Days Before Rodeo

Released on August 18, 2014, this project arrived exclusively via SoundCloud as the second mixtape from Travis Scott. It served as a vital bridge between his experimental debut Owl Pharaoh and his major-label breakthrough Rodeo. The original run featured 15 tracks with a runtime of roughly 50 minutes, though some platforms initially listed a shorter 12-track version before standardizing the list. Grand Hustle Records handled distribution while Scott built hype without any formal singles or radio play.

The sonic landscape relies on dark, atmospheric, and psychedelic hip-hop beats driven by heavy synthesizers and bass lines. Mike Dean produced alongside Southside, AudioKlique, C Gutta, and Scott himself to create a distinct texture. Guest appearances include Young Thug on "Skyfall", Migos on "Sloppy Toppy" and "Backyard", T.I., Peewee Longway, and the British rock band The 1975 on "O: The Prayer". Lyrics explore Houston street life and drug culture through Scott's signature distorted vocal style.

Cactus Jack and Epic Records officially released the album on all major streaming services on August 18, 2024, for its tenth anniversary. This special edition added vault tracks featuring Playboi Carti and Quavo that were previously unreleased. Driven by vinyl sales, the re-release debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 but fell off the charts shortly after due to limited physical stock and expired promotional windows. Critics praised the project upon its digital arrival, with The Fader calling it Scott's best work and Pitchfork highlighting its cohesive vision. [edit]