Travis Scott

A fitting addition to SZA's acoustic ballad, delivering an uncharacteristically gentle tone.

Travis Scott is an American rapper who appears as a featured artist on SZA's song "Open Arms" from her second studio album, SOS (2022). He was one of several artists who contributed verses for the album after SZA reached out to a list of possible collaborators. Scott performs the third verse on the track, using a gentle rap cadence and his lower register with Auto-Tune, a departure from his usual sharp, energetic trap sound. This marks Scott and SZA's fourth collaboration, following their work on "Ok Alright" from Rodeo (2015), "Love Galore" from Ctrl (2017), and "Power Is Power" from the Game of Thrones soundtrack (2019).

Quick Facts

Birth name

Jacques Bermon Webster II

Other names

La Flame
Cactus Jack
Trav

Occupation

Rapper
singer-songwriter
record producer

Years active

2008–present

Partner

Kylie Jenner (2017–2023)

Children

Born

30 April 1991

Birthplace

Houston, Texas, U.S.

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Travis Scott's appearance on "Open Arms" was the result of a deliberate creative choice by SOS producer Rob Bisel, who wanted Scott to do something unexpected for the album. Bisel said, "it just seems like there's no need to repeat the same play from that playbook, like what's something you wouldn't expect from Travis?" Upon hearing the suggestion, SZA sent Scott the beat and received his verse one or two weeks later, during the final stages of the album recording process. Critics focused heavily on Scott's feature—some considered him a fitting addition, welcoming his uncharacteristically gentle tone on the third verse. Variety's A. D. Amorosi deemed Scott the song's centerpiece, while The Observer's Kitty Empire wrote, "Versatility largely wins out [on SOS]. Only SZA could find room for Travis Scott on a slow jam ballad." However, writing for Time, Andrew Chow and Moises Mendez II thought Scott's contributions were tolerable at best. Scott's verse on "Open Arms" casts him as SZA's romantic foil; he calls her his "ride-or-die" and his "favourite color," reassuring her that he will treat her as best as he can "no matter what comes between" them.

Reader's Guide

Travis Scott is a featured artist on SZA's song "Open Arms" from SOS (2022), performing the third verse. He is one of only three artists who sent in verses for the album after SZA reached out to a list of possible collaborators. Scott's appearance was the result of a deliberate creative choice by producer Rob Bisel, who wanted him to do something unexpected. A solo version of "Open Arms" replaces Scott with SZA's take on the third verse. Scott also appears on SOS as a background vocalist on the track "Low."