The year was 2015. It was before football practice in August and I was going into my junior year of high school. We were in the locker room and this song started playing super loud on the speakers. All I heard was…
“Don’t you open up that window… DON’T YOU LET OUT THAT ANTIDOTE”
And that was my introduction to the man known as Travis Scott. Back then it was, Travi$ Scott, but the level of the music has never changed. After I heard Antidote I immediately went home and did a deep dive on his music. I had heard of him before, but I never listened to his music until that day at football practice. Now he is one of my favorite artists of all time. He has made a lot of music that will be remembered for generations and now I have to rank my 30 favorite tracks of his. Let’s get into it.
30. Antidote
I’ll go with the very song that introduced me to this man. We all know this one. It has 406 million views on YouTube for a reason. It’s over seven years old but if it’s played at a party, we’re all going to sing the lyrics.
“Anything can happen at the night show”
29. Don’t Play ft. The 1975 & Big Sean
It was still “Travi$ Scott” back then. He had a whole different signature sound in that era. That intense and dark production on each track just brought a whole different aura to each track. What a time man.
“Dealing with a seam you ain’t seen, what you mean Margiela?”
28. Upper Echelon ft. T.I. & 2 Chainz
We have now reached 2013. Also known as, the Owl Pharaoh era. After signing to T.I.’s label “Grand Hustle” this is the first project that Travis put out to get him some major recognition. And not just recognition from the fans, but from his peers as well. He was able to land features from T.I. himself, 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, A$AP Ferg and Toro Y Moi. This was the true start of La Flame.
“Dropped out, got signed, got mom house all in the same year (Straight up)”
27. MAFIA ft. J. Cole
We now fast forward to 2021 with “MAFIA”. This song was part of a 2-track EP that Travis put out before his annual Astroworld festival, which obviously didn’t end up going so well. Despite that, this song is the perfect choice for a nice late night drive. And just like I mentioned during my article on Drake’s songs, sometimes the background vocals are what makes the track. Like how Ty Dolla $ign brought that extra element to both “Jaded”, J.Cole did the same with this song. His background vocals at the end of the song are the cherry on top to an already beautiful piece of music.
“You know I’ma bring a parade if I fall through this town today”
26. Impossible
We have our first deep cut from “Rodeo” making an appearance on the list, and it for sure won’t be the last. Sometimes I feel like people just think that Travis just makes the hardcore “get hype” music, but this song is a lot different than that. In this song Travis is talking about a former girlfriend that he had and how getting over her is the “Impossible”.
25. 3500 ft. Future & 2 Chainz
Just like Antidote, if you hear the beginning of this song you know you’re going to be hype. This song is 7 minutes and 42 seconds of nothing but organized chaos and I love it. Fun fact about this song, the meaning of the title “3500” is because Kim Kardashian spent $3500 on a coat for her daughter North West. A coat purchase created a song that is still being played seven years later. Thank you La Flame.
“Sundays in the city movin’ slow. Thirty-thirty-thirty-five hundred for the coat”
24. SKELETONS
Astroworld has officially arrived. The crime against humanity was this album losing a Grammy to Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy”. That’s nothing against Cardi I think she put out a great album that year, but there’s level to this. And this song right here, is better than every song on that Cardi B album (in my humble opinion). There isn’t much else to say about this beautiful song. Just that…
23. first take ft. Bryson Tiller
Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight has made its first appearance on the list. If you know me you know how much I love Bryson Tiller. And “first take” is one of my favorite Bryson Tiller features of all time. This song is a lot about vulnerability and the dark side of love.
“All the signs I ignored. I play love like a sport”
And then Bryson comes in just saying how even though he did everything for this girl like cancelling everything and bringing her out to Santa Monica. And despite all of that, she still did him dirty. It’s a sad and real reality of some love stories. A very vulnerable and introspective song here by La Flame that I still can listen to over six years later.
