The Breakfast Club - The Black Effect Presents...: Convo with Travis Scott

Episode Date: December 9, 2021

The Black Effect Presents Charlamagne Tha God and Travis Scott in his first interview since the tragedies at the Astroworld Festival. During this open conversation, Scott goes in depth about the events that occurred on November 5th and how he wants to ensure it never happens again. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast

Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Coleen Witt. Join me, the host of Eating While Broke podcast, while I eat a meal created by self-made entrepreneurs, influencers, and celebrities over a meal they once ate when they were broke. Today, I have the lovely AJ Crimson, the official princess of Compton, Asia, Kid Ink, and Asia. This is The Professor. We're here on

Eating While Broke, and today I'm going to break down my meal that got me through a time when I was broke. Listen to Eating While Broke on the iHeartRadio app, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us your attention, we need everything you got. Fast waiting on reparations, we be the illest podcast. Tune in every Thursday, politics and wordplay. We fight for the people cause they got us in the worst way. From the hill to Brazil, Bombay to Kanye.

From the left enclave to what the neocons say. Every Thursday cop the heady conversation and break us off with some bread because we're waiting on reparations. Listen to Waiting on Reparations on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, hello. Hey, I don't know if you heard, but my podcast, Checking In, has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Lifestyle and Self-Help Podcast. I'm grateful for the nomination. I almost didn't even do a podcast because I was just wondering, there are thousands of podcasts out there and why is my voice needed? But a nomination from the NAACP lets me know that I made the right choice. And I encourage you to do. Don't worry if there are thousands of something out that you want to do. Nobody has your sauce. So listen, you can still vote. Go to vote.

Go to vote.NAACPimageAwards.net. You have until February 5th, 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. And please listen to my podcast. We're part of the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for checking in. Travis Scott, what's up, brother? What it do? How you feeling? You know, I've been on about like different type of like emotions, you know, emotional roller coaster.

I mean, it gets so hard because, you know, I'm so, I always felt like connected with my fans. And, you know, I went through something, you know, and I feel like fans went through something and people's parents went through something. And it's, you know, it really, you know, it hurts. It hurts the community. It hurts the city. And it's just been a lot of thoughts, you know, a lot of feelings, a lot of grieving. And just, you know, trying to get you to wrap my head around it, you know, um, I really just really wanted to be there. Um, and just, you know, wish you

could just kind of like hold everyone, you know, um, kind of just heal them, talk to them, have conversations, um, you know, it just, it just, you know, it really hurts. What's your intention with this conversation? Like, what do you hope to get out of this? Or what do you hope to get out? I don't personally have an intention. I just feel like something happened and I feel like it's just

I need just a way to kind of like communicate, you know? One, you know, the families are grieving, you know, it's fans that experienced something,

it's fans that came to a show, you know, and I feel like I just have like a, I've always been that person to always see things through with the people that shared experiences with me. And, you know, it just, things happen and, you know, I just kind of, you know, it's been such a, such a time and I've just been trying to just really figure things out, you know? Mm-hmm. I know you, I'm sure you're experiencing remorse, but was there any hesitation to have this conversation

because of the litigation you may be facing? Well, I mean, yeah, of course you got people that's just like, oh, what? Like, you know, but it's not about that. You know, you're an artist, whoever people think you are, but at the end of the day, you're a human being, you know, you have emotions. You want to communicate them emotions, you know, and trying to find the best way to communicate, you know, how you just feeling, you know. How have you been coping with the aftermath of everything? Just emotionally, just you as a human. I've been just in a room for a while, you know, a lot of thoughts. And luckily, you know, you have people around that can kind of bounce ideas.

But it's just been, you know, I've been doing this for such a long time. And, you know, nothing like this ever happened, you know. So it's just kind of like you just kind of figuring out and at the end of the day like these fans are your family so you just feel like you lost lost something and you just it like you go you do these shows honestly to you know for people to have the best experience you know and just to think that something like this happened you just trying to figure out you know you know just wrap everything around and so even just for the first couple couple weeks you know it was just me sitting down but i had to really channel

these emotions to just remember like you know if no one's gonna be a voice for these people i gotta like kind of step up and kind of like be a voice to just figure out that you know this doesn't happen in the future the show is period you know what i'm saying or figure out that, you know, this doesn't happen in the future. The show is period. You know what I'm saying? Or figure out the bottom solution of what's going on and just try to ensure people, you know, safety and what they're doing. You said you was in the room, but then people saw you at the golf course. Yeah. With Michael Jordan and Mark Wahlberg. What was that?

It was just Thanksgiving. You know, they were there. You know, just good people to have around in the community. it was just Thanksgiving you know they were there you know just good people to have around in the community and you know that was just

more like a personal time just trying to get around think like some fan came and asked for a photo but yeah let's talk about that night man

when did when did you find out things got as bad as they did that's the question everybody wants to know yeah it wasn't really until like minutes

until like the press conference until I figured out exactly what happened you know even after the show you know you're just kind of hearing things

but you don't know I didn't know the exact details until you know minutes before the press conference and even at that moment you're kind of just like

wait you know what like you know you just that moment, you kind of just like, wait, you know, what? Like, you know, you just went through something and it's just like, wait,

what? You know? So you didn't know people that actually passed away? Nah, nah. Wow. Until minutes before,

you know, which is, you know, and at the thing is like, you know, people pass out, you know, people,

you know, things happen at concerts, but something like that, it's just like. Yeah, people said they collectively heard folks scream and help every time you stopped a song to get your attention. Did you hear any of those screams? Nah, man. And you know, it's so crazy

because I'm that artist too. Anytime you can hear something like that, you want to stop the show. You want to make sure fans get the proper attention they need. And anytime I could see anything like that, I did. I stopped a couple times to just make sure

everybody was okay. And I just really just go off the, you know, the fans energy as a collective, you know, call the response. And I just didn't, I just didn't hear that.

