"UTOPIA" serves as Houston rapper Travis Scott's fourth studio album that would be officially released through Travis' label Cactus Jack as well as Epic Records on July 28, 2023.[1] The album features guest appearances from frequent collaborators such as Future, Playboi Carti, SZA, Kid Cudi, Drake, The Weeknd, Swae Lee, Yung Lean, and others, as well as additional features from unexpected artists such as Teezo Touchdown, KayCyy, Westside Gunn, and Rob49.[2] The album serves as a follow-up to Scott's previous solo studio album ASTROWORLD as well as his compilation record Jackboys done in collaboration with his label. Upon release, the album was met with an accompanying film entitled Circus Maximus that would be played in select AMC theaters until being made available for viewing on streaming on August 7th.[3]
Throughout the album Scott works with a large variety of producers, consisting of Kanye West, WondaGurl, BoogzDaBeast, Jahaan Sweet, The Alchemist, Boi-1da, BNYX, Wheezy, MIKE DEAN, Metro Boomin, Dez Wright, Allen Ritter, Daft Punk, Noah Goldstein, 30 Roc, and Travis himself, among others.
Background[]
The album would be officially announced in 2020 following the release of Travis' album ASTROWORLD, though would be postponed indefinitely following an incident during his ASTROWORLD Festival in which ten people were killed amidst a crowd crush in 2021.[4]
During the sessions for the record, Travis would work closely with Kanye who would go on to state in an interview with DJ Akademiks that he had recorded multiple features for the album and all of which had ended up being scrapped, likely as a result of his antisemitic rant in December 2022, less than a year prior to the album's release.[5][6] Of these features, the only tracks known to have featured Kanye at any point in time consist of "TELEKINESIS", "Big Champ" (which was later handed off to Roddy Ricch), "GOD'S COUNTRY", "THANK GOD" and "DELRESTO (ECHOES)" and a rumored unheard verse for the unreleased song "Heartbeat" as the song was created during sessions between Travis and KayCyy, though there's been confirmed to exist more than the 6 said tracks and has been confirmed that an entire 15-track copy of the album with contributions from Kanye exists and was created some time in 2020.[7]
Reutilized Tracks[]
UTOPIA is notable because multiple tracks from the album have a direct connection to songs that had originated from Kanye West, more commonly from the DONDA: WITH CHILD and God's Country eras.
"THANK GOD"[]
Main article: THANK GOD
The second track on the album originated during God's Country as a track named "Thank God I Breathe". KayCyy also recorded a reference track for this song called "Devil's Ivy", which was adapted by Travis on the final UTOPIA version. The reference track would leak in August 2023. Despite his feature vocals on the track as well as the major contribution, KayCyy was not credited on the track name unlike other artists which had their names added. This would cause an upset from KayCyy.[8]
"GOD'S COUNTRY"[]
Main article: GOD'S COUNTRY (song)
Track 5 from the album also originated from God's Country, being the title track. The song continued development for release on DONDA, but would ultimately be cut from tracklists by December 2020, where it was presumably given to Travis. The original version of the song was Kanye's with a feature from Travis Scott, however Kanye was cut from the song entirely on UTOPIA. This song would be previewed a few times before the album's release.
"MODERN JAM"[]
Main article: MODERN JAM
While this track (Track 3) is unrelated to the aforementioned albums, the song uses the same drums as an early version of "I Am A God" which was leaked the same day of UTOPIA's release.
"DELRESTO (ECHOES)"[]
Main article: DELRESTO (ECHOES)
Though the song had always been in Travis' possession, the song was initially intended to feature Kanye on the hook instead of Beyoncé as well as vocals from Bon Iver and James Blake. He was likely replaced following his antisemitic rant in late-2022.
"TELEKINESIS"[]
- Main article: TELEKINESIS
The track "Future Sounds" from DONDA was still being worked on as late as July 2021, but was eventually given to Travis and reworked, removing Kanye and instead adding vocals from SZA and Future. It was renamed to "TELEKENESIS" and is track 18 on the album. Kanye would later state in an interview with DJ Akademiks that not only did he originally own the song but was supposed to be featured on it as well but was cut for both Future and SZA.