“Your mama called to check on me. But you won’t even pick up the phone”
22. HOUSTONFORNICATION
One of his most underrated songs, “HOUSTONFORNICATION” actually shines light on Travis’ rapping ability. While Travis is one of the most creative artists of our generation, he has never really been known to just go on a track and go 40 or more bars straight. But on this song, his songwriting and flow overpower the track.
“I’m hard to catch, that’s the butterfly effect”
21. SICKO MODE
Yes it may have been overplayed, but the quality of the song has never gone away. There’s a reason that it has over a billion views on YouTube. The beat switch, the Drake intro and the Swae Lee ad-libs. This song is perfection.
“Now it’s 4 AM and I’m back up poppin’ with the crew. I just landed in, Chase B mixes pop like Jamba Juice”
20. HIGHEST IN THE ROOM
Real ones remember the Kylie Jenner snippet preview before the song dropped. Travis in this track is talking about how he is so in love with his girl that he is simply intoxicated. Basically, he is the highest in the room wherever she goes because she has a complete hold on him.
“She fill my mind up with ideas, I’m the highest in the room. Hope I make it out of here.”
A big part of Travis Scott’s musical identity is these dark and hard-hitting 808 beats. But one of the most important elements of his sound is the one and only, Mike Dean. His work on the outro in this song is godly. Which brings me to my next song.
19. STOP TRYING TO BE GOD
Probably the most symbolic song on Astroworld, “STOP TRYING TO BE GOD” is a tale that has been told many times in the music industry. It tells a story of when artists get in too deep in their own fame and riches that they lose who they are as a person. Travis is warning artists about God complexes and telling them to remain true to their roots.
“Stop trying to be God. That’s not who you are”
The people who you surround yourself with are very important. They make you who you truly are and if you abandon your circle to chase the money then what does that say about you?
“Stop tryna be God Almighty. F*** the money, never leave your people behind”
18. Skyfall ft. Young Thug
Travis Scott and Young Thug never miss. And “Skyfall” is a perfect example of that. You have one of the best rap duos in the game and then you ADD Metro Boomin. You know it’s going to be a hit.
In a now deleted tweet, Travis talked about the inspiration for “Skyfall” and what the song means.
Inspiration or not. Listening to this song feels like you’re floating on cloud nine for sure.
“The drugs keep on callin’, the sky keep on fallin'”
17. Pray 4 Love ft. The Weeknd
Just like how Young Thug and Travis don’t miss together, you can also imagine how good he sounds with The Weeknd. This song is an underrated cut on “Rodeo” but it commands the respect from every listener. Even though the title is “Pray 4 Love” this song is more about Travis transforming from his old self (Jacques Webster) to who he is now, Travis Scott.
“Let me tell the lost tale about Jacques. Let me tell you how I turned Scott”
The Weeknd feature on this song is just different man. There’s truly levels to this. One last thing about this song is that I learned to never trust CNN. Simply because La Flame said so himself.
“And f*** CNN, they don’t wanna see us win”
16. Apple Pie
If you eat Pumpkin Pie willingly over Apple Pie, we need to speak. That is a heinous decision. The best type of pie and one of my favorite Travis songs.
“Will he make it? Was it worth it? Did he win? Will he survive? The Rodeo”
15. BUTTERFLY EFFECT
We have now entered the top 15 ladies and gentlemen.
“Yeah, never go, never go dip on the set, stayed Santana”
The “Butterfly Effect” is defined as “the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere”. So in other words, it proves how small causes can have big effects. In this song, Travis is using the double-entendre of the word “butterfly” about how he has butterfly doors on his car, but just like how a butterfly never goes back to a caterpillar, he’ll never go back to his old life where he didn’t have all this money. Which is why he says…
“For this life, I cannot change. In the hills, deep off in the main”
14. STARGAZING
I have no words besides…
“Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, got me stargazin'”
This concert video of Travis performing this song at Governor’s Ball in 2018, before Astroworld dropped, is a video I’ve watched over at least 70 times. No exaggeration.
