THE 2018 ALBUM ‘ASTROWORLD’ EXPLAINED: THE ROLLERCOASTER THAT BECAME TRAVIS SCOTT’S LIFE (THREAD)

LONGGGG THREAD BY THE WAY, i was also planning on adding a review but by reading this you’ll probably have an idea of how i feel about this album, anyways enjoy! (retweet this for exposure this took me a min)

ima just START by saying everything about this album is amazing, the psychedelic production, the flows and verses, the storytelling, the features he uses to convey and perfect his vision, everything. it’s such a beautiful, cohesive, unique piece of music, from start to finish..

and i believe everyone should experience the album they way i see it. to say it changed my life is a bit of an overstatement, but it vastly changed how i perceived music and it’s concepts. this is why it’s been my favourite album of all time, ever since the very first listen...

it’s more than just a trap album to me. it’s the musical embodiment of a living, breathing theme park, with the highs and lows of a rollercoaster, and the thrill and joy of the events it possesses (whatever that means lmao). this is Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD.

STORY OVERVIEW: this album is a continuation of Rodeo, where we’re introduced to Travis Scott’s past and who he ended up becoming. now we dive into a more personal story where Travis tackles the endless grind, fame, drugs and sex that come with his fast, lavish lifestyle.

it’s stopping him from achieving the life he truly wants deep inside. this is the story of how he overcame these vices and bettered himself, 3 years in the making.

STARGAZING, CAROUSEL, SICKO MODE: our introduction to the themes of drugs, sex and fame Travis has become immersed. he talks about the endless grind of his lifestyle, how he’s made it to the top, he looks back at it all, and for a moment, he’s happy. but deep down he wants more.

on top of that, he also fears of losing his fame, which is where the paranoia and depression comes in. he’s overwhelmed, and resorts to drugs, beginning the cycle of chaos.

R.I.P. SCREW, STOP TRYING TO BE GOD, NO BYSTANDERS: he’s now slowing down, the aftermath of the chaos. R.I.P. SCREW is also a tribute to a hometown legend DJ Screw, who slowed down music, created the chopped and screwed style. he introduces the themes of failing to form..

relationships, and compensates for it with his money. with this in mind, he slowly loses it again, and ascends back into the chaos that is 10 hour flights, endless grinds, hotel rooms and “fucking the club up”.

SKELETONS, WAKE UP: as you’d expect, he comes back to drugs and sex. SKELETONS is essentially a trip, which is what makes it so beautiful. it’s the musical form of ascension, tell the tale of how he feels like he’s in slow motion, and floats away from his problems.

but these dark thoughts linger in the back of his head, represented by the background vocals throughout the song. WAKE UP sees him, as the title implies, not wanting to wake up from his trip. he does not want to get back on his grind. the drugs and sex now consume him.

5% TINT, NC-17: he’s beyond paranoid and he no longer knows who to trust. he feels like every girl he meets is just after the money. NC-17 is the switch up, he no longer cares. him and 21 go on to talk about how sex has no substance, but they just keep going back to it.

ASTROTHUNDER, YOSEMITE: he begins to acknowledge he wants to better himself from the drugs, sex, and his lavish fast lifestyle he leads. “seems like the life i need is a little distant, yeah” he raps. but he later begins to see the good of all the changes in his life in YOSEMITE.

he realizes he’s blessed. instead of delving into chaos, he sees the complete opposite. the flute, guitar instrumentals mixed with humming make for a dream like place of tranquility. it’s almost like he’s visiting Yosemite National Park.

CAN’T SAY, WHO? WHAT!, BUTTERFLY EFFECT: our character begins to doubt he can ever escape the lifestyle he’s trapped in. he has to watch for cops, does drugs, has sex with women who don’t love him for him. but soon he starts to embrace it. maybe it’s not so bad after all.

by WHO? WHAT! he becomes confident about himself. he is accepting who he is, and he’s ready to fight anyone who talks down on him. he begins to relieve his seemingly endless stress. with the events of late, he takes another, more joyful trip, in BUTTERFLY EFFECT. he looks back..

and speaks on his ways and accomplishments, says “for this life i cannot change”. he’s happy with what he’s become, for now.

HOUSTONFORNICATION, COFFEE BEAN: the final turning point of the story, where he achieves the confidence he needed to finally address his flaws, change his ways. he talks about the ongoing themes, such as how much he gets faded, how women just have sex and leave him. he’s fully..

determined to find his peace. he knows it’ll be difficult, but his addictions aren’t worth giving up on the life he desires. by doing this, he found himself a girl. she knows his flaws and loves him anyway. “your family told you i’m a bad move, plus i’m already a black dude”..

he says, yet she persists. we learn they both have their issues in life, as she is “stressing over award shows, she’s stressin’ over her wardrobe”. even though their lifestyles don’t match, Travis can talk and relate to her, which is something he really needs at a time like this.

since the girl, who we know is Kylie Jenner, one of the youngest billionaire’s in the world, is indeed rich and famous, he doesn’t have to worry about throwing money into the relationship to feel more secure. he’s realized they can actually be a real couple, and that he finally..

is able to, AT LONG LAST, be truly happy. which brings us to the end of this heartwarming story. he’s achieved what he once viewed as impossible. but it never ends there. a new challenge always awaits. may we see a new chapter unfold in UTOPIA

lastly, here’s my ranking for the songs on ASTROWORLD
- SKELETONS
- COFFEE BEAN
- STTBG
- STARGAZING
- CAN’T SAY
- HOUSTONFORNICATION
- BUTTERFLY EFFECT
- SICKO MODE
- YOSEMITE
- ASTROTHUNDER
- CAROUSEL
- WAKE UP
- NO BYSTANDERS
- R.I.P. SCREW
- 5% TINT
- NC-17
- WHO? WHAT!

special thanks to @thegoodrappage1 cause i ain’t mention him earlier, was my driving force behind this thread. really great guy man