Tracklist[]
According to Spotify:[9]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "HYAENA" | Jacques Webster, MIKE DEAN, Ebony Oshunrinde, Andy Votel, Derek Shulman, Kerry Minnear, Noah Goldstein, Ray Shulman, Eddie Hazel & George Clinton | Travis Scott, MIKE DEAN, WondaGurl, Noah Goldstein & Jahaan Sweet | 3:42 |
| 2 | "THANK GOD" | Mark Mbogo, Jacques Webster, Allen Ritter, Ebony Oshunrinde, Kanye West, Jahmal Gwin, Finatik, Zac, Stormi Webster & Aaron Thomas | FNZ, BoogzDaBeast, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Allen Ritter & WondaGurl | 3:04 |
| 3 | "MODERN JAM" (feat. Teezo Touchdown) | Jacques Webster, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, MIKE DEAN, Aaron Thomas, Jahaan Sweet, Derrick Robert Ordogne, DJ Jimi & Dion Norman | Travis Scott, Daft Punk, MIKE DEAN & Jahaan Sweet | 4:15 |
| 4 | "MY EYES" | Jacques Webster, Josiah Sherman, Wesley Glass, Ebony Oshunrinde, Joe Thornalley, Sampha Sisay, Dua Saleh, Justin Vernon & Phil Cook | Travis Scott, Wheezy, WondaGurl, Vegyn, Buddy Ross & Justin Vernon | 4:11 |
| 5 | "GOD'S COUNTRY" | Jacques Webster, Samuel Gloade, Dylan Clearly-Kell, Aqeel Tate & Kanye West | 30 Roc, Dez Wright, Travis Scott & ZenTachi | 2:07 |
| 6 | "SIRENS" | Jacques Webster, Josiah Sherman, Jahaan Sweet, Evan Mast, John Mayer, Noah Goldstein, Ebony Oshunrinde, Benjamin Fort, John Fannon, Keith Kabwe, Isaac Mpofu & Simon Christensen | Travis Scott, Buddy Ross, Jahaan Sweet, E.Vax, John Mayer, Noah Goldstein, WondaGurl, BNYX & Psymun | 3:24 |
| 7 | "MELTDOWN" (feat. Drake) | Jacques Webster, Aubrey Graham, Benjamin Fort, Scotty Coleman, Matthew Samuels, Anderson Hernandez & Brytavious Chambers | BNYX, Coleman, Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, Travis Scott & Skeleton Cartier | 4:06 |
| 8 | "FE!N" (feat. Playboi Carti) | Jacques Webster, Jordan Carter, Khadimou Fall & Jahaan Sweet | Travis Scott & Jahaan Sweet | 3:11 |
| 9 | "DELRESTO (ECHOES)" (with Beyoncé) | Beyoncé Carter, Jacques Webster, MIKE DEAN, Allen Ritter, James Blake, Kanye West, Chauncey Hollis, Justin Vernon & Terius Gesteelde | Travis Scott, Hit-Boy, Allen Ritter, MIKE DEAN, Beyoncé, The-Dream & umru |
|
| 10 | "I KNOW ?" | Jacques Webster, Ozan Yıldırım, Scotty Coleman, Josiah Sherman, Kobe Hood, Derek Anderson & Terrance George | OZ, Coleman, Buddy Ross, BBYKOBE, Travis Scott & 206Derek | 3:31 |
| 11 | "TOPIA TWINS" (feat. Rob49 & 21 Savage) | Jacques Webster, Robert Thomas, Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, Wesley Glass, Oliver Rodigan, Harry Edwards, Dylan Clearly-Kell, Henri Velasco, Douglas Ford & Amir Esmailian | Travis Scott, Wheezy, Cadenza, Harry Edwards, Dez Wright & Hoops | 3:43 |
| 12 | "CIRCUS MAXIMUS" (feat. The Weeknd & Swae Lee) | Jacques Webster, Abel Tesfaye, MIKE DEAN, Jahaan Sweet, Khalif Brown, Noah Goldstein & Ebony Oshunrinde | Travis Scott, Noah Goldstein, Jahaan Sweet, WondaGurl & MIKE DEAN | 4:18 |
| 13 | "PARASAIL" (feat. Yung Lean & Dave Chappelle) | Jacques Webster, Jonatan Leandoer, Josiah Sherman, Dave Chappelle, Jahaan Sweet, Joe Thornalley, Noah Goldstein, Anthony Ruiz & Caleb Toliver | Travis Scott, Jahaan Sweet, Buddy Ross, Vegyn, Noah Goldstein & ANTHRO | 2:34 |
| 14 | "SKITZO" (feat. Young Thug) | Jacques Webster, Jeffery Williams, Scotty Coleman, Matthew Samuels, Jahaan Sweet, Rupert Thomas Jr., Nik Dean, Matthias Ringleb, Dylan Teixeira, Travis Sayles, Ebony Oshunrinde, Douglas Ford & India Simpson | Boi-1da, Coleman, Jahaan Sweet, Sevn Thomas, Nik Dean, Slim Pharaoh, Nami, Travis Sayles & WondaGurl |
|
| 15 | "LOST FOREVER" (feat. Westside Gunn) | Jacques Webster, Alvin Worthy, James Blake, Dominic Maker, Alan Maman, Douglas Ford & Elliott Baker | Travis Scott, Dom Maker, James Blake, The Alchemist & Elliott Baker |
|
| 16 | "LOOOVE" (feat. Kid Cudi) | Jacques Webster, Scott Mescudi, Pharrell Williams & Josiah Sherman | Travis Scott, Pharrell Williams & Buddy Ross | 3:46 |
| 17 | "K-POP" (feat. Bad Bunny & The Weeknd) | Jacques Webster, Bad Bunny, Abel Tesfaye, Benjamin Fort, Matthew Samuels, Carlo Montagese, Jahaan Sweet & Bigram Zayas | BNYX, Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jahaan Sweet & DVLP | 3:05 |
| 18 | "TELEKINESIS" (feat. Future & SZA) | Jacques Webster, Nayvadius Wilburn, Solána Rowe, Kanye West, Victory Elyse Boyd, Paimon Jahanbin, Nima Jahanbin, Edgar Panford & Hudson Mohawke | Kanye West, BoogzDaBeast, Travis Scott, Wallis Lane, Jahaan Sweet, Nabeyin & Hudson Mohawke | 5:53 |
| 19 | "TIL FURTHER NOTICE" (feat. James Blake & 21 Savage) | Jacques Webster, James Blake, Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph & Leland Wayne | Metro Boomin, James Blake & Travis Scott | 5:14 |
References[]
Credit to YeTracker
- ↑ https://genius.com/albums/Travis-scott/Utopia/q/release-date
- ↑ https://variety.com/lists/travis-scott-utopia-album-features/
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Maximus_(film)
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroworld_Festival_crowd_crush
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GyuT5iY7Ag
- ↑ https://www.adl.org/resources/article/unpacking-kanye-wests-antisemitic-remarks
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/99ce6cb08ed60df5d12e52aeae68849c
- ↑ https://www.complex.com/music/a/alex-ocho/kaycyy-travis-scott-utopia-feature-isnt-listed-fuck-trav
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/18NOKLkZETa4sWwLMIm0UZ?si=Rb3kru2hTYqzTLTlqHE26w