Travis Scott's new album lacks luster

Just days before the anniversary of his first album, Travis Scott released his second studio album title, “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight.”

The album features 14 songs with features on 12 of them. Unlike his last album, “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight” lacks the ‘It’ factor from Scott himself.

The album opens with the track titled, “the ends.’” In usual Scott manner, the song starts off with a heavy dark instrumental as an auto-tuned Scott sings over it. The song reflects on Scott’s childhood, growing up in Atlanta around murders and the pain that still follows him to this day.

What makes this song particularly great are the vocals old school rapper Andre 3000 provides. An unexpected feature for a Travis Scott track, needless to say.

Another semi stand-out song from the album seemed to be “biebs in the trap,” which featured new up-and-coming artist NAV.

Given the title, one would think Justin Bieber would make an appearance on the track, as the two artists have made multiple hits together like ‘Maria, I’m Drunk’ on Scott’s last album, Rodeo. But instead trap track stands as one that pays homage to Justin Bieber.

The problem with this song is Scott doesn’t seem to add much to it aside from the production of the track itself. NAV’s voice takes over and ends up fitting more with the song than Scott’s himself.

“goosebumps” featuring Kendrick Lamar is another track on the album that leaves you wishing Scott would have just handed the song over to the featured artist instead.

The track starts with the same played-out beat that has been going on throughout the album, leaving listeners wanting to hear something different.

Lamar provides the freshness the track needs when he comes on with a flow similar to the widely loved “Untitled 2.” With lyrics like “Peter, piper, picked a peppers/ I could pick your brain and put together/ we depart the shady parts and party hard, the diamond yours.”

The track that is really shocking is “guidance,” featuring another up-and-coming artist K.Forest. Once again, it seems like this is a K.Forest song and not a Scott song. The difference with this one is that for the first time listeners get a dance-type song from Scott. The feel of the track nods toward the Caribbean feel many other artists have been attempting this past summer.

What makes this one different is that Scott adds his little touch to it with his auto-tuned voice. The beat has an interesting tempo with swing-type rhythms unlike many of Scott’s usual beats, finally giving the listeners that “something different” they’d been yearning for.

Overall, the featured artists on this album overpower Scott on just about every song. The features are what help to make the album. Without them and the top-notch Scott production, the album would have nothing.

All “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight” proves is that Scott is a great producer who happens to know a lot of well-known legends in the industry.