In June, Travis Scott was photographed leaving Abbey Road Studios in London, one bodyguard behind him and another two in front like a shitty Xerox of the Beatles. And of course, there was the UTOPIA briefcase, a MacGuffin motif that recurred across DSLR photos of Bad Bunny and The Weeknd before being “forgotten” by Drake at Starlets. It’s an album rollout that thinks it’s YEEZY Season 6 but looks more like “Kylie Jenner’s Car At Timothee Chalamet’s House Amid Dating Rumors;” personal assistants probably told the paparazzi what time to arrive.
Aspiring to be Kanye West and coming out looking like a Kardashian is nothing new for Scott, who is neither as radical nor as unhinged as Dior and Reese’s Puffs would like you to believe. But UTOPIA is an egregiously underwhelming misstep from an artist whose melodramatic studio albums have always been meticulously overstuffed and manicured. On 2018’s Astroworld, Scott seemed like he was coming into his own, even if he was continually upstaged by his guests: the most interesting person at a party is rarely the host. Five years later, UTOPIA makes the case that Travis Scott can single-handedly ruin a good time no matter how many cool people show up.
Take a step back: this is an album by a guy whose festival inadvertently killed 10 people. Whether Astroworld 2021 is his fault is up for debate — a grand jury in Texas declined to indict Scott, or anyone, and lawsuits continue to be settled. Scott has expressed, via greyscale Instagram story, softball Charlamagne Tha God interview, and Rick Rubin therapy session in promo flick Circus Maximus, his remorse and guilt. He’s also gestured at taking safety at live shows more seriously. It’s tempting to paint Scott as callous, but he is far too vacant for that strain of capitalist sociopathy. He’s just an empty mouthpiece, a guy who wants solutions but lacks the inclination, or indeed, the ability, to seek them out himself. Scott is content to leave concert safety in Houston and Giza up to the guys at LiveNation, who have famously done so well.
Mercifully, Scott isn’t stupid enough to try and atone for visceral sins on digital wax. If someone woke up from a five-year coma today, it’s unlikely much about UTOPIA would come as a surprise (perhaps Rob49 and Beyoncé). By now, Scott’s tics and rhythms have calcified: U-turn beat switches, autotuned ad-libs, big producers, bigger features. He has a penchant for gothic maximalism with indie flourishes, prog rock samples and pyrotechnical theatrics underscoring epic moments in a manner approximating heterosexual camp. When the stars align, you can practically see the dopamine flowing in real time. The other 80% of the time, it feels like watching a children’s play, with Ye and Mike Dean audibly whispering his lines from stage left.
This is not Travis’s Yeezus. Yes, he’s using an old Daft Punk beat for “I Am A God” (“MODERN JAM”), and yes, he has Swae Lee and The Weeknd singing over a “Black Skinhead” ripoff (“CIRCUS MAXIMUS”), but UTOPIA is a bit more buttoned up. Scott’s idea of “raging” has always been sanded-off, more instructive than expressive; it’s easy enough to imagine his handlers at Epic Records ordering him to avoid any risky actions or sounds that could injure income streams.
UTOPIA is the safest Travis Scott release yet. So the yelps on “MODERN JAM” are muted, although Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo’s rounded-off 808s provide a deliciously flubbery springboard for Scott’s best clunkers. Sure, “I’m on fire, the new Burning Man” is Swaghili-level dumb, but this is music to go dumb to: don’t overthink it. Perfectly adequate Bad Bunny duet “KPOP” is appended with an interminable verse from The Weeknd, just to make sure the streaming numbers look as good as the inexplicably Japanese single cover. 21 Savage showed up and that’s all that needs to be said about the Heroes & Villains scrap “TIL FURTHER NOTICE.”
Naturally, Beyoncé’s performance here is without fault, but if “DELRESTO (ECHOES)” was truly great, we’d have heard it on RENAISSANCE. The song is nowhere near as interesting as Queen B’s vote of investor confidence. The other obvious bits of foraging are DONDA castoffs “THANK GOD,” “GOD’S COUNTRY,” and “TELEKINESIS,” the latter of which entered the world as “Future Bounce.” Unlike the rest of Scott’s leftovers, UTOPIA breathes new life into the track, if only by passing the baton to Future and SZA.