You know, I got music, I got in ears, but I just didn't, I just didn't hear that. You know, break that down a little more. Like nobody knows what it's like being on stage except for other artists.

So speak to us from that perspective of, of what you can see in here. It was like, what, 50,000 people? Yeah, I mean, you got like a venue, you know, filled with like 50,000 people. But it's like a scene. You got lights, you got sound, you got pyro, you got, you know, you got your in-ears, you got your sound, you got your mic, you know, you got the music, you got a band.

There's all type of, you know, stuff going on. So it's hard it's hard to tell excitement from from danger so to speak yeah of course everything kind of

just sounds the same and at the end of the day you just hear music you know and when you do you just hear monks of things you know

but you just when you're in a show you just into the show and anytime you can feel anything close to you you know you try to like definitely get to that.

So as an artist, how much can you actually, I guess, help in that position? You can only help what you can see. You know what I mean? And then, you know, whatever you told, you know what I'm saying? Whenever somebody tell you to stop, you just stop. But it just wasn't it. It wasn't that night, huh? You know, raging, raging has been a part of the culture, you know, of your shows, you know,

you didn't on this night, but in the past you've encouraged, I guess the kind of energy that could have led to something like this happening. Do you think that contributed to the energy of this night? Yeah, no, I think, you know, it's something I've been working on, you know, for a while of just creating these experiences and trying to show,

like, the experiences happening in a safe environment. You know, us as artists, we trust, you know, professionals to make sure that, you know, things happen and people leave,

you know, safely. You know what I'm saying? And this night was just like a regular show. You know, it felt like to me. As far as, like, you know, the energy, people, it didn't feel like a regular show, you know, it felt like to me. As far as like, you know, the energy people, it didn't feel like it was like, you know, people didn't show up there to just be harmful. People just, I think, showed up to have a good time and then, you know, something unfortunate happened. And I think we really just got to figure out, you know, what that was, you know.

Does raging make it harder to identify when something is going wrong in the crowd? Well, I think, you know, raging is just a, you know, they have a textbook, you know, definition, but, you know, in concerts, we've grown it to be just the experience of having fun. It's not about just, oh, harm. It's not about that. It's about just letting go and having fun, you know, help others, you know, love each other. It's not about just, you know, harm.

That's not what it's all about. The show isn't just rambunctious for an hour. You know, that's not what it is. Trust me, I grew up on crunk. So, you know, I understand, you know, you just. You just don't want it to get too out of hand. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, the energy is high, you know. And, you know, that's why you want to just make sure that, you know,

people are surrounded to make sure that people are just having the best experience, you know what I'm saying. You know, I can't say the energy is high, but, you know, you want to make sure that people are there for people to have like the best experience and leave. Yeah. You want people to have a good time. You don't want people to get hurt.

Yeah. And then, you know, God forbid pass away. And, you know, it's typical for you to stop a show to make sure fans in the crowd get the help, you know, they need. There's even footage of that night of you doing that during the set. Were you unable to sense like a difference in urgency this time around i mean yeah because you know you stop the show but you know you know if something's gonna happen if it's something detrimental somebody's gonna let you know

you know or you know the show just stopped and you know that just wasn't the case you know i just kind of stopped the show you know you just ask you have a call response with the fans um you try to you know generally get a response but you know if you don't get like a stop you know it's just you can't you just don't you just go off of what's going on you know which makes it so like so crazy because like you know if feel like if anyone would have known it would have just been like it wouldn't have got far you know what headspace were you in when you posted that initial

response video? I mean it was I think it had to have been the night of you know so I was just in a headspace of just trying to get a communication out to my fans you know I had little to no information you know so I was just trying to figure it out and just communicate to them, you know. Yeah, I was just reacting just literally just to give something to the fans, you know.

It's people that showed up. Do you regret that initial video? Do you regret reacting in that way or not, like not having all the information before you said something? I mean, yeah. Cause you know, you, you just don't know what's going on,

but at the end of the day, I don't, you know, I just wanted to get something out, you know, how my message came out. I can't, you know,

I can only go off what I, you know, what I know, but my true intentions of it, you know, was really just trying to get a message across and, you know, I really wanted to just touch the fans, touch the families, you know,

that we hear we grieving and we'll get through this, you know, through this process. So what did you know in that first video? I mean, at that time, I think we just knew that, you know, people pass, you know, we didn't know how, you know, that it was, you know, the news, you know, I think police came out and said something, you know, you're just going off of what you're seeing in the in the news you know you don't really know nothing and then as the days go on

you start collecting a little bit more information they said there was a there was like chaos and trampling being reported since the early afternoon like like hours before the show even started were you informed of any of that ahead of time well no, no. Like, and, you know, the police, he came to my trailer and he congratulated me on, you know, the event and, you know, having something like this in Houston. He let me know that this, it was, you know, mishap at the merch booth earlier.

