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Utopia (Travis Scott album)

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Utopia
Studio album by
Travis Scott
ReleasedJuly 28, 2023
Recorded2019–June 2023
Studio
Genre
Length73:27
Label
Producer

Tyler, the Creator

Travis Scott chronology
JackBoys
(2019) 		Utopia
(2023)
Singles from Utopia
  1. "K-pop"
    Released: July 21, 2023
  2. "Delresto (Echoes)"
    Released: July 28, 2023

Utopia (stylised in all caps) is the fourth studio album by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on July 28, 2023, by Cactus Jack and Epic Records. The album features guest vocals from KayCyy, Teezo Touchdown, Bon Iver, Yves Tumor, Sampha, Drake, Playboi Carti, Sheck Wes, Beyoncé, Rob49, 21 Savage, the Weeknd, Yung Lean, Young Thug, James Blake, Westside Gunn, Kid Cudi, Bad Bunny, Future, and SZA. Production was handled by a variety of record producers, including Scott and James Blake themselves, WondaGurl, Kanye West, Allen Ritter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Wheezy, Pharrell Williams, Buddy Ross, Vegyn, 30 Roc, Jahaan Sweet, Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, BNYX, Oz, the Alchemist, Dom Maker, Illangelo, DVLP, and Metro Boomin, among others. Utopia serves as the follow-up to Scott's third studio album, Astroworld (2018), as well as JackBoys (2019), his compilation album that was released in collaboration with his record label, Cactus Jack Records (also known as JackBoys) and yves (frequent collaborator and friend of Travis).

The album was supported by two singles, "K-pop" and "Delresto (Echoes)", and is a concept record that was accompanied by a film, Circus Maximus, which was released the day before the album.[1] The album also has four alternative cover arts with different versions to each, in which Scott posted all of them to his Instagram profile in the days leading up to its release, and is also his first project to not be released under Grand Hustle Records as his deal with the record label ended before its release.

Background and recording

On July 8, 2020, Scott first revealed the title of the album when he posted a picture on Instagram with its name, which would later be revealed to be the title. On August 3, 2020, he further teased the title of the album in a thank you letter to fans on the second anniversary of his third studio album, Astroworld (2018).[2] In October, Scott continued to tease the album in a series of tweets.[3] Recording for the album began in 2019 with Scott posting updates throughout recording sessions on social media.[4]

In a February 2021 interview with i-D, Scott said he had been collaborating with new artists while attempting to expand his sound and making songs on his own instrumentals that he had created.[5][6] In May 2021, record producer and audio engineer Mike Dean stated that Scott was recording music that was alike to that from his debut mixtape, Owl Pharaoh (2013), for Utopia. In an interview with Women's Wear Daily in June, Scott described the sound of Utopia, stating that he is "in this new album mode where it's like psychedelic rock".[7] In February 2023, Scott revealed at the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend event in Salt Lake City that Utopia would be released after Don Toliver, Sheck Wes, and SoFaygo, who are his artists signed to Cactus Jack Records, would release their respective projects.[8]

Songs

In June 2021, Scott appeared on the Cactus Jack for Dior Summer 2022 show in which two new songs were played, "In My Head" and "Lost Forever", in which the former song did not appear on Utopia.[9] In August 2021, Scott signed a picture deal with A24 and teased his own film based on the album.[10] On August 6, 2022, Scott performed at the O2 Arena in London that weekend, where he performed the song "God's Country", which was originally Kanye West's song that was originally supposed to appear on his tenth studio album, Donda (2021) or his scrapped album of the same name, but is speculated that West had given the song to Scott for him to use for Utopia. [11]

In May 2023, Scott unveiled a preview of "K-pop", which features guest vocals from Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny and Canadian singer the Weeknd, and was released as the lead single from Utopia on July 21, 2023.[12][13] Later that month, the song "Gold Blackberry" leaked on May 11, 2023, with the instrumental previously used for the Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low Reverse collaboration ad and later for a Nike Attack collaboration advertisement, but it did not appear on the album.[14] That same month, Scott reportedly played songs from the record for the Houston Astros, and revealed that the record was in its mastering stage.[15] During Scott's performance at Rolling Loud in Miami, Florida on July 22, 2023, the song titles "Til Further Notice", "Delresto (Echoes)", "Sirens", "Hyaena", and "Modern Game", as well as the film Circus Maximus were revealed through signs. "Delresto (Echoes)", which features guest vocals from American singer Beyoncé and American indie folk band Bon Iver, was released as the second single from Utopia alongside the release of the album on July 28, 2023.

