“Sloppy Toppy”, a spiritual forerunner of the epic Rodeo “3500” and “Nightcrawler” collaborations, it remains the platonic ideal for when Scott's big plans come together. Peeling it with an extremely finely chopped 1977 Edna Wright sample (produced by FKi 1st and Mike Dean), Scott brings together Migos and Peewee Longway, some of Atlanta's best rappers of the moment, for a delirious sick-joy that always seems on the verge of going off the cliff. It's a posse cut that wouldn't sound out of place on Migos Unlabeled II. Here, Scott is more akin to the coach of the Showtime Lakers, tasked only with bridging the gap, pushing the right buttons to position more talented lyricists to succeed.
He doesn't always need help from guests: On “Drugs You Should Try It,” arguably the mixtape's pinnacle, Scott launches into his version of a soulful ballad, longing for the numbing effects of substances over FKi's hazy, downtempo production 1 st. “I try it if it feels right/Feels good/I've been down and lost for days/I'm glad I found you on the street,” he raps, his distorted voice soaring over rich guitar synths. The words feel raw, even though he's not saying much—a balance that's much easier to achieve as a regular guy than it is as a bigger superstar.
But the more it extends to where Scott flies alone Days before the Rodeo were early proofs that, as a rapper, he generally shouldn't be left to his own devices. If it weren't for the intoxicating emotional ride “Backyard,” where his vocals take the track from party to frenzy, the second half of the project would feel like a slog through harmless, secondary boasting. Already activated Days before the Rodeoit seems Scott is more focused on executing big swings than the more tedious process of finding important or interesting things to say. The new edition's five bonus tracks – all previously unreleased tracks from that era – are not being aired by appointment. “Yeah Yeah” is a welcome opportunity to experience another incredibly fun Thug performance. Otherwise, it's strictly fanservice.
Maybe on review Days before the Rodeoyour attention has been returned to this behind-the-scenes video of 'Skyfall'. It's amazing that the clip exists, a mythic shot that almost morphs into a self-fulfilling prophecy about Scott's journey into the stratosphere. It's representative of the rapper's continued obsession with creating an omnipresent moment in pop culture, a historic clip that makes fans imagine they “had to be there.” Days before the Rodeo it wasn't played on speaker phones in high school hallways and noisy basements just because it was full of jingle bells and real hits. The tape found its audience because Scott's apparent hunger inspired its own kind of FOMO: The bandwagon had arrived. Could you continue before it's too late?
from our partners at https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/travis-scott-days-before-rodeo
