From Astroworld to Utopia: The Evolution of Travis Scott’s Sound

            Travis Scott, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II, has been releasing music for nearly a decade and a half and has been working in the music industry for nearly 2 decades. Travis Scott's albums Utopia and Astroworld are both alike and different. The albums at their cores are similar because they are made by the same artist but are different because Scott refined his craft and knew what he wanted to do with his sound.

            Astroworld is a psychedelic trip into Travis’s mind, revisiting the feelings he felt when visiting his favorite, now defunct, amusement park, Astroworld. Astroworld, the album, instills a sense of nostalgia in the listener, as if you were feeling the same emotions that Scott feels when thinking about the amusement park. Many fans consider Astroworld Scott’s best work and also debate whether it could be the best rap album of all time. Even after the release of Utopia, many fans continue to return to Astroworld simply due to the feelings that it instills in the listener. 

            Travis Scott’s next album, Utopia, would generate much discussion after its release. Many fans were disappointed with the album due to the long wait between albums, 5 years, and the fact that they did not believe the album was better than Astroworld. Utopia had been in the works since the release of Astroworld and had been teased since 2020; with that being said, the hype for the album was unbelievable. Scott had said on multiple occasions that he was returning to his roots with this album after getting the idea from his daughter when listening to some of his earlier music with him. With this return to his roots, he also left behind the psychedelic production from Astroworld that so many fans adored. Rick Rubin contributed his ideas to the album, and this can be felt. Rubin states in his book that he believes that when creating, you are always collaborating, whether that is with the world, your experiences, your tools, your audience, or yourself. This idea of always collaborating can be seen in the album with this idea of Scott returning to his roots. In the years after the release of Utopia, fans have become more positive in their opinions of the album, with some even liking it more than Astroworld.