You know, they shut it down, but they opened it back up. They seem to got it under control. You know, he was going to step out and just let us know if we need anything, you know, have a good show. That was it. You know, a lot of the criticism, you know, from the tragedy, they say, is in the poor planning and understaffing of the event. As an artist, do you have any involvement in any of that?

Well, I mean, we just, as an artist, you just do the creative. And for this to be my festival, you know, I got, you know, bring artists, you know, creatively produce it. And, you know, we just trust in, you know, the professionals to kind of just make sure that, you know, people, you know, are taken care of and, you know, leaving safely. You know, I just can control what I can on the stage. And then, you know, you have the professionals control what they can in the crowd, you know. It's just hard because as an artist, you know, you want to have like the best shows and you want to have the best experiences

and you, you know, you link with professionals to handle that side of it, you know. And then, you know, you want to know what's going on. I think that's what we got to figure out, you know, and figure out what happened there, how it happened, you know. You spoke on the Houston police chief.

His name is Troy Finner. He came to you and he said he voiced concerns over the crowd energy. So what did you and your team like do with that information? Well, I think that's what the media, I think that's what the media said, but I think it, I think it read to more so that he wanted us to, he knew that our crowd

was, you know, the type of crowd that comes, it comes at a heavy crowd. So to communicate with him if we were doing anything outside of the week's itinerary, you know,

that week we were doing like a lot of charity stuff prior to the festival. So, you know, the security at most of the events, but, you know, he was just was just letting us you know i guess in that statement he was just saying if we do anything outside of what we had on the itinerary itinerary let him know but you know we didn't even get to that point it was crazy just you know being there kicking it with you for a

little bit like i can see that you know this is weighing real heavy on you. Yeah. So how much do you feel a sense of responsibility for what happened that night? Well, you know, fans come to the show and have a good experience, you know? And I have a responsibility to figure out what happened here. I have a responsibility to figure out what happened here. I have a responsibility to figure out the solution. And, you know, and I got to, and hopefully this takes a first step into, you know, us as artists, you know, having that more insight of what's going on. You know what I'm saying? and, you know, the professionals to kind of, you know,

surround and figure out more of an intel, whether it's tech, whether it's, you know, more of a response, whether it's whatever the problem is, you know, to figure out that in the future and moving forward and concert safety, make sure this never happened again, you know? Let's talk about those professionals. Like how much responsibility do you think, like, Live Nation and Score More, the promoters having all this i mean you know they do their job of you know setting these things up so i mean i i think you know they

they when we dial into what you know know, specifically happened here, I feel like, you know, even they can kind of help, you know, figure out what happened in a sense. You know, but at the end of the day, I think collectively everyone needs to just figure out the bottom line solution. But, you know, especially in concert safety, you know, definitely got to have, you know, make sure that, you know, these things are, you know, done right. You think these festivals are too big, man? $50 people is a lot of people for anybody to control. Yeah, there are festivals that are bigger, you know, way bigger. And, you know, I just think it's not about the maximum of it. I think it's about the attention to what's going on

and how it's going on. And as long as that's handled, I feel like, you know, things can be, you know, can go okay, will be okay, you know, but if you look at it through the history of festivals, you know, this isn't the first time I'm having, there's been a long history of this, you know? So I feel like if you look at the overall, you know, view of that and you kind of like dial in, OK, what can we do better to fix this overall for general concert safety? I think we figure out the problem, you know, and make it better for people to have better live experiences. Live Nation reportedly agreed to end the concert early after the Houston PD and the fire department declared it a mass casualty event, but the concert continued for another 40 minutes. Was there ever any,

ever any communication to you on stage that you should end this? Well, yeah. I mean, they just told me right after, you know, the guests get, get off stage,

you know, we're going to end the show. And that's what we did. No, other than that, there was no other communication. No. So you mean after the

guest what you mean yeah after the guest comes out okay we're gonna we're gonna end the show but it wasn't communication on why you know it was just you know that's what came through my ears oh so they didn't say stop now no oh gotcha wow you feel like people are forcing more responsibility on you because you are the front man because it was astroworld well yeah i mean you know i'm gonna you know i'm the face of the festival you know i'm an artist you know um so yeah you know the media is you know they yeah they want to you know put it on me and but at the end of the day it's like i don't think it's more, I don't think it's more so about that. I think it's more so about stepping up to figure out what the problem is. And I could take that.

I could take, you know, stepping up to figure out what the problem is. I could take stepping into figuring out the solution that had never happened again. Because that's what I generally want to do in general, even just for my community. You know, the whole idea for why i brought this festival to the city was to you know show that houston is something different you know and show that there's all different types of lives all different type of energy and just bring that morale to the city um and just bring that energy to the city so i definitely want to you know step in to figure out you know how can we fix this in the future what can we do to you know change these things you know do you feel like you did everything you possibly could to help in in that situation yes yes anything i physically can sure yes you know and it and it and it just you know, you know, what's going on, you know, you would just wish, you know, you know, if you, you know, could have done something better, you know.

