‘Astroworld’ celebrates Houston
Rapper Travis Scott — with help from some big-name friends — shows love for his hometown
“Astroworld” is open for business.
Houston rapper Travis Scott tweeted the release of his latest album, inspired by the former Bayou City amusement park, just after 11 p.m. Thursday night, sending fans, after months of waiting, into full-on freak-out mode.
Even the Rockets got in on the social-media excitement, praising their celebrity fan with a stream of relevant emojis.
The album is Scott’s most ambitious to date and boasts collaborations with Drake, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Migos and more. Along with those abrupt beat switch ups.
Locals likely zeroed in on “Houstonfornication,” the album’s penultimate track. It’s an atmospheric ode to the city —and all its vices — that raised Scott, his struggles with fame and maintaining a normal life.
“I might need me some ventilation
A little vacation/Houstonfornication Mind redefine new renovations Space coupe back out of the space station
Float around town do that on the daily …”
Scott tweeted a stream of thanks just after the album dropped, including several local acknowledgments.
“Don Toliver the young Houston legend it’s ur time # can’t say” — Toliver, a new Houston artist, is featured on the track “Can’t Say.” His own “Donny Womack” mixtape dropped Thursday.
“Can’t Say” also samples “Swang,” a 2006 song from Trae Tha Truth. “Thank u big hawk family for allowing me to keep his legacy going #sickomode” — The late Big Hawk, an influential Houston rapper and member of the Screwed Up Click, was shot to death in 2006.
“MIKE DEAN I LOVE U BRO. REAL LIFE HOUSTON CREATORS. THANK U FOR BEING THE BEST FRIEND I KNOW” — Dean is a music producer from Houston and has worked with UGK, Scarface, Geto Boys, Devin the Dude, Z-Ro, Kanye West, Beyoncé and Madonna.
“THIS IS FOR HOUSTON TEXAS,” Scott tweeted. “MO CITY MY HOME.”
The album includes an homage called “R.I.P. Screw,” which finds Scott employing the Houston icon’s trademark sound and local language:
“Rest in peace to Screw tonight we take it slowly
I just took a four to the head like ‘mayne’
Drop the top on the slab, like ‘mayne’
Off the top of the dome like ‘mayne’
Nothin’ beatin’ home like ‘mayne’
And the Screw tapes on like ‘mayne’
I go Pimp C on the phone like ‘mayne’
Flip side platinum don’t do chrome like ‘mayne’
Had the south side fade, now let the braids hang ...”
Scott almost plays second fiddle to his parade of guests. But his fingerprints are all over the album — in its character, its personality and its bravado. “Astroworld” sometimes plays less like a solo album and more like a curated collection of ideas and artists.
The buildup for “Astroworld” has been nothing short of brilliant. The Houston rapper placed several huge, inflatable gold heads at signature points in various cities. One made the rounds in his hometown, appearing outside Minute Maid Park, Cactus Music and Screwed Up Records and Tapes.
He also unveiled an “Astroworld” merch collection, with pieces available for 24 hours at a time over nine days.
The album rollout wasn’t without controversy. Some accused Scott of being transphobic after transgender icon Amanda Lepore was removed from the cover art. But TMZ is reporting that Scott didn’t know about the edit, and the final version he received from photographer David LaChapelle didn’t include Lepore. LaChapelle, in a nonresponse of sorts, only said Lepore “upstaged” everyone. It’s left all three parties’ Instagram comments in shambles.
Expect “Astroworld,” despite the drama, to go a long way toward cementing Scott as a legacy artist.