Go to 0:23 of this video to see the greatness. Thank me later.
13. ASTROTHUNDER
This song isn’t lyrical, it’s not a big conceptual piece of the album, but it just sounds right. Another one of his songs that just is perfection on a late night drive. This song is Travis reflecting on how the fast life truly has a hold on him. And despite all his riches, he feels like he has lost control of his own life.
“Sins controlling me, yeah. Angels, halos over me, I need blessings and my peace”
12. I Can Tell
This man has so many hits it’s crazy how this song comes in at #12. There isn’t much for me to say about this masterpiece. Y’all just have to go and give it a listen. This is why Travis Scott is who he is. This is why he has this fanbase. Songs like these.
“And what it do when they wanna be your friend now”
11. NO BYSTANDERS
Even though I am still very sad about Juice WRLD’s untimely passing, I always smile whenever I hear the beginning to this song.
“The party never ends. In a motel layin’ with my sins”
Four years later, I can still go word-for-word with Travis through the whole track. Seeing this song live, not once, but twice was insane. What a song man.
10. Pornography
For people that are either unfamiliar with Travis Scott’s discography, or any family members that might be reading this, this is just the song title. Just a quick PSA for all of you.
The lead song to Travis’ debut album “Rodeo”, is a big responsibility, and this song filled that role better than anyone could have ever expected. The narration by T.I. is subtle, but it holds so much weight over the track. It is perfectly explaining Travis’s journey from his parents house to immediately finding himself surrounded by constant sins.
“They wanna put my soul up on an auction. But I’ma make ’em take the fall like August”
At the beginning of the song T.I. is talking about how Travis, “jumped off his mama porch, leading the stampede of lost souls”. By the end of the track, Travis has officially transformed into the alter ego that has followed him ever since. La Flame. And La Flame has a message for the youth at the end of the song.
“La Flame says, “Let your ambition carry you”
9. the ends
Don’t y’all love it when artists drop albums without telling us any of the features? Like when Birds and Astroworld dropped it was so hype just listening to each song and waiting for features. I hope he does the same thing with Utopia too.
And that brings me to my point, this man Travis had a surprise Andre 3000 feature. The crazier part is that he was supposed to narrate the whole album, but he could only do the one verse. And that verse is one of the standout parts of Birds. So shout out to three stacks.
“They don’t want to see me in the ends, in the ends”
8. Mamacita ft. Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan
*Deontay Wilder voice* To this DAY, I still believe if Thug and Rich Homie Quan stayed together they would’ve been one of raps top duos. “Mamacita” was the second single released for La Flame’s second mixtape, “Days Before Rodeo”, which is considered a cult classic with rap fans.
“This the last days to the rodeo. Last night had me down in the back, comatose”
If you want to know the impact of this song. Go to 8:42 of this video of Travis performing it at Austin City Limits in 2018. Legendary.
7. 90210 ft. Kacy Hill
A lot of people have this song as their favorite Travis song of all time. And honestly, I can’t even be mad at it. You listen to the first twenty seconds of this song you feel like you’re floating into a different world. The whole Rodeo album was just a big homage to his transformation from Jacques Webster to La Flame, and this song highlights that transition.
“Jacques turned La Flame, now he rolling on an Addy. Fifty on a chain, ‘nother fifty on a Caddy, oh”
After the beat transition he starts to talk about different topics like adjusting to his new responsibilities as both an artist and as a human being. Fighting the battle between living two different lives. He is acknowledging the grind and determination it took to get there, but he’s also talking about how he might be pushing himself to his limits. Even granny knows that he needs to slow down before it all engulfs him.
‘My granny called, she said, “Travvy, you work too hard I’m worried you forget about me”
6. Quintana Pt. 2
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here to tell you that Travis Scott cannot go a day… without finessing.
