If you were to make a list of the first 10 rappers that came to mind, one of those rappers would likely be 28-year-old Travis Scott. Since his debut album “Rodeo” came out in 2014, Scott has quickly become one of the most talked-about artists. Through his music, his relationship with Kylie Jenner and dynamic performances, Scott has made quite a name for himself in the past few years.
On Aug. 28, 2019, Netflix released a highly anticipated documentary, following Scott’s life before, during, and after the release of his album “Astroworld” in 2017. The documentary also touches on the inspiration for “Astroworld. “Through a mixture of footage from concerts, interviews with fans, and home videos of his childhood directors White Trash Tyler and Travis Scott himself, highlight the factors that have made Scott one of the most influential rappers of this generation.
The movie opens up with an interview with Scott taking place on a rollercoaster. This scene sets up the documentary’s more chaotic tone. What follows is scenes from concerts where audience members are seen jumping into crowds, pushing, shoving and jumping. One fan is shown being lifted onto the stage after passing out. The tone immediately shifts in the next cut when the watcher is taken back to a video taken in Houston, Texas in 2017. This clip shows an interaction between Scott and his grandmother, with whom he used live.
Travis Scott’s journey through fatherhood is another highlighted aspect of this film. Footage from the night that Scott’s daughter, Stormi, was born is shown. There is also a scene where the film flips from footage from Scott’s birthday party when he was a toddler and footage from Stormi’s first birthday party. Showing Scott as a father brings to light a more personal aspect of the film and just how dynamic Scott is as a person. You truly get to see Scott as a father, an artist, a performer, a partner and an inspiration throughout the film.
One of the best parts of the film is seeing how Scott has inspired his fans. There is countless footage of fans engaging with staff and Scott himself sharing just how much love and admiration they have for him. One fan even shows off a tattoo he got based on Scotts “Rodeo” album.
All in all, I believed the film was very well done and was released at just the right time. Many fans feel a personal connection to Scott, as seen by the footage and I think the documentary excelled at making the watcher feel like they are looking through memories rather than watching a movie. It is exciting, compelling and intimate. I recommend this film to the student who is looking for a movie to watch after a long day at school, or for a fan of Travis Scott who would enjoy just sitting and watching their idol at work.
