Travis Scott took the lessons and growth from Days Before Rodeo, released a little over a year prior, and released his first studio album, Rodeo, to the world on September 4, 2015. However, those online leaked the album days before Scott could do an official release.
Scott addressed people’s mixed reviews of the leaked songs in his 2015 cover story with Complex.
“You was supposed to buy my album with an action figure and a USB. It would have been the illest shit ever. This was the opportunity to raise the bar and set the standard. I feel like half the people who didn’t understand Rodeo didn’t because I made Rodeo with this idea of the packaging. That whole packaging was meant to complete my story, but just because I’m young and they didn’t trust the idea this type of shit happens…” he said.
“… I don’t know if I can name another album that has had that profound of an effect on me upon first listen. I appreciate artistry in music more because I listened to Rodeo and enjoyed it so much,” Reddit user Chapter_V said in a 2022 post.
Like any album, not every song on the project is beloved despite Scott diving into his bag with improved production and a darker mood than his previous mixtapes. Some publications criticized Scott’s pen compared to the many featured artists he had, with a 2015 Pitchfork review stating that “His self-proclaimed status as an auteur isn’t dictated by his own talent but by the talent of those surrounding him.”
Revisiting the project in celebration of its ninth anniversary, we ranked the songs from worst to best, not based on commercial performance but collective opinion.
16. “Flying High”
Toro y Moi joins forces once again with Scott on the song while talking about feeling high on life (and also a lil bud). The song is produced by Allen Ritter (who helped produce Ye’s 2016 song “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”, MIKE DEAN (who is seen as a pioneer in Southern rap production), and the one and only Pharrell Williams. However, not even help from the GOAT could get many of Scott’s fanbase to see the track as one of their favorites.
“The chorus is easily the weakest on the project to me. It would not be great anyway, but the falsetto vocals in the back don’t go over well at all imo and make it kinda annoying, which is why it’s my only skip on Rodeo. The verse is also only ok,” Reddit user rapuJalat said in a 2023 post.
15. “Piss on Your Grave”
Scott linked up with one of his favorite artists, Ye, on the wild track. With highly repetitive (and graphic) lyrics, the song, according to Genius, was originally going to be on The Life of Pablo. However, Scott traded in an early demo of his song “FML,” to have this song on the album—but it’s one of the duo’s more forgettable collaborations.
“Ah, piss on your grave. Too bad ye and Travis didn’t make the most out of it. could’ve been developed and layered more to make it sound more complete. a raw and hypnotic banger with the best intro off the album imo but I kinda wish they did more tho,” Reddit user LollySmolly said in a 2024 post.
14. “Ok Alright”
The song is split into two parts (“Ok” and “Alright”) and is the first bonus track on the deluxe version of the album. While the first part has bars from Schoolboy Q, the second part has background vocals from Kacy Hill and uncredited vocals from SZA.
Fans are still debating, though, which half is the worst and which half is the best, making it one of the less cherished songs on the album.
Arguing for first-half supremacy, Reddit user TheAniwebbo in 2022 said that they “understand EVERYONE loved the second half of Ok Alright, but bro that first part is imo just as good, or maybe slightly below it. I also feel like the first half actually somewhat adds to the feeling in the second half with it’s rhythm and longevity.”
13. “Never Catch Me”
Scott brought the producer Wondagurl back into the mix, along with Sonny Digital (the person behind the heartwarming classic “Red Opps”) and Allen Ritter. The song was first played at the New York show of the Rodeo Tour in March 2015 before being revealed as a bonus track in August 2015 in a Beats commercial with UNDFTD.
However, the official release differed from the live performance, as the second verse was cut, and the instrumental was changed. Many people prefer the original, with Genius user KingPushaT commenting, “Definitely the biggest letdown of Rodeo” on the track’s lyrics.
12. “I Can Tell”
Scott got into his producing bag and helped create the song’s beat. On the track, La Flame talks about his life in Houston and his journey as a young rapper growing up there. His vocals drew comparisons to Young Thug, and although it’s a well-liked song from the album, it’s not a favorite.