“TELEKINESIS” is a great example of why people bother with these records in the first place. Travis Scott is among a handful of major rap stars with the connections and budget to get James Blake and Playboi Carti on the same album. When he manages to avoid fumbling, Travis Scott is a team player par excellence, selfless or self-aware enough to always pass the ball to a better scorer.
Drake saunters through like The Phantom of the Opera to “MELTDOWN” Pharrell’s chains; Pharrell’s beat for “LOOOVE” suggests Neptunes fans should take a note from Aubrey and stop caring about “all of that heritage shit.” Elsewhere, Rob49 confronts a moral dilemma: “Travis, what if they twins and they Siamese, but they wanna fuck us both?”
In a crowd of colorful guests, Scott’s contributions can feel listless. His rapping is more dexterous than ever, but he’s still saying things like “deep in her throat… I’m her favorite beverage.” When Westside Gunn swans into the Alchemist-produced “LOST FOREVER” with “poles in the Rolls/…alligators on the toes,” it makes a decent Travis verse look bland and unfocused.
Scott often catches flak for his dearth of charisma, the sense that there’s nothing beneath the Vetements and Bottega. But sometimes the lack of charm is charming, refreshingly unpolished rather than off-putting. The album’s best song “I KNOW ?” feels as delirious and delicate as maintaining a balanced buzz at the end of a long night. “Tell me, is you still up?” Scott mumbles. “It’s five A.M. and I’m drunk right now/Tell me, can we still fuck?” If “Maria, I’m Drunk” was dancing on the tables, “I KNOW ?” is nodding off in VIP.
But when UTOPIA is bad, it’s pretty awful, marred by tone-deaf and tune-deaf artistic decisions. “MY EYES” is ruined by one of the album’s few comments on Astroworld: “If they just knew what Scotty would do/to jump off the stage and save him a child.” Nobody comes to a Travis Scott album for substance, but the lip-service goes beyond offensive to malicious. “HYAENA” and “SIRENS” sound like Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho rejects; the omnipresent Rosemary’s Baby sample on “GOD’S COUNTRY” screams immediate skip. “PARASAIL” is gorgeously placid, though Dave Chappelle saying “I fall, but I get up/I stand tall” suggests a serious martyr complex. And The Weeknd’s work here may be even worse than his contributions to The Idol.
Last week, Scott’s plans to debut UTOPIA with a live show at the Pyramids of Giza were derailed, either by “demand and logistics” or Egypt’s Musicians’ Syndicate. “But in good news I had 4 more of these type of experiences in other places. COORDINATES SOON REACH” he tweeted (Rihanna’s “infamous” 777 tour comes to mind). It’s pop spectacle designed not for those fans in attendance, but for those at home, streaming and stanning. Music is just the top of the sales funnel. But even at the peak of the merch bundle wars, it felt like Scott respected listeners, or at least himself, enough to make an effort on his solo albums.
UTOPIA dispenses with the pretense. This is an album with nothing to say and everything to sell. Depressingly, there’s nothing to suggest that this won’t work out great for Travis; fans love Her Loss and critics will tell you Greta Gerwig wasn’t marketing dolls. But a bad album still sounds bad, no matter how many sweatshirts people buy. If Travis Scott doesn’t care about art, whatever. But someone on his team should remind him that good music makes for better advertising.
Sounds like someone who has to accept La Flame’s redemption tour like castor oil, and is given a platform to go off! The review should say “look, it’s not his best effort, I’m going to say how bad it sounds, but the majority of y’all won’t care, because you’ll listen anyway”. And I am: again and again and again because Utopia bangs , Stupid! TF?
It’s all about adjusting, either you change with the time or you’re at a standstill. Terrible review and a great album. He’ll retract this article later.
No we won’t
Cool review, but album dope as duck to me.