But standing there, a thousand percent. You know, we know that the families of the people who passed are definitely watching this right now. And, you know, there's nothing you could say to heal the trauma these families who lost loved ones are going through. Hey, guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together.

You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Is your country falling apart?

Feeling tired, depressed, a little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There are 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel.

I am the Queen of Ladonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Capraburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. Why can't Iana tribe own country. My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory.

I was making a rocket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh, my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullet holes, man. We need help! We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan.

And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves, for self-preservation and protection. It was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love.

I forgive myself. It's okay. Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best and you're going gonna figure out the rhythm of this thing alicia keys like you've never heard her before listen to on purpose with jay shetty on the iheart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts being that you know they're watching what would you what would you say to them directly i'll say to them that I'm always here and that, you know, I'm in this with you guys and I love you, you know, and I'll always be there to help you guys heal to this. And I understand that they're going through, you know, they're grieving right now and finding understanding right now. And, you know, it's not just like a right now thing. It's for everything.

And these people that came to the show, they are my family. And I've always had that connection to the people I feel like that listen to the music or came to my shows. And that's why I really, you know, it's really hard on me even just you know to even like you know and even because you know they end up they they they lost a they lost their loved ones you know so you know? So it, you know, it's, it's tough. Um, and, you know, I just want to always just be there for them and just always just be able to just know that I'm

gonna fix this for the future people, you know, and fix the solution and fix this problem, you know, and find a solution to making sure that this doesn't happen in the future and definitely be a number one voice for this, you know. Because, you know, I feel like that's like one of the what the what we got to figure out. Because other than that, it's like, you know, the show goes on tomorrow. You know, something goes, how does this get fixed? This could happen again.

It's happened before. Yeah. I'm XD. And I'm Jade. A friend of mine convinced us to do a pop culture-based podcast, entertain the masses, and do our own thing. And that's how Jade and XD was born.

I was bartending, working in corporate. And I was a social worker. I got into podcasting and, you know, haven't looked back. No, eight years later. And mind you, we were already earning money from Spreaker, so that's why I knew I could make the decision to leave. Spreaker has been a really wonderful experience. They have a bunch of tools, like the statistics, and you won't know how to help grow your podcast if you don't have that data.

Because of that working relationship that we have with Spreaker, I've actually turned on a couple of friends to the network. I think a great podcast is rooted in doing what you love and you'll be rewarded quite handsomely. You want to podcast full time and follow your dreams? Then hit up Spreaker.com S-P-R-E-A-K-E-R dot com. Get paid to talk about

the things you love with Spreaker from iHeart. What grows in the forest? Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Our imagination. Our sense of wonder. And our family bonds grow too. Because when we disconnect from this

and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring at discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. Hello, hello. Hey, I don't know if you heard, but my podcast Checking In has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Lifestyle and Self-Help Podcast. I'm grateful for the nomination. I almost didn't even do a podcast because I was just wondering, there are thousands of podcasts out there and why is my voice needed? But a nomination from

the NAACP lets me know that I made the right choice. And I encourage you to do, don't worry if there are thousands of something out that you want to do. No, nobody has your sauce. So listen, you can still vote. Go to vote that in the Blasey P image awards that you have until February 5th, 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. And please listen to my podcast. We're part of the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Thank you for checking in. You're a father. You know, God forbid when your kids are of age,

if they're in a situation like this, you know, I want you to put yourself in those parents' shoes right now. What would you want to see come of this situation if you i want to see people put their heads together i want to see people really figure this out not take this lightly you know um and really act on it um and that's you know that's one of the main things that's important. I feel like they got to just act on it. It can't just be like something that happens and it just roll over.

We got to be something that's taken serious and addressed seriously. And things formed around it. Time and a lot of time and a lot of, you know, thinking power spent on this, you know, and really fixing, you know, whatever system that needs to be fixed, you know. From the lawsuits to the media coverage, do you feel like you're personally under attack? I mean,

I mean, I mean, I mean, yeah, I mean, you see a name in it and shit, and it's like, but, you know, at the end of the day, you step in these, you know,

you step and you want to do a festival and, you know, when you want to do things and you want to build up, you know, it comes with certain things. Right. So I think it's all about how you respond to it. And I think it's all about how you react. Right. So I could feel that way, but I think more so about, it's more about how I feel about the response that I, that I, that I'm, that I care about more so, which is, you know, actually, you know,

trying to step in and, you know, really step up to really fixing what's happening and, and really step up for the safety of concert goers or people in, in just live spaces, period. I wonder, I wonder wonder is there a way to even prepare for this because nobody like you said when you're doing the planning for a show like this nobody is planning for this to happen so how do you how do you even prepare for something like this to happen i don't know and i feel like when we, I feel like when it comes out a little bit more, how this could have happened, I feel like that's how we can kind of attack that.

But even I was thinking in ways like tech solutions, you know, people come into these festivals with these bands that only scan you in. Right. You have, you know, you have all type of tech now that can track your heart, can track your oxygen levels, can track if you're going to be sick. You can put things now if you're going to get lost. There's all type of ways now. I feel like that can be the band that only gets you access to entry or to a food line or to food trucks can now be soluble to helping save lives. It can now be more of a response to people that are now on site and on ground. Um, I feel like that could be a way, or, you know, even just figuring out what the exact

solution, what the exact problem was and dialing more into that. I think you can kind of, I feel like there is a way. I just think it needs to be time spent on figuring that out. Have you been able to have any personal conversations with any of the families who lost loved ones? I was able to, but, you know, I just want to just respect the privacy of the conversation. I'm thankful for them for even allowing me to have the conversation. How did you feel when some of the families rejected your offer to pay for the funerals? All things are understandable.

