I'm Brian Hyatt. This is Rolling Stone, music now.

So just when people were starting to notice that the year seemed to be a little light on huge

hip-hop albums. Travis Scott's utopia arrived. Critics were very iffy on this

album, his fans loved it. I personally seem to be enjoying it a lot more than

many critics, including our own Andre G, who's joining us.

And of course, there's a bit of complication around

Travis Scott, to say the least.

This is his first album since the tragedy of Astorold.

And I think everyone's grappling in their own way of how to deal

with his music in light of that. But Andre wrote a really great and really nuanced review of this album and there's certainly

no shortage of things to talk about.

I mean, Andre, this idea of Travis as curator and that the album is arguably good on every level,

except weirdly when it comes to Travis Scott himself as a rapper.

Yeah that seems like the prevailing perception for a lot of the people who listen to the album

but that's true to his musical legacy to this point.

He's been regarded as an artist who's really strong producer chooses the right people to

co-produce with to collaborate with to create intriguing Sonic Worlds.

He knows the best artists to collaborate with

in terms of Whitbeat is Taylor for this artist,

who would sound good on Whitbeat,

but then it's just when it's time for him to step to the mic, there's a lot to be desired.

That's not to say that the album is completely devoid of good rap.

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