Release and promotion

Scott's annual Astroworld Festival headlining concert was held on November 5, 2021, and notoriously ended up with the Astroworld Festival crowd crush, which led to more than 10 deaths and hundreds of injuries, sparking worldwide controversies aimed at Scott, leading him to cancel the second day of the set the next day, as well as the whole event the next year.[16] On August 2, 2022, Scott announced a one-week-long residency in the Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas, known as the Road to Utopia from September 17 to September 24.[17] In December, it was reported that the album and a world tour would be scheduled for early 2023.[18]

In May 2023, photos of Scott wearing an unreleased Air Jordan 1 Low shoe with the presumed Utopia logo and his bodyguard holding a Utopia labelled briefcase surfaced online.[19] Record producer and audio engineer Mike Dean also shared his involvement in completing the record with an Instagram post later that day. On June 15, 2023, Scott was seen leaving Abbey Road Studios with his bodyguards, recreating the cover art for the Beatles' eleventh studio album, Abbey Road (1969).[20][21] On June 27, Scott updated his website with the Utopia logo and a decoded pre-order link.[22] Shortly after, new Utopia billboards began to appear across Los Angeles featuring a clock and a lock that fans speculated at a July 21, 2023 release date.[23] On July 9, 2023, Scott shared videos linked to Utopia on social media, including one in which he can be seen working on the project with Rick Rubin.[24] He then announced a launch event for Utopia scheduled to be livestreamed from the Pyramids of Giza on July 28.[25] Following the announcement, an insider told Complex that a release date for the album had not yet been confirmed.[26] Scott updated his website again to share tickets for the event, pre-order links, CDs, vinyl records, and merchandise.[27]

On July 17, 2023, rumors circulated that the Musicians' Syndicate of Egypt released a statement, claiming that due to "information about peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance, contradicting our authentic societal values and traditions, the Syndicate's president and board of directors have decided to cancel the license issued for hosting this type of concert, which goes against the cultural identity of the Egyptian people." However, Scott's manager, David Stormberg, confirmed that the articles that stated that the concert was cancelled were fake. Live Nation, the concert's promoter, would also come with a statement citing such articles as false and that the show would continue as is.[28][29][30] After nearly two years of no updates, it was reported that the A24 film was complete, directed by Harmony Korine, "action-oriented" with Scott starring in it, and filmed entirely in infrared. [31] The following day, Metrograph reported they were invited to a private screening. On July 21, Scott and his DJ, Chase B, appeared on iHeartRadio to promote the previously-released single "K-pop", while also previewing "God's Country".[32] On July 22, in Miami, Florida, during his headlining performance at Rolling Loud, Scott said that the performance would be the last time he performed the setlist from the Astroworld era and that Utopia will be released alongside a film called Circus Maximus six days later.[33] On July 25, Scott tweeted out Utopia's release date of July 28, 2023,[34] and revealed the trailer for Circus Maximus, which would have an AMC Theatres premiere the night before Utopia.[35] On July 26, Live Nation Middle East revealed that the launch party at the Pyramids of Giza would be canceled due to problems with the construction in the desert,[36] to which Scott responded in a series of tweets that he was looking for a new date and would be hosting four more listening parties for Utopia.[37][38] The same day, Utopia totems were found in Utopia, Texas playing a siren-like sound.[39]

Critical reception

{{Album ratings | rev1 = Clash | rev1score = 9/10[40]


Robin Murray of Clash gave the album a score of 9 out of 10, appreciatig it for "its daring, bravado, and continual rule-breaking", writing that "Utopia isn’t built through boasts – there’s a sense of evolution, of a voice chafing against the barriers we erect in our lives".[41]