And, you know, at a time they're grieving and they're trying to find understanding and, you know, they want answers. And it's not about it's not about that. You know, I'm always going to be here, you know, to want to help them. You know what I'm saying? And it's not going to, you know, I got to continue to show up for that, you know. I just wanted to make sure that they knew that I was there for them, you know what I mean, and continue to be there for them. I think that's just more so what it's about for that.

Yeah. Some people say your music played a role in this. Like I've seen them, you know, cite lyrics, you know, that encourage this kind of behavior. I've seen them say your music is demonic and this was a satanic ritual. You think your music is to blame? I mean, no. I mean, one, I'm a man of of god so that's the first thing first and um you know so it's just yeah that's that and you know your music is just like self-expression you know what i'm saying and at these shows i feel like people kind of like

look at things and if you've been to a Travis show, it's been different layers of shows. You know, I think people are just, you know, misconceptions and taking things they're seeing and, you know, all types of things, you know? And I've, I've, I've, I've took pride in trying to, you know, grow from where I was when I first recorded music to now where I'm going in music. So, yeah, I just think people got to. And that's one thing with me is just people got to kind of, you know, experience it sometimes.

And I think that's what it was. You know, people were kind of like even before people were hearing about it, they come and experience it and taking away their own thing. And it's always going to be an outside opinion, but you know, for the ones that, you know, really believe in me and, you know, understand what we're, you know, what I'm about and what I'm doing. No, that's not, that's not what I'm preaching. I always preach like love, always preach understanding, always preach, you know, take care of your loved ones, love each other.

You know what I'm saying? Get out your ideas. Never let, never let yourselves be stopped, you know, take care of your loved ones, love each other. You know what I'm saying? Get out your ideas. Never let, never let yourselves be stopped, you know, love one another and step into that, you know? I mean, I think that's a part of it, but the music does encourage people to be violent at these shows. I mean, that's what the rage is about. I mean, most of the music is, is me sometimes talking about what I see at the shows.

You know what I mean? If I'm talking about the shows, you know? And so it's just, that's just, you know, the energy, you know what I'm saying? But the energy isn't to come and start, you know, being ultra violent and just being violent and hurting each other. That's not, it's not what it's about. So it's more so supposed to be entertainment.

Yeah, it's everything is, you know, and it's about what you experience at the, you know, at the shows

and what you see, you know. Would this change the content of your music moving forward, you think? You know, what happened,

you know, what happened here wasn't off Travis Scott music. It wasn't, that wasn't, oh, now you need to like switch up. No, I mean, I've made all different type of music in the first place. You know, I've never was just like one lane or one genre of anything in the first place. So I just think it's all about experiences.

And I feel like, you know, it could be music to come out of it. Lyricism, just emotion, you know, music is emotion, you know, and music is healing. And, you know, you can just find healing and find emotion, you know, in that, you know, and just more progressive, you know, everything I'm trying to I'm just more progressive. Everything I'm trying to do is just more progressive. You said you're a man of God. And when I even said that they say your music is satanic, I saw the face that you made.

Where do you think that even comes from? Travis Scott is satanic. Travis Scott is demonic. I just think it's just things people collect. People look at the internet and they just collect and they look at things and they look at visuals. And we have all these theorists and people just thinking they're looking at visuals and don't understand you know just the idea of like what art may be or what what you're trying to do you know they're just making up your own message especially when you're not out there like yelling the message all the

time no it's just yeah and when they say this is a community event after a while yeah so they say a community event is a satanic ritual. How does that make you feel? Yeah, it's like, it's crazy. Because, you know, it's like, I do this for people to have a good time. You know, we have rides, we have games, you know, things for people to get off creative experiences. It's not, you know, the show is at the end of the day, you know.

It's like, you know, and that show is just something based on what's, you know, just things, you know, it's not like, what? Like, why would we wake up one day and just trying to, it's just, evil is not what we're a part of. We're not trying to be a part of that. We're trying to be a part of joy. Trying to be a part of light. Trying to be a part of full-blown happiness, love, you know, understanding people taking care of each other. You know, community, people to leave from these experiences and want to go out and do good.

It's literally what we want. You know, we want to show them these things. You know, we put everything into the, you know, this, you know, this festival, you know,

this is our third year, you know, so we try to put, you know, every year we put everything into the festival so people can enjoy it. You know, it's not about just come perform.

That, not that, you know, it's things for them to just come perform. That, not that. Things for them to do all day. And different artists for them to experience too. Have the trauma of this tragedy impacted your desire to perform in the future? I've always seen performances

of art of healing for me. That's why I've always been so into it. I don't know if you like, you know, looked at like some of the growth from where I'm trying to take performance. I've always tried to, I feel like it's the art of healing. I feel like it's a moment where

people have a mutual understanding. You know, and I feel like the first things first before anything is that we address, you know, a lot of safety concerns. I think the first things first before anything is that we address you know a lot of safety concerns i think the first things first is that because not even just for me you don't want other you know artists to have to go and take a part of that trauma take a part of that experience take a part of that you know that fear you don't want concert girls to still be a part of that fear they want you want them to feel safe you You know what I'm saying?

