Photo courtesy of Danny Pleckham
Although Travis Scott is keeping UTOPIA under lock and key (literally), a select few have had the chance to spin Scott’s highly-anticipated album.
Seen handcuffed to his security personnel, the Houston rapper was spotted with a briefcase clad with a “UTOPIA” inscription on its side, per photos obtained by TMZ. With the LP’s previously “confirmed” release for June fast approaching, a rollout seems imminent for Scott, whose fourth studio album arrives five years after the GRAMMY-nominated ASTROWORLD.
“With every album I live in these worlds in my mind — I’m trying to show people experiences where utopian things can exist, and you can enjoy yourself and have a good time. They can create energy that spews out magical things — new cures, new buildings, new avenues for people to move forward. People need to see that utopia is real.”
Travis Scott, Pin-Up Magazine
Page Six reported that superstar celebrities like Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Lebron James as well as the Houston Astros have heard the record in its pre-final master. Scott has also entered a joint venture with Tennis pro John McEnroe to design a new sneaker for Nike, which should surround the “crazy rollout” he’s set to spark for UTOPIA. Interestingly, Chase B recently unveiled a set of UTOPIA Jordans on his IG story.
“[Travis] plans to continue his crazy rollout with more disruptive events and preview the album for various legends across multiple industries.”
via Page Six
Prior to this, longtime collaborator Mike Dean took to Instagram to showcase his work on UTOPIA, which was quickly deleted from his feed. The prolific producer has worked on every Travis Scott album since 2015’s Rodeo, saying to us in his OGM exclusive interview that Scott is “getting back to” the sonic stylings found on his debut project Owl Pharoh.
In February, the CEO of Epic Records stated that UTOPIA will release in June. Following appearances at Super Bowl LVII and NBA All-Star Weekend, Scott declared once projects from Cactus Jack signees (Don Toliver, SoFaygo, Sheck Wes) dropped, then UTOPIA would arrive. “Sheck Wes is on the way. We got SoFayvo putting a ‘lil EP out — that’s on the way. And right after that, Utopia,” he said. “We came here with that message, and I can’t wait for these motherf—s to drop this shit.”
Fresh off guest verses on Metro Boomin’s HEROES & VILLAINS as well as Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss (“Pussy & Millions”), Scott initially previewed a slew of Utopia tracks during his “Road To Utopia” residency at Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas last September. He previewed songs featuring Kid Cudi, Future, Lil Uzi Vert and more — also debuting unreleased cuts in “God’s Country” and “Lost Forever” at his O2 Arena shows in London.
UTOPIA’s first rollout was initially halted by the tragedy at Astroworld Festival in late 2021. Scott planned to drop the project following the release of his two-pack “ESCAPE PLAN” and “MAFIA,” however, Travis opted for a hiatus — handling the many lawsuits that followed Astroworld’s events.
La Flame has focused on finishing UTOPIA since last August — taking to Twitter to say “I’ll be back when it’s album time.” Settling back into a groove following Astroworld Fest, his upcoming album is all about “proper lines of communication,” he said to CR Fashion in 2021. Scott also spoke on the album with WWD last June following the Dior-Cactus Jack Summer 2022 Men’s Show.
“I’m in this new album mode of like psychedelic rock,” he said. “So even just like the field of cactuses and mushrooms, you might get tripped out.”
This story will be updated.
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