You literally have no idea what you are talking about, some of your takes don’t even make sense. Your status as ‘professional music critic’ needs to be revoked, because you need a decent understanding of the elements of music to construct a professional review, yet you display none of that.
big cope, the album sucks. Time will tell and it’s already telling
Oh yeah for sure if you look around it definitely tells you that… bomboclat
The review is too long, takes too many personal shots and sounds like a long rant by a scarred ex. Bad journalism
I agree. It’s the same way I respond to reviews that I don’t agree with.
Very bad journalism. I’m quite taken aback by this review.
I totally agree
How can you rate Honestly, Nevermind 3,9/5 and think that we will take you seriously
Album is trash
” “HYAENA” and “SIRENS” sound like Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho rejects; the omnipresent Rosemary’s Baby sample on “GOD’S COUNTRY” screams immediate skip. ” Do you guys have any idea what you’re talking about?
How are you gonna give Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind (one of the worst albums created by date) a higher rating than this?
“White acceptance chasing”. Black people bringing up race. *yawns*
Vivian got some of the worst takes of all time. Shocked to see he rated Honestly, Nevermind 3,9/5. Either blatant bias or just laughable musical opinion. Even Fantano (who has questionable criticism) can put together an objective analysis.
Album easily 4.5
This album was a dumpster fire. Shit was like a mix of pop and whale sounds or suttin. 5 years for this man? Naaaah
As soon as I saw the album cover I knew was album was gonna be gay af! Give us the sheck was album and gtfoh with this utopia nonsense
Dudes literally tried to brainwash us with this experimental mind control bullshit that’s why it took 5 years to drop. This dude is too obvious when it comes to evil shit
I am a 40 year old Hip Hop head. I love NaS, Mobb Deep, CNN, Black Star etc
However I am open minded and listen to plenty of the next gen rappers.
Travis is cool and this album slaps hard, this review is absolutely ridiculous. It’s a 4/5 for me but I’m giving it a 5 to balance out the BS!
I can say you’re the first person I’ve ever heard say they like all these respected MCs then in the same breath say anything by Travis Scott is good. Dude is unlistenable.
He has a tracks with the likes of Andre 3000, Westside Gunn, Pusha T.
Yasiin Bey features in one of his film clips.
so I may be the first person you’ve heard make that statement but I’m clearly not the only one.
I never said Travis was the same calibre MC as those legends, I said the album slaps, which it does.
Very commendable review. I smoked a whole blunt to this album with my brother. Shit sounded like Yeezuz 2.0. Dude is straight booty with no identity and wack adlibs. Fake stadium music.
Well next time buy some proper weed and not some shit from the gas station maybe?
Friendly advice, don’t @ people over opinions you disagree with. Especially with wack jokes. It proves that you’re soft and you’re butt.
Replying with a joke to you means I didn’t take it seriously, not that I’m soft, what kind of flawed logic is this?
That was a weak joke tho you gotta admit.
Don’t you think that only cuz it damages your business?🤨
The album is not that bad
Finally! An honest review! The niqqa been a f#$%!*g sleeping pill for how long now? Unbelievable what a haircut can do! The niqqas a fuckin movie of the week at best FOH 0/10
The album is autotune garbage
no lol just cuz u dont understand it doesnt make it garbo
Cool story bro
This review seems to be more focused on Travis than the album lol. Yeah this sounds like a ripoff of Kanye and Yeezus, but that isn’t a bad thing to rip off. I’ve only peeped the first 7 tracks, and it was hit or miss. Some sections of it were epic, others didn’t hit.
Still, for a mainstream pop album, this is excellent compared to most of the music coming out today. I commend Travis for not making a basic trap album, or another Astroworld (his worst album by far). I gotta listen to the rest of Utopia, but am impressed with what I heard so far. This review reads so poorly, the bias is omnipresent. Giving a 5 to make up for the comical 2.4.
Travis sucks and so does this album. Ain’t nobody checkin for this fool albums in 2023.
I dont even like Travis Scott and havent listened to this album at all but the person who wrote this review sounds less like a journalist and more like a jaded ex-lover. Save the personal insults and random stray shots at Greta Gerwig for your personal twitter feed next time because including them here makes tou look like a melo-dramatic unprofessional hack.