So I think that's just the first things first. And I think once we take major steps into moving in that direction, you know, I feel like, you know, it could be cool to for people to practice that healing again, you know, and understand that I don't think people should run away from it and shy away from it. I think, you know, it's from it. I think it's a form of healing. No matter what you do at any of your shows

in the future, regardless of how much security, how much safety you put in place, you cannot control human behavior. You can't control 40,000, 50,000 people doing whatever it is that they do. Does that scare you? I mean, yeah, but you also put trust in the fans, too,

to, you know, just have a good time. You know, you just re-instill that. And, you know, you continue to practice, you know, when you're on stage to just remind them, you know. And even when they're there, to just constantly have messages to remind them, like, yo, look, you here to have a good time. We're not here. If you see somebody, you know, help another, you know.

I think it's just continuing to reinstill that message, I think, helped that mindset. Yeah, so after a while was one of, you know, several ways you gave back to Houston. Do you think you've, you know, lost that privilege to do that? To be honest, I haven't really, like, thought about that because I've just been thinking about just community healing and, you know about just community healing and

the family's healing and all those things kind of building back up. That could take forever, though. I don't know if you ever truly heal from these types of situations. But through these

things, like I say, music is part of healing. At the end of the day, I don't, I just don't, you know, a Travis Scott show or, you know, an Astroworld show, you know, wasn't a bottom line factor of what happened, you know. And I think we just got to figure out what that was, what happened. But, you know, having a Travis Scott show, you know, that was what happened but you know having a Travis Scott show and we've done shows you know all over that wasn't the you know what happened here you know something that happened here you know and that's why we want to fix it because it can happen anywhere you know what I'm saying and I think once we get further along in that I think you know

you know it'd be more, a little bit more receptive. I feel just, just you as an individual, when you perform again, what precautions will you take moving forward? Just you, just based on what you can personally control, what precautions would you take moving forward? I'll do the same thing. I'm, you know, been doing just double, you know, making sure everybody is on post. And, you know, I'll do the, you know, double down on just making sure that everyone is locked in. Everyone is aware. Everyone is on response.

Everybody is on, you know, on it. You know what I'm saying? And look out. Try to, you know, if you felt like it wasn't there more, push for it to be more. Push the call and response more with the fans.

Like, what do you mean? Like, are y'all okay? Or, you know, or like, you know, try to have some sort of call and response with the fans while still being smooth

in their performance. Because at the end of the day, it's still performance art. You know what I'm saying? Um, and that's why the whole general whole idea about this is you want to make sure that is all these factors are, are done before we even go into these things,

you know? Um, because you want to just, when you go in, you want to have the mindset that, okay, people are going to be okay. We can have a good show. If anything's going down, people are going to be okay. We can have a good show.

If anything's going down, people are going to be right there to be the first one to get to them. You know, and if there's going to be any communication, you know, communication, but, you know. Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired, depressed, a little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There are 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete.

Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Laudonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Capraburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. The Waikana tribe owned country. My forefathers did that themselves.

What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a racket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullets. We need help!

We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs,

the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember

having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves, for self preservation and protection. It was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself.

It's okay. Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I think, yeah.

When you did stop the show, how did you see that one person? I mean, he was right there. You know, you had like, you had people like just spread it out, you know? And so I'm looking, I'm like, oh, so I just called down and,

you know, the medics just came in, responded, got him out. You know, that's, that's the only one you saw that. Yeah.

It's the only one I saw. And then, you know, when I seen, um, the lights in the back, you know, I just double check, make sure everyone was OK.

You know, I got a response. Everyone was OK. Yeah. How normal is that to see ambulances and everything else at these places? Well, it was it was lights. So, you know, an ambulance don't really have like red and blue lights, you know. Oh, so you thought it was cops? I don't. You don't know. You're just looking at his lights. That's why I asked. I'm just like, yo, is it an ambulance? Like, what's going on?

You don't know if it's like somebody got some lights up there doing, you know, doing some turn. You don't know, you know? But, you know, I didn't get a response. So, you know, you got a response from the fans. You know, I asked everyone to put their hand up. And then, you know, I didn't get a response from anything else.

So just carried on. Does it make you feel judged when you see videos, you know, circulating of other artists stopping their shows, like the check on fans since, since Astroworld? Cause it's almost like the insinuation from other artists is that like you didn't do enough. So we don't want to be like Travis. I take it as, you know, they're just taking extra precautions, you know, because

it might not have been something that, you know, was running through their mind at the time before. And they're just taking extra precautions to, you know, make sure they don't run through the same problems.

And I commend them for that. You know, I've always done the same thing, you know, in my prior shows and at this show. So, you know, I feel them, you know. I just think it's been a little bit more, people are more captioning now, like, because of what's going on. I think that's just how the media works. Do you feel like your team right now is allowing you

to do everything that you possibly could do? And as far as what? Just as far as like anything in regards to this situation. You know, speaking out, reaching out to families, whatever. Well, yeah, you know, it's a lot of legal into it, but

at the end of the day, I'm human, so I want to do so much to try to like help and heal. And, you know, you want to give time for people to heal. You want to give time, but, you know, I want to be able to like go and start taking these steps to, you know, addressing these, you know, these problems and, you know, getting to the solutions, you know, addressing the solutions and addressing ways to fix these things from happening in the future.

