Rodeo was supported by two singles:"3500" and "Antidote". The latter became his highest-charting single in the US Billboard Hot 100 at the time,peaking at number 16. The album received generally favorable reviews from critics and debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200. In May 2017,the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Background
Travis Scott announced the release date for Rodeo through social media on July 17,2015.[1] In the CR Fashion Book,Scott stated his life was like a rodeo and he feels like he is trying to stay on a bucking animal:
It's like a Beyoncé concert. The carnival, the livestock, and the show are all parts of the event. I feel like that's how my life is. The carnival is like my imagination—it's the drive behind my vision. Even though I don't feel like I'm at a point where my shit is at an all time high, we're working to get there. We are working to get to the level of where your magazine is and to stand on that level. The livestock show is the road to get to where I'm going. At this point, I'm riding a bull for just eight seconds and it's hard as fuck. But we made it.[2][3]
Promotion
On January 26, 2015, to support the album, Scott announced he would embark on The Rodeo Tour with Young Thug and Metro Boomin.[4] On January 27, the following day, Scott released two new songs; "High Fashion" featuring Future, and "Nothing But Net" featuring Young Thug and PartyNextDoor. However, neither of them ended up being on the final version of the album.[5] On June 12, 2015, a track titled "Drunk" featuring Young Thug, leaked online.[6]
Rodeo was met with generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 64, based on 15 reviews.[12] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 5.5 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[11]
Roger Krastz of XXL stated, "Overall, Rodeo has plenty of bangers and noteworthy collaborations that help bring out a fantastic trap sound that could bleed into the mainstream of hip-hop in no time".[22] Jason Bisnoff of HipHopDX stated, "Rodeo's back end after "Antidote" begin to mesh together and gets repetitive.... Nonetheless, the originality of Scott's sound within this new movement provides for a strong rookie effort leaving the listener excited for a career that is just getting started".[18] Trazier Tharpe of Complex stated, "Travis Scott made an enjoyable album for his fans peppered with undeniable bangers for his detractors".[15] David Jeffries of AllMusic stated, "With Rodeo, Travis Scott becomes a designer drug".[13] Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews stated, "Somewhere beneath all the hype and production he does shine through".[23] Martin Caballero of The Boston Globe stated, "His versatility, combined with a high-profile guest list, conspires against him; among 14 tracks, Scott conjures just a handful of moments that hint at untapped reserves of talent".[24]
Matthew Cooper of Clash stated, "Yes, the production is razor sharp, the beats are skewed and often very loud which makes them feel important, but in reality, it's all a façade; an image".[14] Kevin Ritchie of Now stated, "Scott goes for spacey sounds, stoner vibes and vocal filters, but despite the eclecticism, he's too elusive and bland for Rodeo to amount to a stylistic--let alone a subversive--statement".[25] Sheldon Pearce from Pitchfork stated, "He is most effective when he harshly distorts his vocals to create texture, and in the company of others he can serve as a welcome change of pace".[19] David Turner from Rolling Stone stated, "Left on his own, Scott can grow tiresome. "I Can Tell" sounds monochromatic without another voice to push this astute curator. Some rock stars are better leading bands than going solo".[20] Matthew Ramirez of Spin stated, "This is a cold, calculated record lacking in personality, though it certainly tries to deliver something that Scott is incapable of".[21]
Rodeo debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, moving 85,000 album-equivalent units, of which 70,000 are pure album sales.[29] As of November 2015, Rodeo has sold 110,000 copies in the United States.[30] In May 2017, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over one million units.[31]
"Ok Alright" features additional vocals by SZA and Kacy Hill
"Never Catch Me" features additional vocals by Tinashe
Sample credits
^[c] "Pornography" contains a sample from "Expectation", written by Torsten Olafsson, Finn Olafsson, Peter Mellin, and Glen Fisher, as performed by Ache.
^[d] "Wasted" contains a sample from "Havin' Thangs '06", written by Michael Barnett, Will Barnett, Chad Butler, and George Clinton, Jr., as performed by Pimp C featuring Big Mike; and a sample from "Let Your Life Be Free", written by T. Noporat, as performed by T. Zchien and the Johnny.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Notes
↑ No longer used on streaming services since June 2023, as the deluxe edition and standard edition have been removed in favor of one complete edition, which uses the standard artwork.
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