Track listing

Utopia track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hyaena"
3:42
2."Thank God"
  • Travis Scott
  • West
  • Ritter
  • FnZ
  • WondaGurl
  • BoogzDaBeast
3:04
3."Modern Jam"
4:15
4."My Eyes"
4:11
5."God's Country"
2:07
6."Sirens"
3:24
7."Meltdown"
4:06
8."Fe!n"
  • Travis Scott
  • Sweet[b]
3:11
9."Delresto (Echoes)"
4:34
10."I Know ?"
3:31
11."Topia Twins"
  • Travis Scott
  • Wheezy
  • Cadenza
  • Dez Wright[b]
3:43
12."Circus Maximus"
  • Travis Scott
  • Goldstein
  • Sweet[b]
  • Dean[b]
  • WondaGurl[b]
4:18
13."Parasail"
  • Travis Scott
  • Sweet
  • Goldstein
  • Ross
  • Vegyn
  • Athros[a]
2:34
14."Skitzo"
  • Boi-1da
  • Sweet
6:06
15."Lost Forever"
2:43
16."Looove"
  • Travis Scott
  • P. Williams[b]
  • Ross[b]
3:46
17."K-pop"
3:05
18."Telekinesis"
5:53
19."Til Further Notice"
5:14
Total length:73:27

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • "Hyaena" features uncredited vocals from Derek Shulman and George Clinton
  • "Thank God" features vocals from KayCyy and uncredited additional vocals from Travis Scott's daughter, Stormi Webster
  • "Modern Jam" features vocals from Teezo Touchdown
  • "My Eyes" features vocals from Bon Iver and Sampha
  • "Sirens" features uncredited additional vocals from John Fannon and Drake
  • "Meltdown" features vocals from Drake
  • "Fe!n" features vocals from Playboi Carti and additional vocals from Sheck Wes
  • "Delresto (Echoes)" features vocals from Beyoncé and Bon Iver
  • "Topia Twins" features vocals from 21 Savage and Rob49
  • "Circus Maximus" features vocals from The Weeknd and additional vocals from Swae Lee
  • "Parasail" features vocals by Yung Lean and additional vocals from Dave Chappelle
  • "Skitzo" features vocals by Young Thug
  • "Lost Forever" features vocals by James Blake and Westside Gunn and uncredited additional vocals from Chuck Senrick
  • "Looove" features vocals by Kid Cudi
  • "K-pop" features vocals by Bad Bunny and The Weeknd
  • "Telekinesis" features vocals by Future and SZA
  • "Til Further Notice" features vocals by James Blake and 21 Savage
  • All tracks are stylized in all caps.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[42]

  • Mike Dean – mastering, mixing
  • Derek "206" Anderson – recording
  • John Mayer – guitar (track 6)
  • Caleb Laven – recording (track 17)