Like, and I think that's the main thing. And I've always took a, I've always took pride in trying to lead things and go and attack things and, you know, be the first to jump out and go do it, you know? So I'm, I'm, I'm more than, you know, happy enough to go. But then there's the person Travis Scott, but then there's the business that Travis Scott. I'm sure there's a lot of people around you trying to protect the business.

Yeah. So for you personally, like, you know, how much do you want to protect the business as well? Well, I mean, at the end of the day, like people have to understand these businesses aren't built because, you know, you Charlamagne, I'm Travis. So it's like I've always cared about, you know, the fans. I don't give a, you know, it's about them, you know? So it's like, obviously it's like business and this, but I've always been the one that's like pushed back on vocally.

Like, yo, you know, we got to, you know, this is about, you know, the fans and, you know, the team has always felt the same way. And so, and anytime I've ever done anything corporately, that's just how I've always been. It's just like, yo, we want to go do things to make sure that the people that are experiencing this product is having the best experience. It's not about, you know, what we can do,

like the numbers, like, you know, that's not what we chase here. We chase for people to have the best experience you know we want people to have enjoy themselves we want people to walk away with like just ideas like well this is like you know what's up what's up this is robin dixon co-host of reasonably shady which has just been nominated for an naACP Image Award in the Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast category. This is so big for Giselle and I. And of course, we must thank all of our fantastic listeners.

But we need your help. Visit vote.naacpimageawards.net to vote for Reasonably Shady. That's vote.naacpimageawards.net. But don't wait. Voting closes on February 5th at 9 p.m. Eastern. And make sure to listen to Reasonably Shady every single Monday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Look through your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure in pebbles.

They see a windy path that could lead to adventure. And they see you, their fearless guide through this fascinating world. Find a forest near you and start exploring at discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. The Gangster Chronicles podcast is a weekly conversation that revolves around the underworld. From criminals and entertainers to victims of crime and law enforcement, we cover all facets of the game. Gangster Chronicles podcast doesn't glorify

or promote illicit activities. We just discuss the ramifications and repercussions of these activities. Because after all, if you play gangster games, you are ultimately rewarded with gangster prizes.

iHeartRadio is number one for podcasts, but don't take our word for it. Find the Gangster Chronicles podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. They say that there's no permanent friends or enemies in business. So, you know, if anybody decides to back away from Travis Scott on a corporate level, do you care?

No. But I've never jumped into things with people that didn't know me. So everyone I surrounded myself with, you know, it's always been, you know, a backbone and, you know, supportive to anything I, you know, I want to do to help fix anything that could be a good cause, you know? So, you know, I'm thankful for that, you know? If the families of the victims never forgive you you will you ever be able to forgive yourself can you live

with it nah it's tough you know it's real tough because I want them to really know that my intentions, you know, wasn't, you know, it wasn't to harm their family at all. It's for them to come and have a good experience. Um, you know, and I, yeah, like, you know, I've always felt like I have a connection with my fans, you know, through the music. I feel like when they come to see me, it's not just like, oh, they're coming,

they're coming to, it's like a connection. And, you know, sometimes not knowing, you know, people not understanding like artists and where we come from, that, it can be a disconnect. And, you know, I would love to, you know, instead of understanding, you know, for them to truly know where my heart's from, you know, it didn't come for them, for me to harm. It wasn't about a show to keep, you know, for them to truly know where my heart's from, you know, it didn't come for them, for me to harm. And it wasn't about a show to keep, you know, at all, you know,

it was, you know, it was about for them to have, you know, one of the, you know, very good time. And it's just tragic that it didn't turn out that way. You know, do I feel like it comes with being in a seat, you know, and I feel like they pointing the finger at me because it's my festival or they want to, you know, it's I am who I am, you know,

and it maybe not a lot of like understanding about like what's going on, but you know, like I said before, I feel like I can lot of like understanding about like what going on, but you know, like I said before, I feel like I can kind of like take that, um, in a sense. Um, cause my whole career,

I feel like people have been trying to do that. And I feel like I've shown through actions that that's not my character. That's not, you know, that's not who I am. I'm, I'm, I'm shining through positive,

you know? Um, and I feel like, you know, I'm shining through positive, you know? Um, and I feel like, you know, with understanding and with everything, I feel like people understand that what, what my heart wasn't there to be the villain, you know,

I was there to be like a hometown hero. You know, the day before Astroworld, um, there's footage of you discussing the importance of giving back to your community and how much it means to you to be able to do that. Do you think people have forgotten, you know, your heart and all this and what Astroworld was, was truly about? You know, I think people, you know, grieving and it can get, it can get, you know, misplaced with, you know, who cares about that, what's going on right now um but you know like i said um

i just want to continue to you know stay on those stepping blocks and continue to do the charity i've been doing and continue to doing the community work i've been doing for houston you know um i was doing those things before not looking for people to pat me on the back for them. You know, I was just doing them just simply just to make a change. And so you wouldn't be surprised if people don't, you know, pay attention to some of those things throughout whenever you are doing them. But that's not what you're doing for, really. So I feel like at the end of the day, you continue to do those things regardless. You know? Do you think you'll ever be able to recover from this emotionally?

