Days Before Rodeo

Days Before Rodeo
Mixtape by Travis Scott
Released	August 18, 2014
Recorded	2014
Genre	Hip hop trap
Label	Grand Hustle
Producer	Travis Scott (also exec.) Metro Boomin WondaGurl DJ Dahi TM88 FKi Lil' C Southside Mike Dean Vinylz Lex Luger Anthony Kilhoffer Allen Ritter Michael Hector J. Hill Tane Runo OZ Syk Sense
Travis Scott chronology
Owl Pharaoh (2013) Days Before Rodeo (2014) Rodeo (2015) Singles from Days Before Rodeo "Don't Play" Released: July 11, 2014 "Mamacita" Released: December 2, 2014

Days Before Rodeo is the second mixtape by American hip hop recording artist Travis Scott. It was released for free on August 18, 2014, by Grand Hustle Records. Days Before Rodeo features guest appearances from Young Thug, Big Sean, Rich Homie Quan, Migos, T.I. and Peewee Longway.

Background and promotion

In August 2014, Scott announced on his Twitter account that he would be releasing 10 new songs within a month. On the same day, he also tweeted the title of this project, Days Before Rodeo, before marketing the countdown every day until it stopped on August 10, 2014. On August 17, 2014, Scott released the track list and artwork for this project.^[1]

The first song released from Days Before Rodeo was "Don't Play" featuring a fellow American hip hop recording artist Big Sean. The song was produced by Scott himself, along with Vinylz and Allen Ritter. Justin Davis of Complex commented Scott and Sean "have great chemistry over the track," while continuing their "streak of songs together".^[2] The Western-themed video for "Don't Play" was released on August 18, 2014.^[3]

Release

Days Before Rodeo was released on August 18, 2014.^[4] Scott called it a "free album" via Twitter on the following day.^[5] Eric Diep of XXL commented the album "displays the Houston rapper's eclectic production style, as well as his boastful raps that are similar to his mentors Kanye West and T.I.", while calling it "some great new material that we've been missing from him since his excellent debut, Owl Pharaoh."^[6] Days Before Rodeo is a prequel to Scott's Grand Hustle and Epic Records debut album Rodeo, which was released on September 4, 2015.^[3]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
HotNewHipHop	96% [7]
Thefourohfive	[8]
The Early Registration	[9]

Days Before Rodeo was met with generally positive reviews from music critics and rave reviews from consumers. The mixtape has a user rating of 96% on HotNewHipHop. Jacob Roy from Thefourohfive' sums up critical response for this album "While some may feel he opts for style over substance, all the distorted baselines and 'straight up' ad-libs play a purpose and a role. Days Before Rodeo proves Travis does everything for a reason. When listening to the album each song plays a role and as a whole it makes for a incredibly engrossing experience. While his lyrically ability may be questioned, it doesn't really cross your mind when you are in awe of the piece that he has painted for you. He has a mission statement and he is going to stick by it. "We will understand it if they don't, we don't want they bullshit no more." It wouldn't be a stretch to say Travi$ Scott could be at the forefront for a new generation of hip-hop that have their eyes on the bigger picture."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Days Before Rodeo: The Prayer"	Jacques Webster Ebony Oshunrinde	WondaGurl Travis Scott	3:22
2.	"Mamacita" (featuring Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug)	Webster Carl Hampton Homer Banks Raymond Jackson Leland Wayne Dacoury Natche Dequantes Lamar Jeffery Williams	Metro Boomin DJ Dahi Travis Scott	5:18
3.	"Quintana Pt. 2"	Webster Tory Lanez Deiago Merdono Romayne Erin Michael Dean Joshua Luellen Bryan Simmons Darwin Quinn Clifford Harris Jr.	Dean Southside TM88 Lil' C AudioKlique	4:59
4.	"Drugs You Should Try It"	Webster Ryan Vojtesak Trocon Roberts Jr. Steven Bolden	Charlie Handsome FKi Travis Scott	3:29
5.	"Don't Play" (featuring The 1975 and Big Sean)	Webster Dean Allen Ritter Anderson Hernandez Anthony Kilhoffer Kanye West Che Smith Adam Hann George Daniel Matthew Healy Ross MacDonald Sean Anderson	Vinylz Travis Scott Ritter Dean West Kilhoffer	4:46
6.	"Skyfall" (featuring Young Thug)	Webster Wayne Dean Williams	Metro Boomin Travis Scott Dean	5:19
7.	"Zombies"	Webster Lexus Lewis Michael Hector	Lex Luger Travis Scott Hector	4:20
8.	"Sloppy Toppy" (featuring Migos and Peewee Longway)	Webster Roberts Jr. Bolden Edna Wright Quavious Marshall Kirshnik Ball Kiari Cephus Quincy Williams	FKi Travis Scott	4:34
9.	"Basement Freestyle"	Webster Lewis Wayne	Lex Luger Metro Boomin Travis Scott	4:08
10.	"Backyard"	Webster Ozan Yildrim Joshua Scruggs	OZ Syk Sense Travis Scott	4:31
11.	"Grey"	Webster Joseph Hill, Jr. Taji Ausar	J. Hill Tane Runo	3:48
12.	"BACC" (bonus track)	Webster Wayne	Metro Boomin Travis Scott	2:13
Total length:				50:02

Notes

• "Quintana Pt. 2" features uncredited vocals from T.I.
• "Grey" features uncredited vocals from James Fauntleroy

Sample credits

• "Don't Play" contains a sample of "M.O.N.E.Y" performed by The 1975 and Jesus Walks performed by Kanye West.
• "Mamacita" contains a sample of If Loving You Is Wrong performed by Bobby Bland
• "Sloppy Toppy" contains a sample of "Spend the Night With Me" performed by Edna Wright

References

1. "Here's the Artwork and Tracklist for Travi$ Scott's "Days Before Rodeo" Album". Complex. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
2. "Listen to Travi$ Scott's "Don't Play" f/ Big Sean". Complex. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
3. "NEW MIXTAPE: TRAVIS $COTT – 'DAYS BEFORE RODEO'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
4. "Album Stream: Travis Scott 'Days Before Rodeo'". Vibe. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
5. "Travi$ Scott "Days Before Rodeo" Cover Art, Tracklist, Album Stream". HipHopDX. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
6. "Stream And Download Travi$ Scott's 'Days Before Rodeo'". XXL. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
7. "Travi$ Scott - 'Days Before Rodeo' Mixtape". 2014-08-20.
8. "Travi$ Scott - 'Days Before Rodeo' Mixtape". 2014-08-28.
9. "Travi$ Scott - 'Days Before Rodeo' Mixtape". 2014-08-19.