References

  1. ^ "Travis Scott Announces Circus Maximus Movie & 'Utopia' Album Release Date - That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Shifferaw, Abel (August 4, 2020). "Travis Scott Thanks Fans for Support on 2-Year Anniversary of 'Astroworld' Release". Complex. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  3. ^ Mendez, Marisa (October 5, 2020). "Goodbye Astroworld: Travis Scott Makes It Instagram Official with Utopia". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (January 20, 2021). "Travis Scott Gifts His Crew Iced-Out Eliantte & Co Chains". Complex. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Reily, Nick (February 24, 2021). "Travis Scott teases new album 'Utopia': "I'm trying to expand the sound"". NME. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Bopari, Danil (February 24, 2021). "Travis Scott: "I want to make a new sound"". i-D. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Socha, Joelle Diderich, Miles; Diderich, Joelle; Socha, Miles (June 25, 2021). "Travis Scott on Dior, Diamonds and His New Psychedelic Rock Phase". WWD. Retrieved June 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Saponara, Michael (February 24, 2023). "Travis Scott's Utopia Dropping This Summer, Says Epic Records Boss". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Navjosh (June 25, 2021). "Travis Scott Debuts 2 New Songs Ft. James Blake & Westside Gunn During Cactus Jack x Dior Show: Watch". hiphop-n-more. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  10. ^ Moreland, Quinn (August 2, 2021). "Travis Scott Announces Production Deal With A24 Films". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  11. ^ Bustard, Andy (August 7, 2022). "Travis Scott Debuts New Music at First Headline Show Since Astroworld Tragedy". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Travis Scott reveals new collaboration with Bad Bunny in Monaco". Revolt. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  13. ^ "Travis Scott Teases Bad Bunny Collaboration". Hypebeast. May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  14. ^ May 11, 2023 (May 11, 2023). "Unreleased Songs From Drake, Metro Boomin and Travis Scott Surface Online". hypebeast. Retrieved June 25, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Gee, Andre (May 16, 2023). "Travis Scott Previewed His New Album for Houston Astros Players". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "Travis Scott went to a party after Astroworld unaware of the tragedy, sources say". NBC News. November 10, 2021. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Ng, Scott (August 2, 2022). "Travis Scott announces seven-night 'Road to Utopia' residency at Zouk Las Vegas". NME. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Travis Scott To Release New Album "Utopia" In 2023 With A Tour". HipHop24x7. December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Lamarre, Cole (May 19, 2023). "Travis Scott's Bodyguard Seen With 'Utopia' Briefcase Handcuffed to His Wrist". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Martinez, Jose (June 15, 2023). "Travis Scott Seen Leaving Beatles' Iconic Abbey Road Studios After 'Utopia' Recording Session". Complex. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  21. ^ Meara, Paul (June 16, 2023). "Travis Scott Recreates Beatles' 'Abbey Road' Cover With Security Team". BET. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  22. ^ June 27, 2023 (June 27, 2023). "Travis Scott's Website Gets Updated With 'UTOPIA' Logo and Pre-Order Code Line". hypebeast. Retrieved June 28, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Hefland, Raphael (June 27, 2023). "Travis Scott teases new album Utopia on L.A. billboards". The Fader. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Rettig, James (July 9, 2023). "Travis Scott Shares 'Utopia' Teasers, Announces Livestream From Egypt". Stereogum. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  25. ^ Legaspi, Althea (July 9, 2023). "Travis Scott Plots Show at Pyramids of Giza, Promotes 'Utopia Packs'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  26. ^ Cowen, Trace William (July 9, 2023). "Travis Scott Announces 'Utopia' Launch Event at Pyramids of Giza". Complex. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  27. ^ Minsker, Evan (July 9, 2023). "Travis Scott Announces Utopia Performance at Egyptian Pyramids". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  28. ^ https://www.esquireme.com/news/travis-scotts-egypt-show-cancelled
  29. ^ "Musicians Syndicate Cancels License for Travis Scott Concert over Concerns of Contradicting Egyptian Cultural Values". July 18, 2023.
  30. ^ "Travis Scott's Pyramids Concerts Reportedly No Longer in Jeopardy over Safety Concerns, "Peculiar Rituals"". July 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Pearce, Leonard (July 10, 2023). "Harmony Korine Has Secretly Directed a New A24 Feature Written by and Starring Travis Scott".
  32. ^ Centeno, Tony M. (July 21, 2023). "Travis Scott Debuts His New Single 'K-POP' With The Weeknd & Bad Bunny". iHeartRadio.
  33. ^ "Travis Scott Makes a Comeback on Day Two of Rolling Loud 2023". Miami New Times. July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  34. ^ Travis Scott (July 26, 2023). "UTOPIA JULY 28th SEE YOU IN UTOPIA" – via Twitter.
  35. ^ Greenwood, Douglas (July 26, 2023). "How to watch Travis Scott's surprise new movie". i-D. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  36. ^ Curto, Justin (July 26, 2023). "No, Actually, Travis Scott's Pyramids Performance Isn't Happening". Vulture. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  37. ^ Travis Scott (July 27, 2023). "Egypt at the pyramids will happen But due to demand and detail logistics They just need a bit a time to set lay on lands. I will keep u posted on a date which will be soon love you alllll" – via Twitter.
  38. ^ Travis Scott (July 27, 2023). "But in good news I had 4 more of these type of experiences in other places. COORDINATES SOON REACH" – via Twitter.
  39. ^ William Cowen, Trace (July 27, 2023). "Travis Scott's Utopia Rollout Continues With Mysterious Totems in Utopia, Texas". Complex.
  40. ^ Murray, Travis (July 28, 2023). "Travis Scott – UTOPIA". Clash. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  41. ^ Murray, Robin (July 28, 2023). "Reviews: Travis Scott – UTOPIA". Clash. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  42. ^ Utopia (digital liner notes). Cactus Jack and Epic Records. 2023.
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