Right now, the two biggest records in the country come to us from two of hip-hop’s biggest superstars: Travis Scott and Post Malone. Both artists have been releasing mainstream records for nearly a decade; their records UTOPIA and AUSTIN, respectfully, sit at number one and two on the Billboard 200. But going further than the numbers, these albums signify a shift in these artists’ sounds, moving them out of their usual genres into previously uncharted territory in both of their careers. And as this is Post Malone’s fifth record and Travis Scott’s fourth, we also must ask: what does it mean to be a mid-career artist?

Songs discussed:

Travis Scott – HYAENA
Post Malone – Mourning
Travis Scott, Teezo Touchdown – MODERN JAM
Post Malone – Chemical
Madonna – Borderline
Madonna – Ray of Light
Madonna – Don’t Tell Me
Kendrick Lamar – m.a.a.d. city
Kendrick Lamar – For Free? – interlude
Travis Scott, Swae Lee, Chief Keef – Nightcrawler
Travis Scott, Yung Lean – PARASAIL
Travis Scott, Kid Cudi – LOOOVE
Kanye West – I Am A God
Gentle Giant – Proclamation
Travis Scott, Beyoncé – DELRESTO (ECHOES)
Post Malone – White Iverson
Post Malone, 21 Savage – rockstar
Post Malone – Overdrive
Pixies – Where Is My Mind?
Semisonic – Closing Time
Post Malone – Something Real

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