One thing most fans did agree on, though, is that Scott nailed the ad-libs. “I can tell has the best ‘straight up’ in travis’s discography,” Reddit user zAmaz_ said in a 2019 post.
11. “Pray 4 Love”
Back in 2015, “a leaked version of this song contained Weeknd lyrics that eventually formulated into the Kanye West-produced “Tell Your Friends” from Beauty Behind the Madness.” The song samples the 1964 song by The Four Tops, “Ask the Lonely,” as Scott raps about avoiding heartbreak to avoid further emotional pain.
It marked the beginning of a relationship between Scott and The Weeknd that would produce multiple collabs, and although sonically good, it doesn’t stand as one of the top 10 songs on the album or their shared discography.
“People don’t show it enough love but The Weeknd’s smooth vocals with Travis’s voice really sell the song. The subtle movement between verses are everything,” A Reddit user said in a 2020 post.
10. “Antidote”
“Antidote” initially wasn’t going to be on the album, according to Genius. Hard to believe, considering it was the song off Rodeo that propelled Scott into mainstream rap, but after gaining traction on SoundCloud, it was added to the tracklist.
It’s the song that someone who doesn’t really listen to La Flame would name if they were quizzed on his earlier discography. His die-hard fans know the underrated Rodeo bangers that didn’t get the love they deserved in 2015 which is why it comes in at number ten.
“I know it gets so much love and hate because it’s what blew him up and so attracted many “bandwagons.” But as a fan since 2012, I must say Antidote was and still is an amazing song. Way ahead of it’s time,” Reddit user owlpharaohxx said in a 2020 post.
9. “Nightcrawler”
The song was originally known as “Nightcall” for those who remember the whiteboard tracklist that leaked before the album’s release. Swae Lee’s melodies and Chief Keef’s classic Chicago sound were the perfect addition to Scott’s auto-tuned sound, capturing the mood of a night out with the three of them. Unfortunately, since 2015, though, it has been overplayed on TikTok.
“When Travis says ‘All these hundreds, all these thousands, imma spend it all’ you feel like an absolute boss, like nobody can touch you and your crew. The victorious feeling cannot be overstated!” Reddit user wackypanda22 said in a 2024 post.
8. “Maria I’m Drunk”
Scott, Young Thug, and, surprisingly, Justin Bieber all talk about the nights they can (kind of) remember while surrounded by beautiful women and bud. Split into two parts, “Maria” serves as a short intro, and “Drunk” is the bulk of the song.
Young Thug and Scott synthesize perfectly in the chorus, with Thug singing the first chorus and Scott doing the ab-libs and then swapping later. The leaked version of “Drunk” didn’t have Bieber on it, but his melodic rap contribution was praised when Rodeo was officially released.
The only downside to the song is that an OG demo with an extended version of the “Maria” intro leaked in 2019 and is favored by many as the better track. “I can’t listen to this version no more after I heard the og one,” Reddit user plague_abacaxi said in a 2023 post.
7. “Pornography”
As the first song on the project, it starts with an intro from T.I. before diving into a beat sampling the band ACHE’s 1976 song “Expectation.” Scott named Kid Cudi one of his early inspirations, and you can hear the influence of Cudi’s Man on the Moon: The End of Day in the narration.
This is a common favorite among Scott’s fanbase and is widely regarded as one of the best intros on a trap album, but it isn’t his best song off Rodeo.
“Pornography is one of Travis’s best songs. It’s perfect from start to finish with the TI narrations and possibly the hardest flow switch of Travis’s career. And the outro is unironically angelic in a way,” Reddit user External_Side5611 said in a 2024 post.
6. “Wasted”
The song’s stylistic choices pay homage to Scott’s beginnings. It samples Houston legend Pimp C’s song “Havin’ Thangs ‘06” with a feature from another Southern rapper—Juicy J. Yung Lean and King Krule were allegedly supposed to be featured as well, but they didn’t end up on the final version.
