Travis Scott reflects on relationship with Kanye West and musical legacy ahead of new album
Travis Scott has broken his silence on his relationship with Kanye West amid months of speculation and social media drama. In a newly released feature interview with Complex, the Houston-born rapper addressed how he feels about Ye, despite the public fallout and recent online outbursts.
The once close collaborators had a strong musical bond throughout the 2010s, producing and writing for each other across multiple iconic projects. But their relationship appeared to sour earlier this year after Kanye claimed that Scott removed his contributions from past recordings, including material from their Wyoming sessions.
West made the accusations during a controversial interview with DJ Akademiks and took to social media to express frustration, suggesting he had been 'replaced' by Scott with no explanation.
Following Ye's comments, Travis unfollowed him on Instagram in February, prompting further rumours of a personal and professional rift. Yet in his Complex interview—believed to have been recorded shortly after the GRAMMYs—the Utopia artist remained composed and respectful.
'Sh*t, man. That's my kid's uncle. That guy took me in when I was young, when I was like 19,' Scott said. 'He taught me a lot about music. And not even just 'taught' me, but he allowed me to experience the creation of music.'
Scott credited West with helping to shape his creative vision, describing their collaborations as instrumental in his growth across music, film, and fashion. Despite the recent tension, he spoke of their history with appreciation, leaving the door open for possible reconciliation.
Beyond the drama, Scott also teased upcoming projects, including the highly anticipated JACKBOYS 2 and new music from Sheck Wes. Though no official release dates were confirmed, fans can expect a packed summer of Cactus Jack releases.
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And silence, when given a platform, can be very, very loud. Why did this happen? Why didn't more stars speak out for peace? Well, it's not just about courage. It is also about contracts. Since 2014, Indian cinema has become increasingly aligned with the political establishment du jour. Films like The Kashmir Files are tax-exempt. Directors with the 'right' politics get easier approvals, cheaper insurance, state PR. Meanwhile, those with inconvenient opinions get labelled 'urban naxals' or 'tukde tukde gang.' Ask Deepika Padukone, who showed up at a student protest in 2020. She said nothing, just stood there. But that silence cost her millions in brand deals and led to calls for a boycott of her film. The writing on the wall was quite clear: dare to speak against the tide, and you shall be made to disappear. Even the once mighty and untouchable Khans, Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir, have faced the wrath of their fanatical home-grown audience, and have been left with no choice but to play it safe and stay 'mum'. Not long ago, SRK's son was jailed under suspicious circumstances with King Khan jolting from lawyers' chambers to police stations as an inconsequential and lowly civilian. Aamir was attacked for his wife's comments on rising intolerance and his movie 'Laal Singh Chadda' was massacred in the box office for his alleged (and somewhat imagined) anti-state rhetoric. Even Salman who has always kept his alliances clear has become a prisoner of the gallows, living in anguish under the ever-looming threat of the Bishnoi gang. We know, we understand and feel empathy for these stars. But not all was lost. Anurag Kashyap, never one to bow, tweeted cryptically about how 'conformity is not the same as unity.' 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When screenwriters flirted with forbidden love across borders, when a song could soften suspicion, and when a poem could become protest. Today, those scripts are shelved, their authors quiet, their protagonists, for all intents and purposes, neutered by eagle-eyed publicists and spectres of political correctness. So here we are, popcorn in one hand, a tear stained handkerchief in the other, looking at the silver screen, waiting for someone, anyone, in this great theatre of the subcontinent, to play the role of the artist again. To remind us that before they were influencers, stars were simply storytellers. That their job was not just to reflect power, but to sometimes question it. And perhaps one day, they will. When it's safer. When the script changes. When bravery is back in vogue. Until then, we are left with silence. Polished. PR-approved. Politically correct. But silence nonetheless. Shahzad Abdullah is a PR and communications strategist, cultural curator and director of communications at Media Matters All facts are information are the sole responsibility of the
