musical journey filled with peaks and valleys that coalesce into one grand narrative. Each track carries its own significance, making the entire experience a thrilling journey to embark upon. Furthermore, beyond its musical value, this album significantly influenced hip-hop after 2015.

The rodeo event played a crucial role in two significant aspects. Firstly, it propelled Travis Scott into a formidable artistic presence, setting the stage for each of his subsequent solo albums to reach number one. Secondly, his unique sound, showcased in the rodeo album, has been extensively imitated by others, yet rarely with the same level of mastery.

Furthermore, the album “Rodeo” significantly contributed to the popularization of trap music over the ensuing half decade. While it wasn’t the sole factor, it’s not surprising that the height of trap’s popularity in pop culture coincided with the years following the release of “Rodeo”.

Despite Travis Scott achieving significantly higher commercial success in the years following its release, Rodeo continues to be his masterpiece. Although Travis has continued to set trends and produce numerous hits, none of his subsequent work has matched the creative brilliance found on his debut album.

In “Apple Pie,” during Rodeo’s closing moments (excluding bonus tracks), T.I. delivers a monologue, expressing his doubts about Travis Scott’s ability to succeed, endure, and triumph in the rodeo. It is now clear, ten years later, that he not only made it but also thrived.

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2025-09-04 18:00