For all of those who love the Houston rap scene, “I feel ‘Wasted’ is easily the most Houston-esque sounding track that Travis has ever made, especially with the Pimp C sample used. Juicy J kills his feature too. I was lowkey reminded of this track when I heard Gunz N Butter from TESTING,” Reddit user bro chi-minh said in a 2018 post.
5. “Apple Pie”
“I don’t want your apple pie, mama,” had to crack the Top 5 of Rodeo. In one of Scott’s more cleverly written songs on the project, he uses the rejection of his mom’s apple pie as a metaphor for jumping out into the real world and building his legacy.
In previous interviews, Scott revealed how skeptical his parents were of his decision to pursue music and production. By relinquishing the comfort and stability of the home he grew up in, a relatable concept for many teenagers, he signifies he’s ready to pursue success on his own—no matter the risk.
Reddit user DefaultyDaniel dedicated an entire post to how “Apple Pie” inspired him to pursue a business idea that’s music-themed instead of going the traditional college route.
4. “Impossible”
Scott, on a beat produced by himself, Allen Ritter, and MIKE DEAN, talks about not having his love reciprocated and his wishes to accomplish his wildest dreams. It’s one of the more emotional and depressing songs on an album filled with club bangers.
Scott uses the beat to illustrate his mood as the lyrics tell a story. The intro is a darker and slower sound, but once the drums kick in and he opens a pack of backwoods, the song picks up until the “impossible” thoughts come back at the end, the beat slows down, and Allen Ritter sings the bridge.
“This song, I am so grateful it exists, but also how it helped me relate in similar situations with the tone of the song. That lyric, “Nights like this, I wish I can do the Impossible”, I can only tell you the countless times I listen to that lyric while staring at the moon,” Reddit user superunkn0wn said in a 2023 post.
3. “3500”
As the first single from Rodeo, the song is referring to the $3,500 that Kim Kardashian spent on a coat for North West in February 2015. The song was originally going to be on Ye’s unreleased project, So Help Me God, but he eventually gave the song to Scott instead.
One of the less overplayed songs on the album to date, some fans believe that it “does not get the respect it deserves. 7 minutes of trap goodness with legends like prime Future and 2 Chainz just dropping auto-tuned emotions and bars beyond your imagination. Don’t even get me started on that Mike Dean guitar riff on the second verse onward combined with the glorious Metro Boomin production,” Reddit user Stabiel said in a 2018 post.
2. “Oh My Dis Side”
The song is split into two (“Oh My” and “Dis Side”) parts as Scott talks about his journey to becoming the rap superstar he is today. With adlibs and a verse from Quavo, its construction is the second-best on the album.
“Oh My” provides the hard-hitting hype sound La Flame fans love to rage to, and “Dis Side” is Scott’s more soulful experimental rap side, pairing piano keys with trap drums during Quavo’s verse.
“‘Oh My Dis Side’ tells the story of a rough come-up and how that grind was worth it in the end now that he’s famous. It’s about how that come-up is now nothing but a nostalgic memory, and he is ready to begin the next chapter of his life. This ties in perfectly with the overarching theme of Rodeo, which is the transition from an unknown young man named Jacques Berman Webster II, to who he is today: Travis Scott, aka La Flame, the superstar,” Reddit user Verdaunt said in a 2019 post.
1. “90210”
Before you argue about why “Impossible” or “Apple Pie” is the best song on Rodeo, hear us out. “90210” exemplifies what makes Scott a force to be reckoned with in rap. The song’s production is the strongest on the album, with an otherworldly beat switch that samples vocals from Ye’s “Family Business” and a chopped-up piano melody from “Intinerario Romantica” by The Blue Sharks.
The beat switch also symbolizes the change of pace in Scott’s life, transitioning from an unknown producer in Texas to a successful rapper in Beverly Hills and the effects of the drugs he talks about consuming during the chorus.
Scott utilizes the beat to sonically mirror his lyrics throughout the album. It’s the La Flame version of a double entendre and a testament to his knowledge of production early in his career. Coupled with the obvious Ye influence, who no doubt sharpened Scott’s producer skills, “90210” is the Rodeo song where the student becomes the master.
