The mid-career crises of Travis Scott and Post Malone

Right now, the two biggest records in the country come to us from two of hip-hop’s biggest superstars: Travis Scott and Post Malone. Both artists have been releasing mainstream records for nearly a decade; their records UTOPIA and AUSTIN, respectfully, sit at number one and two on the Billboard 200. But going further than the numbers, these albums signify a shift in these artists’ sounds, moving them out of their usual genres into previously uncharted territory in both of their careers. And as this is Post Malone’s fifth record and Travis Scott’s fourth, we also must ask: what does it mean to be a mid-career artist?

Songs discussed:

Travis Scott – HYAENA

Post Malone – Mourning

Travis Scott, Teezo Touchdown – MODERN JAM

Post Malone – Chemical

Madonna – Borderline

Madonna – Ray of Light

Madonna – Don’t Tell Me

Kendrick Lamar – m.a.a.d. city

Kendrick Lamar – For Free? – interlude

Travis Scott, Swae Lee, Chief Keef – Nightcrawler

Travis Scott, Yung Lean – PARASAIL

Travis ...

Right now, the two biggest records in the country come to us from two of hip-hop’s biggest superstars: Travis Scott and Post Malone. Both artists have been releasing mainstream records for nearly a decade; their records UTOPIA and AUSTIN, respectfully, sit at number one and two on the Billboard 200. But going further than the numbers, these albums signify a shift in these artists’ sounds, moving them out of their usual genres into previously uncharted territory in both of their careers. And as this is Post Malone’s fifth record and Travis Scott’s fourth, we also must ask: what does it mean to be a mid-career artist?

Songs discussed:

• Travis Scott – HYAENA
• Post Malone – Mourning
• Travis Scott, Teezo Touchdown – MODERN JAM
• Post Malone – Chemical
• Madonna – Borderline
• Madonna – Ray of Light
• Madonna – Don’t Tell Me
• Kendrick Lamar – m.a.a.d. city
• Kendrick Lamar – For Free? – interlude
• Travis Scott, Swae Lee, Chief Keef – Nightcrawler
• Travis Scott, Yung Lean – PARASAIL
• Travis Scott, Kid Cudi – LOOOVE 
• Kanye West – I Am A God
• Gentle Giant – Proclamation
• Travis Scott, Beyoncé – DELRESTO (ECHOES)
• Post Malone – White Iverson
• Post Malone, 21 Savage – rockstar
• Post Malone – Overdrive
• Pixies – Where Is My Mind?
• Semisonic – Closing Time
• Post Malone – Something Real

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