Travis Scott is gearing up for the next chapter in his career. After the success of 2023’s UTOPIA, the rapper is embracing a fresh creative vibe as he dives into producing more beats and recently collaborating with artists like Playboi Carti. Scott is determined to push his artistry to new heights, with the CIRCUS MAXIMUS Tour going international (again).
In a recent interview with Complex, he reflected on his evolving sound and performances, his deep connection with longtime collaborators like Ye, and his vision for the future.
As he prepares for what’s next, Scott is focused on bringing fans along for a next-level experience — one that transcends music and taps into community, art, and culture as his momentum continues to skyrocket.
In 2025, Travis Scott surpassed an impressive milestone, amassing over four billion streams on Spotify, making him the third most streamed rapper on the platform this year. His recent interview makes it clear that he’s building a new world for the La Flame Planetarium to live alongside UTOPIA and ASTROWORLD.
A new era is on the way
It’s been nearly two years since Scott put out UTOPIA — and despite heading back on road for the CIRCUS MAXIMUS Tour, the king of rage is ready to start fresh.
“I’m definitely into a new vibe of making music. Right now, too, I’m super into producing, making the beats again, and getting the sound back. I’m making beats and music for other people, and even for myself. So I’m lining all of that up. I’m excited for Jackboys, and my new album, and Sheck’s new album,” he said.
Along with the new projects, Scott has been getting back in his producer bag as well.
“I’ve been really into beatmaking. Because I think a lot of beats are kind of the same. Like, you’re hearing a lot of the same beats and the same drums. So that process [of beatmaking] is what makes it exciting to make the songs,” he said.
Scott’s Coachella Takeover
The rapper, who took the midnight slot of the festival on April 12th (and will run it back on April 19th), broke down why he was excited to create a “next-level” performance.
“It’s not about Trav, like, ‘Oh, come look at a f****** experience of Travis.’ No, this is a social thing, with all of us. It’s a community thing. I’m just curating it and hoping that you f*** with the idea of what I’m trying to do…Whether it’s me personally, a song I made, something I did, or even an artist that might be signed to a label or something, you have some sort of connection to the experience. Hopefully, it turns you into the illest form of you, and now I can reciprocate the inspiration…” he said.
Scott made sure to follow through on his promise of a one-of-a-kind experience. Showing love once again to the country’s HBCUs, he invited Jackson State’s Sonic Boom and Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 bands to join him onstage for his Coachella intro.
Of course, the stage had plenty of pyros, lights, and special effects to make the king of rage look like an otherworldly being. However, having people suspended during his performance of “STARGAZING” and rappelling from the top of the stage for “Skyfall” made sure to boost plenty of social media chatter.
Staying up late paid off for fans, with La Flame also debuting two new songs (tentatively titled “On Jacques” and “She Goin’ Dumb”) during his set.
Scott created an experience that he says makes some of his previous shows look like “little boy shit”
“…I’m trying to put f****** touchdowns in the end zone. That’s when I can really put the production to play. These other things are like a small man in a box, playing in Funplex (a Houston staple), which is like Dave & Buster’s where I’m from. Now I get to really play the PS5 on a f****** thousand-inch TV, bro. F*** these little weak-ass shooter games with the little laser guns. F*** that Buck Hunter s***. F*** that,” he said.
The time for little games might be over for Scott, but creating with other artists like Carti is still in the forefront.
Scott and Carti are a GOATed duo
Scott is featured on Carti’s new album MUSIC four times on tracks including “PHILLY” and “CHARGE DEM HOES A FEE.” However, their close relationship goes beyond music.
Talking about Carti, Scott said that they make “music freely. Coming up, even meeting him for the first time, I remember he ran into me and he was just like, ‘Yo, [it’s] mad inspiring how you’re making music. It’s crazy.’ Even when we did our first songs years ago, he’s always been down to just create whatever. I think that’s why it always works.”
Being tight-knit paid off when the duo dropped the hit song off of UTOPIA, “FE!N.”
The song was already finished, but Scott had an idea when he linked up with the vamp rapper in their hometown of Atlanta.
“I remember we did a song before that, and before I left, I was like, “Well, I got this one joint I want to play. I’m thinking about putting it on my album. We’ll see if you want to f*** with it.” And when I played it, he was just going crazy … it’s interesting, because every album, I have songs like this. Kind of like ‘Sicko Mode.’ I’ve always had those songs in the mind, where I keep them tucked. I really don’t even play them for my homies. Maybe a couple of homies hear it, but they don’t ever see the full vision until I’m done with it. That was just one of those ones. It was crazy. He did his verse right there. And then when I went back, I was f****** with it, making it the song it is now. It was f****** crazy,” he said.
Scott said it was one of those songs he just knew would be big and recalled the moments he predicted its success.
“When I made the beat, my homie was in the studio, and I’ll never forget, I was like, ‘Yo, bro. I’m telling you. When I do this song, this is going to be one of the craziest joints.’ I used to tell the homies all the time, ‘Bro, the opening of this shit is just like [mimics opening synths with his mouth].’ Every time I hear it, I feel like somebody just set the alarm off in this motherfucker. The first time I did it was in Italy, and the album was only out for a day or two, and that shit was going crazy. I was like, ‘Yes, bro!’ But yeah, even for my new album, I’ve got this joint. And I’ve got this same feeling…” he said.
Scott looked back not only at his relationship with Carti but also with Ye.
Working with Ye helped Scott grow
Despite Ye’s recent rants, which included one about his absence on UTOPIA, Scott continues to speak positively about his former mentor and “his kid’s uncle.”
“That guy took me in when I was young, when I was like 19. He taught me a lot about music. And not even just “taught” me, but he allowed me to experience the creation of music. To create music with him, it’s what helped me grow, making a lot of beats. Whether it’s writing and collabing on music and film or clothes or whatever the fuck it is, just constantly learning…” he said.
He reflected on their conversations about fashion and Ye’s concept of selling music and clothes for $20 compared to inflated prices from other artists.
“I think that’s always been a passion for him. The money never really drove him to do anything. He’s always done things just to get people to be part of good design. If the masses can get it, that’s always the end goal. I feel the same way, too. I think high-priced things aren’t really the future of things. It doesn’t really relatively connect to the everyday person,” he said.
We might get Owl Pharoah in the future
Last August, Scott dropped his second mixtape, DAYS BEFORE RODEO, on streaming platforms to celebrate its tenth anniversary. It eventually rose to number one on the Billboard 200 thanks to vinyl sales. The rapper also teamed up with Spotify for a film recapping the special Atlanta show and showing exclusive footage from the studio creating the project.
“It’s crazy. It’s just the fans holding it down. That mixtape changed a lot for me. I still perform “Mamacita” to this day. “Drugs You Should Try It” is one of my favorite songs that I ever did. It’s amazing to see people hold on to it that long, even though I never put it on streaming services or sold the CDs,” he said.
When asked if Owl Pharoah (his debut mixtape from 2013) will ever hit streaming as well, Scott said yes — he is just “thinking about the right time for that.” After all, he has more shows and music for fans to look forward to this year.
“I’m excited about putting four wheels on the road, if you can catch that drift. I’m excited about new music. UTOPIA was an ultra passion for me, because I had to get that creativity off and I’m glad it’s lasted as long as it lasted. People are seeing it through. And for this next album, I just want to have the most ultimate fun with being creative. The most ultimate fun, taking all the things I learned and packing it in the CD and making it enjoyable to go crazy in the stadium. That’s the idea,” he said.
