detail helps building the presumable, and certainly exciting, feeling of going to Astroworld.
From all seventeen tracks that constitute the album, there are a couple that by all means stand out. Starting with SICKO MODE, feat. Drake, Travis Scott definitely showed he’s not playing! Regardless it’s being one of the most commercial songs, it is a good example of what the album holds. Containing three totally different beats, fast lyrics, a really groovy vibe and of course the participation of one of the biggest rappers of our generation, Drake, SICKO MODE is the perfect song to introduce as well as draw attention to ASTROWORLD.
The second tune in the album is STARGAZING. I have to assume, this is when Travis introduces the fans to a totally new
dimension: his memories of Astroworld. crazy rhythm and the echos make you feel like you are lying in the middle of a galaxy, something that not every musician is able to do.
Next up is my personal favorite, CAROUSEL. Featuring the legend Frank Ocean, this song certainly deserves everyone’s attention. The highlight of the song are the echoes, that when listened to wearing headphones, sound like voices going around in a real carousel and make you wonder if your mind is tricking you. The mixture between Travis’ fast rap and Frank’s calmer and summery verses make this tune exceptional!
DON’T WANNA WAKE UP, feat. The Weeknd, is another go-to song. Abel’s angelic tone and the sensual appeal of the song will make it stick to your mind. YOSEMITE is another high point of the album. Apart from the simple and not very pleasing lyrics, the melody saves the day. The flute-like sound will calm you as well as make you trip for a moment.
That’s not all. Travis Scott also wanted to included some different vibes. 5% TINT has a spooky feel to it, fitting for halloween season.
by Larissa Flora
REVIEW: ASTROWORLD: a ride through memory lane by Travis Scott
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Probably the most anticipated album of the year for the hip hop and rap community dropped on August 3, 2018 and quickly took the spotlights for the music scene. ASTROWORLD is the third studio album of the rapper Travis Scott, who’s mostly known for the hits “butterfly effect” and “goosebumps”. The release took nearly two years to be made, the recording process initiated in 2016 and ended in July this year. The album contains 18 tracks and is 58 minutes long. This piece includes many great features, like Drake, Frank Ocean and The Weeknd.
ASTROWORLD has been causing a lot of controversy since it launched due to many factors. The rapper approached many polemic and relatable subjects, such as love, arrogance, goals, sex, racism, death and many more. Many critics argue about the notable difference between "Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight" (album Travis launched in 2016) and his new album and how the vibe of his songs has changed, accordingly, for worst. Travis Scott’s fans that have been keeping on with his music for longer say that these critics haven’t known him and his work for long enough and this might be one of the best pieces he has ever made. Still, they definitely agree on something: something has changed.
ASTRO was inspired and named after Travis’ favorite childhood place, the amusement park Astroworld, in Houston, Texas. This belonged to Six Flags and was demolished in 2005, taking with it memories from every kid that has ever entered the park. The place hasn’t been used since. Travis claims that “that’s what it’s going to sound like, like taking an amusement park away from kids. We want it back. We want the building back. That’s why I’m doing it. It took the fun out of the city.”
During the writing process, Travis reports, he always had in mind translating a very specific feeling: the one he had when going to Astroworld. Travis planned on translating his deepest memories through the tracks, like walking in to every roller coaster And he absolutely did this! The psychedelic hints behind every song, the striking and wondrous change in the beat that happens in almost every track, the order the album was released; every