Travi$ Scott's Mythical Rise to Fame

“Everything you’ve ever heard or read about a Travis Scott show is true,” writes Complex journalist Lawrence Schlossman, who spent the last weeks of his summer following the 23-year-old Houston rapper and his entourage across the country. Life with Travi$ showed Schlossman his circle that included names like Heron Preston, Ibn Jasper, Kylie Jenner, Virgil Abloh and Corey Damon Black. He also saw a glimpse inside his relationship with Epic Records vice president, A&R and creative director Randall “Sickamore” Medford, a powerful name whose always in the background. And, of course, rumored pal Rihanna.

“Travis is unavailable [to meet] because he’s holed up with Rihanna, his recently rumored love interest/girlfriend/friend-with-benefit. What exactly they’re doing upstairs (smoking, fucking, working, playing charades) I have no idea, but it’s more important than any interview—and I don’t necessarily disagree. Who wouldn’t blow off somebody, anybody, for RiRi? And it’s not just me he’s ducking. Nobody in Travis’ camp can get a hold of him either. Understandably, he’s gone completely dark.”

The self-proclaimed “nerdy, goofy cornball” born Jacques Webster is featured on the cover of the December 2015/January 2016 issue of COMPLEX magazine. Inside is a colossal interview with Travi$ who shares impassioned stories on the music industry’s shortcomings to how Metro Boomin used to stay at his crib, playing with beats that eventually became Drake and Future’s What A Time to be Alive months later. Find our favorite quotes from the interview below, and purchase COMPLEX magazine’s new Zendaya and Travi$ Scott issues here for $10 USD.

On the style of his music:

“My music isn’t rappity-rap-rap-rap. I base my music off of lifestyle and emotion—that’s why my music has a lot of chords, even if it’s a hard-ass joint. I consider myself an artist, which is, like, the most played term, but I believe it. Don’t get it twisted, I’m no bitch, n*gga got bars. But I’m not, like, super conscious. I don’t write, I just go in the booth. I’m attached to the beat. The beat speaks words. I love music.”

On why he pursued his career:

My whole story is straight mythical. It’s tangible, but it’s also what life could be. It’s possibility. Yes, money is important. But it’s all about the creative process. Money is something that keeps you alive and healthy and just keeps you focused. It’s the drive. It’s the passion. I’m making songs not for the money but to see motherfuckers’ reaction. Fame’s not important. There’s about to be so many kids on their quest [to fame]. Kid Cudi was my guy. If I had no weed, he was my drug.

On how he got the name Travi$ Scott:

“To me I’ve always been the same person, I ain’t got no multi-personality where I can snap in or snap out. My favorite uncle’s name is Travis. That n*gga’s just smart and cool. The Scott comes from him, too, that was his nickname. I was, like, man, if I wanted to be a rapper I wanted to be this n*gga. He has this ill-ass crib, is fresh as hell, has all this land. Ni*ga is smooth. Travis is smooth. I’ve always been smooth.”

On Rodeo‘s intended release:

“You was supposed to buy my album with an action figure and a USB. It would have been the illest shit ever. This was the opportunity to raise the bar and set the standard. I feel like half the people who didn’t understand Rodeo didn’t because I made Rodeo with this idea of the packaging. That whole packaging was meant to complete my story, but just because I’m young and they didn’t trust the idea this type of shit happens. You gotta be Madonna or somebody for this type of shit to happen. We love [the label], they just need to get down with us faster.”

On his hometown, Missouri City, Texas:

“Mo City is, like, well-off or whatever, you can get an education, you can grow up and have kids, but it’s hard for that little motherfucker to make it to some big-time shit. There was times I was back home in my bedroom in Mo City and I would cry to myself and shit. I feel like I’m always trying to get to the next point, the next day, get to that goal. It’s getting my creativity level up, and just being able to move around how I want to move around.”