Travis Scott supporters have ridden on the Rodeo the past year with the rapper/producer, who captured the attention of the mainstream with his chart-topping major debut album (via Epic Records) and platinum single “Antidote” to match. A champion for ragers and advocate for doing music his own way, the Houston rep has managed to build a strong cult following with his grand, cinematic productions.
On Friday night (Aug. 12) in Los Angeles, Scott hosted his .Wav party (named after his new radio show on Apple Music’s Beats 1 with his DJ Chase B), premiering his new videos for the Young Thug and Quavo-assisted jam “Pick Up the Phone” and the 2015 Rodeo cut “90210,” directed by Hype Williams. There were rumors of a possible release of his sophomore album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, but Scott tweeted earlier in the day that the album would come out on Aug. 26.
Houston ft. Travis Scott – Back to the Block
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“I want y’all to take this album in as whole I’m so anti singles. U will love me for this. Trust in the flame,” he tweeted. His frequent collaborator, esteemed producer Mike Dean, also added on his timeline, “Birds will drop when its done. No sooner. Stop asking me.”
AUGUST 26 2016
BITTSM
SEE U THEN— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) August 12, 2016\
Birds will drop when its done. No sooner. Stop asking me
— MIKE DEAN! #MWA (@therealmikedean) August 12, 2016
Guests were treated to a special installation from L.A.-based artist James Turrell, as well as dolls in Scott’s likeness dispersed throughout the exhibit. In the outside courtyard area, an animation of various birds projected onto a large LED screen. The DJ spun several songs from Scott’s catalog as the man of the night spontaneously sang along and turned up with the crowd to songs like “Pick Up the Phone” and his new record “The Hooch,” which premiered on his radio show.
Scott then premiered the NSFW visual of “Pick Up the Phone,” which finds Scott and collaborators Thug and Quavo of hip-hop trio Migos flanked by half-naked Asian women in a dingy hotel. “90210” then made its debut, featuring Scott as a doll literally tearing up a city and interacting with a female doll. The video, directed by Hype Williams, took four months to make.
Celebrity appearances included frequent collaborator/mentor, Kanye West, who hung out with patrons and snapped photos. Also in attendance was L.A. Reid, chairman and CEO of Epic Records, NBA Houston Rockets star James Harden, singer Pia Mia as well as rappers K Camp and Consequence. In an impromptu freestyle after replaying his videos, La Flame hinted at what was to come at the after party.
“Bring your girlfriends and bring some liq, bring some weed and bring some chicks. All I need to do is bring my d–k.” Anything can happen at the night show.
Listen to the inaugural episode of Travis Scott and Chase B’s .wav show here.