The Untold Truth Of Travis Scott

Thanks to Travis Scott's talent, drive, and some key connections made along the way, the man behind "Highest in the Room" has risen in the music scene to become one of the hottest performers in the game. "Since debuting via Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music series," Scott "has proven himself to be adept as a rapper, singer, and producer," Billboard explained while pointing to the star's impressive resumé, which includes "successful albums" like "2016's Birds In the Trap Sing McKnight and the 2018 smash Astroworld alongside hits such as 'Antidote' and the twisty, multi-part single 'Sicko Mode.'" There's also the fact that he's worked with other A-list figures like SZA, Wiz Khalifa, and Drake.

Granted, Scott makes headlines for much more than just what he does in his career. Plenty of fans are interested in intriguing (and downright juicy) tidbits of info about Scott's personal life, including his highly-publicized relationship with reality TV star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner, who's also the mother of his daughter, Stormi. However, beyond all of that, there may be a lot more that you don't know about the rapper. Read on to find out what that might be!

Travis Scott may be a great name, but it's not the star's real name. He was born as Jacques Berman Webster II, which Cosmopolitan has decided "is the best e-v-e-r, so congrats to his mom, Wanda, and his dad, Jacques (yep, it runs in the fam)." The mag also pointed out that the rapper mentioned his new name in "Pray 4 Love." Surely you heard him inform the song's listeners: "Let me tell the lost tale about Jacques / Let me tell you how I turned Scott." Indeed, Jacques Webster apparently wasn't the kind of moniker that reflects the vibe that the rapper was aiming for.

Instead, Scott opted for his stage name which comes from another family member. "My uncle's name is Travis. He was like my favorite uncle. My favorite relative," the star told Grantland. Explaining that he "looked up to" his uncle, Scott said that the older man "always just had swag" and "was just smart," saying that he "always made good decisions, good business decisions."

As for the latter part of his stage name, the rapper again owes that to his uncle. "Scott ... was his nickname," he told Complex. I was, like, man, if I wanted to be a rapper I wanted to be this n****. He has this ill-a** crib, is fresh as hell, has all this land. N**** is smooth. Travis is smooth. I've always been smooth."

Travis Scott's relationship with education is like a rollercoaster, meaning that he's definitely experienced both the ups and downs of formal learning. When it comes to his family, the rapper told Grantland, "My dad has his master's in ... what's that sh** with politics ... political science." While that's pretty darn impressive, Scott's own education was very different.

Scott told Complex in 2012 that he was sent to a private school for both his elementary and middle grades, which he "loved." He explained, "It was like the freshest b****es and all my homies were rich as f***. That showed me a whole other taste level of life." By the time he went to high school, he was attending a public school, and his focus changed. "Sh**, high school was on some sports sh**. I was always running around doing dumb sh**. Hyper activities. I was always into music, so I did that," he said. He added, "I was smart. I f***ed with school. I f*** with education."

However, even though Scott went on to higher learning, he ended up dropping out of The University of Texas at San Antonio during his sophomore year. He told Complex in 2015 that he felt pressure to go to university but admitted, "I wasn't studying sh**. I was making up majors. I thought I wanted to do international business." In this case, dropping out of school may have been the right choice!

Travis Scott spent his younger days experiencing two ways of living. He opened up to Complex about growing up "in Houston, by Missouri City," saying that "it's like a suburb in the area, it's middle-class." However, he also experienced another area, saying, "I used to stay with my grandma in the hood from ages one to six." He explained that this meant he saw "random crazy sh**." What is that exactly? Well, he told Complex, "[I saw] mad bums and crazy spazzed out motherf***ers, I saw people looking weird, hungry, and grimey." He also talked to Grantland about where he was brought up, saying, "That ain't tight. That ain't no type of place to claim, or wanna be from. ... You put on for your hood, in the right way. There's mad kids like me. Creative. It's not about your location, it's your mind."

Scott also admitted to Complex that while what he saw when he was a kid in his grandmother's neighborhood motivated him to change his circumstances — or "get the f*** out this sh**" — he also explained that he owes something to that time in his life, saying, "It gave me my edge — [it made me] who I am right now."

While Travis Scott has credited his mother, Wanda Webster, with having "patience and courage," he didn't have a good relationship with his dad, the original Jacques Webster, when he was younger. Not only did his dad not approve of his music, but the rapper admitted to Complex, "Me and my dad used to have fist-fights in front of my friends." Nowadays, Scott seems to be on good terms with his parents and even bought them a house in December 2016. He posted about the Christmas gift on Instagram, sharing a shot of the home's stunning lagoon style pool, writing, "Gave my family a present I been working on my whole life. A home. Very thankful."

