Jacques Webster, also known as Travis Scott, dropped a documentary at the end of August, giving us insight into Travis the artist, son and father. The 70-minute film was released on Netflix, meaning it wasn't just accessible to his fans but to anyone who was willing to press play. To those who had been following his musical journey, it was confirmation of the generational rapper he had become. And to those who either doubted or didn't know much about him, the message clearly read, "and if you don't know, now you know [redacted]".
One thing White Trash Tyler (yes, that is the name he chose to call himself) did when directing Look Mom I Can Fly was humanise Travis. The Travis we are used to seeing is more of an artistic symbol. We rarely see his face or even hear him converse in interviews. The viewers got to observe 'Jack' in a more intimate setting, as the man behind the art instead of the art itself. A moment that comes to mind is his reactions to his overall Grammy experience. When us ordinary people think award shows, we usually think about the winner, who they're wearing and their acceptance speech. Rarely do we think about how the losers feel. Travis' response to not winning Rap Album of the Year, which he should have won, was very human. Fleeing the scene cursing, he described himself as "lost" for a period of time after the ceremony. Although it's not the rapper we're used to, it's a rapper we can relate to. Scenes like these gave context and background to his music. Astroworld was simply just an album to me before watching, an incredible one might I add. But work ethic and motivations made listening to the songs like R.I.P. Screw, No Bystanders and Butterfly Effect that bit more special. The theme park had personal memories attached to it and it acted as a muse and inspiration to Travis. To quote him directly,
"When they took Astroworld, they took a part of my heart as well".
The Grammy-nominated project transcended music. Whether you like Travis Scott's work or not, his cultural impact is undeniable, and the documentary all but proves it. From the minute it starts, there are people declaring their love for his music and in particular- the way he performs. Many claimed that he gave them a sense of community where others stated that he saved their lives. These statements are eerily similar to what fans would say about some of the greatest artists of our generation. Drake, Beyoncé... Is Travis Scott among those on the list? Even if you do not consider him to be, the conversation has to be had off of accolades alone. There is a segment in Look Mom I Can Fly dedicated to Scott's Halftime Superbowl performance. Although he received a lot of backlash for doing the show in a politically charged climate, when looked at objectively - it's hard to ignore the gravitas of the opportunity. There is a scene that puts it all in perspective. Travis Scott is talking to one of the organisers about working with the likes of Prince and Beyoncé on their sets for their shows. The fact he is now on the same list as them counts for a lot, and it is at an earlier stage in his career with a lot of growth left to happen.
His story stood out amongst other music documentaries I’ve seen. partly due to the cinematography and the episodic jumps between his childhood, early stages of his career and the present. Each saga was tied together by the fact that the people around him saw star quality and potential in him. Like his friend rightly said, it was always known... Travis just had to prove it to the rest of the world.
Look Mom I Can Fly came to an end in the most optimistic way possible- looking towards a promising and boundless future. If there is one thing to take away from the movie, you can either join the Ragers or continue to deny his talent.