Grammy award-nominated and multi-platinum recording artist Travis Scott shut down NRG Park in Houston, Texas for his second annual ASTROWORLD Festival.
ASTROWORLD Festival sold out for a second consecutive year prior to a lineup reveal, reigning in much acclaim for becoming the largest single-day artist-curated music festival in the country. With Scott appropriately facilitating the role as headlining performer to close out the festivities, supporting acts also included a diverse assortment of genre defying artists that channel a nonconforming aesthetic associated within their respective artistry.
The laborious task behind hand-selecting which artists would grace the stage to perform in front of 50,000 screaming ragers and mosh pit enthusiast required much guile and patience, but also demonstrated Scott’s devout appreciation for the depth of influence that manifest through featured collaborations and lyrical insight.
Talents included – iconic hard rock aficionado Marilyn Manson, renowned Latina songstress Rosalía, the formidable trio of Atlantan swanker aka Migos, and multi-talented paradigm of cultural refinement/Something In The Water curator Pharrell Williams. Some of today’s most revered creatives were also set to perform including – Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Gucci Mane, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Young Dolph, Key Glock, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver and Tay Keith.
One interesting dynamic behind the above mentioned artist is their unique shared ability at not only commemorating musical distinction, but also their collective desire to demonstrate a commanding stage presence. Whether it was Scott’s Cactus Jack record label tandem of lyrical debauchery (Sheck Wes and Don Toliver) or YSL’s enthralling impromptu “Hot” live demonstration featuring Mr.Drip or Drown himself Gunna, nothing shifted momentum at NRG more than a highly-speculated Kanye West sighting that actually came to fruition.
Courtesy of Branndannart
Imagine that, in the midst of the pandemonium already caused by collective caterwauls of exhilaration in response to Scott’s “open it up” rebuttal, Kanye West just casually strolls out to perform his new single “Follow God”, off his 9th studio album titled Jesus Is King. Scott also bared more gifts for the youth dem with the unveiling of a new collaborative single featuring the Migos that pervaded the airwaves of festival attendees.
Out of all the festive occurrences and displays of musical prowess that celebrate artists admiration, nothing challenges the vitality galvanized from a Travis Scott show. Fans literally climbed barricades and stampeded into the venue once doors opened in a daring attempt to position themselves at the forefront of an impending intrusive sound that has defined an era.
An experience of this stature can only be best summarized through candid recollections depicted via social media montages and whatever videos may surface on the internet in the coming days. If that doesn’t suffice and my words don’t do enough justice, may the featured photo-ops in this review enable readers to live vicariously through a moment in time captured on digital film.
Rage on until next year.