Perhaps Scott will do the same for his siblings when they get older. Life & Style notes that Scott "has a younger brother and sister — twins Joshua and Jordan." In 2014, he talked to Grantland, saying that the two were in high school at the time, and when asked "if they go nuts" over him, he explained, "They blasting it! They all on the Internet and sh**. They're like, 'Oh man!' My sister was the one who told me, 'Oh, Drake tweeted your sh**!' She's like, 'Oh, you trending!' She keeps me posted on my sh**." Scott's brother is also seemingly thrilled to be an uncle. When the rapper introduced his daughter to his brother in 2018, Joshua took to Instagram to caption a now-deleted shot (via Access), writing, "So happy to finally hold my beautiful Stormi."

On Feb. 1, 2018, Travis Scott and his (now-ex) partner, Kylie Jenner, welcomed their daughter, Stormi Webster, into the world. In the time since, the rapper has shown himself to be "a very hands-on dad and engaged," according to an insider who spoke with Us Weekly. Scott regularly gushes about Stormi on social media, whether she's (trying to) shoot hoops, slaying Scott's signature hairstyle, or telling her daddy that she loves him. In June 2019, he wrote, "The day mommy made me a daddy I couldn't wait to spend everyday with u to conquer this planet." 

Scott is also willing to open up about how he parents, and in October 2020, he talked to .WAV RADIO with Chase B (via Us Weekly) about raising Stormi, saying, "I feel like it's way more important now to protect young Black daughters, women, and make sure they have the knowledge of how to carry themselves, how to move in this world, how to be strong, how to not even be scared to take that risk on any idea, jump out on any activity." He added, "Now more than ever, they have the vision."

The star also talked about wanting Stormi to be "aware of what's going on in the world," according to Us. Even though his daughter was still a toddler at the time, he explained, "As a parent, I'm always instilling knowledge, even at this age."

It's no secret that the "Sicko Mode" rapper was in a relationship with Kylie Jenner. He's also been linked to model Rubi Rose and actress Dascha Polanco. However, did you know Travis Scott was once involved with Rihanna? The music industry A-listers were connected in 2015, however, neither was willing to talk about it at the time.

Despite that, the situation was put in the spotlight when Scott was late for an interview with Complex because of his involvement with the singer. "With my situation reaching levels of near universal empathy, the truth is finally revealed: Travis is unavailable because he's holed up with Rihanna, his recently rumored love interest/girlfriend/friend-with-benefit," writer Lawrence Schlossman revealed in the piece. He added: "What exactly they're doing upstairs (smoking, f***ing, working, playing charades) I have no idea, but it's more important than any interview — and I don't necessarily disagree. Who wouldn't blow off somebody, anybody, for RiRi?" Fair enough.

Still, Scott wasn't thrilled. Schlossman later admitted on his Throwing Fits podcast (via Insider), "I broke the news about him and Rihanna" — (did he though?) — "which they told me not to do." He added that he was informed that what he had done "hurt Complex's relationship with Travis," and said that "for the next couple of years, he would complain about that." Why? According to a Complex editor: "It's because Rihanna's like, 'Don't tell anyone that I'm smashing Travis Scott, please. [It's] obviously embarrassing as f***.'" Oh. Um. Ouch.

It turns out that Travis Scott comes from a family of musicians. "The most ironic thing is my grandfather has his masters in music composition, he was a jazz composer," Scott told Complex. My dad was a musician too, he played more like soul music. ... That's where I get my whole music theory from, my pops and my grandfather." There's also the fact that Scott started at three years old, thanks to a drum set given to him by his dad. "I was playing drums extra hard, like I wasn't going to fail with that sh**. I was a drum master." He added that he also played piano, but quit "because it wasn't getting no b*****s."

Speaking of drummers, Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee once went after Scott for an arguably unexpected reason. For some background, Consequence of Sound noted that Lee "has long been known for designing and performing on some wild contraptions onstage, including a 360-degree drum-coaster that he broke out on the Crüe's tour back in 2011." However, when Scott used something similar, Lee felt like he was "stealing that very same mechanism." Scott's legal rep shrugged it off, saying, "Tommy didn't invent the concept of a roller coaster on stage and there's no legal basis for his accusatory outburst." On top of that, "[t]he actual creator and owner of the system has granted Travis all rights to use that equipment to complement his original stage design."

A lot of people might know that Travis Scott is a huge fan of fellow rapper Kid Cudi. Scott explained to Complex, "Kid Cudi opened up this side of my brain to express myself." That's why Scott was likely thrilled to collaborate on a full-length album with his admired contemporary. However, Kid Cudi isn't the only act that Scott is into. And, to be honest, some of his other musical influences may be rather unexpected.

"I also like Little Dragon, Portishead, and Björk," Scott noted, saying, "Them n****s is ill." Who else might you find Scott listening to? "I like The Fray and Gym Class Heroes, that sh** was fresh." And then there's Portishead, who he feels were "extra depressed," and the Sex Pistols who were "extra depressed and just grungy." Scott admitted, "I like a dark vibe with choruses that are moody."