I’d never heard a Travis Scott track before I listened to some of this album. Don’t get what all the hype is about. Album is a 2/5 for real. I’ve listened to a lot of newer rappers (Joey Badass, Marlon Craft, etc.), and this has been the worst I’ve heard in a while.
Yeah this review is garbage. Your expectations of Travis Scott are unreasonable and unfounded. He had a Kanye moment, a Drake moment, a Young Thug moment, a Beyoncé moment and several Justin Vernon moments on this new album. What more could you ask for?
For them to actually be good, rather than a novelty
Was this a review or an execution 😆 I love it. Yall got Travis and Kardashian fans heated ah up in here. I agree. The album is wack. I’d get harder joints listening to skeletons playing the piano.
– 👨🏼🦳
Hey Vivian it might be best if you have a personal dislike for a person it might be better having someone review the album. I’m more curious as to what Travis did to you personally. Now can we get a non bias review please. Carry on!!!
Travis must be paying fans for these comments. That album is just as hot garbage as his careers ever been. Don’t know why anyone with a quarter of their brain still functioning would listen to this shit
Actual talent?
Utopia is NOT boring, smh. So sick of these folks’ opinions when their own hip hop knowledge is sus. Who is Vivian’s top 5 or top 10? Got folks up here discussing the culture who don’t even know about the culture. “Just because she wrote a long article doesn’t mean she right, just means you don’t understand all the B.S that she writes”
This is a bad review, ironic the way there calling Utopia subpar when in reality the music is fine, great actually, the journalism is sub-par if not piss poor. I think the journalist should be fired or reevaluate his/her profession, far too many personal shots u can tell its bias.
Having someone review an album who vehemently doesn’t like the artist sounds extremely dumb and pointless to me.
What do y’all think?
Imagine giving utopia a 48/100 and coi leray a 74/100. Beyond delusional lol
Imagine giving utopia a 48/100 and coi leray a 74/100. Beyond delusional lol
I don’t even like Travis Scott, but this review was so cringey.
If you want to be Perez Hilton just do that and leave music reviews to someone else.
There have been bad reviews and then there’s this review. I legit read through this and I have 0 clue where a lot of these comments are coming from. I genuinely think that Utopia is one of the best, if not THE BEST rap album this year, but I can admit that there are faults. However, you literally just took personal shots at him and it feels like you made up stuff just to have more substance. Hyaena and Sirens are nothing like HJJH lmaooo. Also, how tf is My Eyes ruined by that one line?? How can you vilify him for that? Look, if you don’t like Utopia, please use real musical problems instead of just saying stuff about the Astroworld concert or his celebrity status to beef up your review. Jeez, do better
Album is Ass
The Album is Ass.
Straight doo doo
Why is e eryoney so upset about a mid score for a rapper who isn’t even that great at rapping or even much of a lyricist. Don’t get me wrong，that doesn’t mean the album is bad but what are we talking about? Is Travis the gold standard for hip hop now? All of this stuff is pop music with rapping. Again，that doesn’t automatically make it bad music but I don’t get why rap fans would get upset about this here…
This, the album is ok. I did not anticipate people defending travis in this comment section like he was Nas lol.
For anyone defending this poor excuse of an album, let us known5 years from now how good it is.
Nope!
I couldn’t finish reading this review because it sounds biased as hell, I don’t know who assigned this person to review this album, this VIVIAN MEDITHI didn’t leave their personal feelings about Travis at the door when it came to reviewing this album. My take on the album is it had similar vibes to the previous album but without a standout hit like Sicko Mode and my personal favorite Stop Trying to Be God. Other than that it’s a decent album, I don’t think I’ll be listening to this as often as Astro World, but I can find a favorite song to put on my playlist.
This was terrible. Either you’re mad he’s knocking down that white girl. Or you’re mad he skated on that astroworld nonsense. Either way you are a racist
Vivian Medithi u a stupid dumb ni@@a
Vivian Medithi u a stupid dumb ni@@a