“Finessin’, finessin’ (Straight up). I can’t go one day without finessin’ (La Flame)”
An underrated rated part of Travis’ career is for sure T.I. The features and narration on different projects have really added character to the art.
“Tell me why she wanna leave me? She used me to get high”
5. Maria I’m Drunk ft. Young Thug & Justin Bieber
How do I explain this track to someone who is new to Travis Scott? It’s like 90210 on steroids. Let’s first explain the relevance of the title. This song is about Travis being submerged into his weed addiction. Marijuana, or in this case “Maria” for short, The track immediately starts off by saying how Travis is lost without the drug.
“Made it to L.A., yeah. Finally in L.A., yeah. Lookin’ for the weed though, tryna make my own dough. Callin’ for Maria. Lost without Maria”
Now this next part may just be my interoperation of the song, but I’ll tell y’all anyways. I look at “Maria I’m Drunk” as Maria introducing herself to drunk. Like Travis himself is the role of Maria because he’s looking for the “Maria”, Justin Bieber is the “drunk” role and then Young Thug is the both substances combined.
“I know you stay sober (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy). I’m sure a few drinks won’t faze you”
4. pick up the phone ft. Young Thug & Quavo
Y’all remember Summer ’16? This was the ultimate Summer ’16 song. I remember how hyped I was the first time I heard it. The combination of Young Thug, Travis & Quavo is a combination that is undefeated.
“Never will I cheat on you (Yeah). Never will I commit treason. Blowin’ a bag on you (Yeah). Do all of that for no reason”
Fun fact about this song. It was released on June 10th, 2016, three months before Travis dropped Birds. During Quavo’s verse, he said this…
“Birds in the trap sing Brian McKnight. Percocet and codeine, please don’t take my life (My life)”
Travis heard that and then went on to name his album after that one line. So shout out to Quavo for a super unique album title.
3. Oh My Dis Side ft. Quavo
Huncho Jack. The underrated duo of our time. That album is a masterpiece in itself, but it really started with this song right here. I feel like half of these songs on this list have a significant beat switch. And this song has one of the best ones.
“I’ve been up for a long time, oh my”
This song is separated by two parts. Part 1 being “Oh My” and “Dis Side”. During the “Oh My” portion of the song, he discusses his come up and what it took to get to the top, including getting kicked out of his house and having trouble in court.
“Mama kicked me out the house now, oh my (Woo)
I might end up on a couch now”
“Dis Side” is him telling the story from the success point of view, but he’s reminiscing to the times in his hometown. He’s telling his old self about what it’s like on “Dis Side” now. You add an A+ Quavo guest verse to this concept. And you get a musical masterpiece.
2. CAN’T SAY ft. Don Toliver
This song can simply be up here just due to the fact that it introduced the world to Don Toliver. Just know whenever I hear those opening lines to this song… I’m gonna go crazy for 3:17.
“Gang too wavy, move like Navy Seals. I’m too wavy, think I need a Lyft”
1. Drugs You Should Try It
The blueprint is right here. The best Travis Scott song of all time (in may humble opinion). Fun fact about this song, the harmony used throughout the song is just the outro reversed. This song is up there with my favorite songs of all time. As he tells you to try drugs in the title, he is using this song to explain both his first experience with drugs and unexpectedly falling in love with a girl he’s been around.
“I try it if it feels right (Oh). This feels nice. I’ve been down and lost for days. Glad I found you on the way”
Travis draws a parallel between love and drugs. I think that he is trying to highlight that they can be good and bad for you. They can bring happiness and stability to your life, but they can also be either temporary or permanent. The dark side of both is that it can ruin your life and mental health, slowly derailing you from the path of happiness. Despite the risk, Travis is telling the listener to go with the flow, take a chance and chase the night away…
Well there you have it. My 30 favorite songs by Travis Scott. La Flame himself. A lot of great songs missed the cut, but I’m happy with my rankings. Let me know what y’all think. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