Does that explain his love of Coldplay? Not quite. Instead, Scott said "their melodies was ill." He added, "I feel like Coldplay has the craziest, aired-out choruses, but the music was too happy." Maybe if Coldplay gets a little moodier in the future, Scott will want to collaborate with them or perhaps invite them on stage at one of his concerts? Or maybe not.

When someone says that Travis Scott is dominating the music industry, that's no exaggeration. The rapper has both set and broken records when it comes to in-person and virtual events. For instance, if you were one of the people who got to see him live during his Astroworld tour stop at The Forum in 2019, then you helped him set a record by bringing in "a whopping $1.7 million" while selling out the venue, according to TMZ. As for the overall tour, Forbes noted that it "grossed $53.5 million in 2019," which made it "the year's top hip-hop road show."

Granted, things changed drastically in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which meant that live concerts weren't a smart option. That's why Scott held his virtual Fortnite Astronomical event in April and to say it was a success would be putting it mildly. Complex explained that the event "broke records for the most concurrent players ever" — over 12.3 million people. According to Billboard, "The entire performance lasted under 10 minutes, but by the end, it had made history as Fortnite's largest-ever in-game gathering."

"With his record-setting (and eye-popping) performance in Fortnite," Billboard pointed out that Scott "proved that limitless creative potential — and a captive, merch-mad audience — could make video games the most lucrative new frontier for the live-music business."

When Travis Scott isn't on tour, he can kick back in his enviable adobe. Although he already owned a "$13.5 million mansion near Beverly Hills with ex-girlfriend Kylie Jenner," according to Celebrity Net Worth, "in June 2020, Travis paid $23.5 million for a mansion high up in the hills of Brentwood in Los Angeles." That may sound like a lot of money (and it is) but it turns out that the rapper "scored a bargain," as Realtor.com notes that the home was first listed "in June 2019 for $42 million," before it dropped down to $36 million, and then was lowered again to $30 million.

What will that kind of money get you? The "the extremely modern, ultra-luxe" home which was "built in 2019" spans "16,700 square feet of interior space, with seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms." Beyond that, Scott can enjoy the "great room, with living and dining areas," which boasts "a stone fireplace and wet bar," and a kitchen that "features black marble counters." When the star heads downstairs, he'll find "high-end amenities including a glass-walled wine cellar, home theater, gym, sauna, and a game room."

Outside, Scott's property includes an Italian marble driveway, a 20-car auto gallery, "multiple patios and lounge areas, and a flat backyard graced by an infinity-edge pool." If that wasn't enough, he can think about being super famous while looking at "180-degree views from downtown L.A. to the Pacific Ocean," which are "sparkling vistas" that "can be enjoyed from almost every room in the house." Dream home? Yep!

Travis Scott has worked with some of the biggest stars in the music industry, however, in September 2020, he teamed up with a popular place to grab a bite: McDonald's. The New York Times claimed that the "partnership between the rapper and the fast-food chain is a melding of the merchandising minds."

If you missed out on the viral offer, CNBC explains that the "meal [came] with a Quarter Pounder burger with cheese, bacon, and shredded lettuce, Sprite soda, and fries dipped in BBQ sauce, for just $6." On top of that, fans could find "McDonald's themed items" for sale on the rapper's website, including "a pillow shaped like a McNugget." If you can't imagine why someone would want something like that, you may be in the minority, because "many of these items [were] selling quickly."

In fact, the collaboration ended up being so successful that, per CNBC, "the fast-food giant [was] reporting some ingredient shortages tied to the promotion."

Travis Scott is not only a rapper, he's also a money-making machine. Per Business Insider, "His revenue comes from a combination of producing music and merch, touring, and partnering with major brands like Nike and MLB team Houston Astros," not to mention McDonald's. Scott is so rich (and apparently generous) that he celebrated his Astroworld tour by giving away $100,000 of his own money. On Aug. 14, 2018, he tweeted, "SO I KNOW ITS HARD FOR THE KIDS SO I DECIDED TO UNLOAD MY BANK ACCOUNT ON U GUYS. IM BUSTING DOWN $100,000 AND GIVING AWAY TO ANY FANS THAT CAN TWEET ME THERE CASH TAG WITH LYRICS FROM ASTRO. GANG!!"

Don't worry about Scott, though, this giveaway certainly didn't hurt his bank account. "Between September 2017 and September 2018, Travis earned $20 million between touring, record sales, and his Nike endorsement deal," Celebrity Net Worth noted, while also explaining that this "was enough to make him one of the 15 highest-paid rappers on the planet for the year." And he certainly wasn't done there. "Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned $60 million," and added another $40 million "between June 2019 and June 2020." All in all, after bringing in a fortune (and spending plenty of his funds on an enviable lifestyle that's worthy of his status), Scott is estimated to have $50 million.