Rapper Travis Scott has finally released his second mixtape Days Before Rodeo (DBR) on music streaming services for its 10th anniversary, along with five previously unreleased songs. DBR was originally released on Aug. 18, 2014, on the streaming service SoundCloud. It was on SoundCloud where we got introduced to an early Scott just a year before his first hit album Rodeo. This new mixtape is more of a foreshadowing of what Rodeo was going to be, rather than the pop-like rap we’ve heard from Scott recently.
On the lead track, “Days Before Rodeo: The Prayer,” we can hear the drive, hunger and rage from a young Scott trying to prove himself within the industry. This same tone of rap can be heard in other songs such as “Mamacita” and “Don’t Play.” If you are looking for more baseline rap music, then these songs are for you.
Scott also dives into the psychedelic rap that was wildly popular in 2014, with songs like “Quintana Pt.2,, “Drugs You Should Try It” and “Skyfall”. These songs are more expressive and melodic than other songs on the tape. This style of rap continues to be seen throughout the rest of the album.
On the bottom half of the mixtape, we get the song “Zombies.” This song is one of the better ones on the tape. It gives off a chill late-night car ride kind of vibe. Here we get Scott rapping over a spooky, yet innovative, Halloween-type beat. This track consists of Scott explaining the new style of music that is now a mainstay in today’s rap game.
Immediately after “Zombies,” we get the best song on the mixtape, “Sloppy Toppy”. This track is what can only be described as a 2010s club banger. Scott, along with The Migos and PeeWee Longway, delivers a great song that could have been song of the year if it had been fully released when the trap style of rap was popular.
The final few songs of the mixtape are nothing to write home about. They are decent tracks at best, and they do not stand out enough to be considered worth the listening time.
Along with the re-release, we received five new tracks: “Mocity Flexologist,” “Whole Lots Changed,” “Too Many Chances,” “Yeah Yeah” and last, but not least, “Serenade.” All of these songs were individually leaked in 2014-2016 as demos, but we have never heard the finished products until now.
Whether it’s Scott rapping his heart out in “Yeah Yeah” or him having a more melodic tone in “Serenade,” both tracks showcase the sheer talent and versatility of Scott. The psychedelic influence in the beats is present while still displaying his energy like any other song. This style is what makes Scott one of the modern-day greats.
While being a re-rollout of a previous mixtape, there are some minor differences between the 2014 and 2024 versions of DBR. First, the track, “Quintana Pt.2,” doesn’t have a T.I. feature or the beat switch that came with his verse. While being a minor change, it definitely alters the whole vibe of the song. Other changes include “Grey” having a slight beat change and the cover art being changed.
Days Before Rodeo is a great mixtape that brings nostalgia for the old rap style of the 2010s, while still showcasing how a young Travis Scott broke through industry norms with new and different sounds. This mixtape’s official release is the perfect example of how to do a 10th anniversary correctly and properly pay homage to an artist’s beginnings.