You know, my grandmother, my dad, my mom, they've always told me to, you know, put your faith in God and hide behind his wing. And at the end of the day, I think you got to, I've always told myself, you know, things aren't going to get as hard. You know, things can be feeling amazing sometimes and things can get real hard, you know. And I think how you respond to things and where you channel your emotions is very important, you know, especially at a time like this and um and i gave my you know it was it was hard for me to really because it was the first it was first time anything like this i've even seen anything like this hurting me and it would

be happening you know to this whole community you know um it just it just you know you kind of just you want to be able to channel that emotion to just respond and you got to be strong, man. Um, stepping in and doing the things for the community doesn't come with being, you know, too weak. You got to be able to, you know, step through these things and show people that you really, you really care, you know, this wasn't just to get to the point to do this, but it was really to create active change, you know? And, uh, I think, you know, these are, you know, it's these moments right now where you got to really show, you know, where your heart is in this thing, you know? Um, and I, I think, you know, that's what I've always, you know, one wanted to do. And, you know, I want to just continue to do that. I'm glad you mentioned your family. Cause that was one of my, one of to do and, you know, I want to just continue to do that. I'm glad you mentioned your family because that was one of my one of my last questions.

Like how important is family been in this situation? You know, it's been important, you know, you know, you know, all my family was there. To, you know, so it's been important, but to be able to have them and bounce back, you know, ideas and, you know, them grieve with, you know, for those families as well. Um, pray for those families as well, continue to, you know, them also being a helping hand as well, you know, which gives me more hands to help, I feel like, which is more important. And, you know, them always having my back to support the idea, want to create this change, I think, you know, at least gives me more confidence that, you know, I'm not in this alone,

you know what I'm saying, to help fix this, you know, for the families, for the community. As a superstar, it's weird, right? Because these same outlets that report on this tragedy, when something like the W cover leaks, they not even want to get back to your relationship. And whether you and, you know, Kylie are together or not. Is that not strange to you? I mean, yeah.

So I don't really like do, only do magazines I like, you know? But, you know, a magazine gonna try to like figure out what the fuck they want to figure out, you know? I just, I've never did anything for a relationship for, you know, anybody to try to figure out or put a label on what they want to put it on. You know, we know what our relationship is, and, you know, so I just stand strong on it. So I guess my final question, man, who does Travis Scott ultimately,

I guess, think is responsible for this tragedy? You know, it's crazy because something tragic happened here. And what I've just been trying to, you know, get to the bottom of is just what happened here, how it happened here. And I, you know, I think the families are old, you know, that I feel like, you know, the community is old that I feel like we're old that to just know what happened here. Um, and, you know, I don't want to, I don't want to just speak too soon. I just want to figure out, you know, what happened here. And, you know, I don't want to just speak too soon. I just want to figure out, you know, what happened, you know?

But, you know, we, like I said, you know, as artists, we just leave this up, you know, to, you know, to professionals to make sure that we, you know, that fans are having a good time, you know, people are protected and can, you know, leave and have the best experience ever. You know they're going to pick this interview apart. So is there anything you want to say, you know, to your fans, to the family of people who lost loved ones, you know,

before we get out of here? I mean, I just want to, I want everyone to just continue praying for the fans. I want people to continue praying for the ones, the fans that was lost. You know, I want people to continue praying for the families. I want people to continue just reaching out for healing. I want people to continue to just be there for each other. And remember that, you know, that love is just, you know, everything.

And with that, you know, we can try to cure everything, you know, and take steps into, you know, healing. And I think the more we try to, you know, continue to let people grieve and continue to be there for people and, you know, check in more people and, you know, check in on your loved ones and just, you know, I think that's just like one of the most important things, you know, staying strong through this while we, you know, figure out what's going on, you know, and bring understanding to these families and to the community.

That's what we're going to do. We're going to send healing energy to everybody involved. The families, you know, those who were lost, yourself, because nobody wants

tragedies like this to happen. Yeah, not at all. So preventing them moving forward is the only thing we can do. Yeah. Appreciate you, brother. Yes, sir.

Absolutely. Hello, hello. Hey, I don't know if you heard, but my podcast checking it has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Lifestyle and Self-Help Podcast. I'm grateful for the nomination. I I almost didn't even do a podcast because I was just wondering there are thousands of podcasts out there and why is my voice needed? But a nomination from the NAACP lets me know that I made the right choice. And I encourage you to do. Don't worry if there are thousands of something out that you want to do. Nobody has your sauce. So listen, you can still vote. Go to vote.naacpimageawards.net. You have until February 5th, 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

And please listen to my podcast. We're part of the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for checking in. What's up, guys? I'm rashad balau and i am troy millings and we are the hosts of the earn your podcast where we break down business models and examine the latest trends in finance we hold court and have exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in business sport and entertainment from dj khaled to mark cuban rick ross and shaquille o'neal i mean our alumni list is expansive listen in as our guests reveal their business models hardships and triumph and triumphs in their respective fields. The knowledge is in-depth and the questions are always delivered from your standpoint. We want to know what you want to

know. We talk to the legends of business, sports, and entertainment about how they got their start and most importantly, how they make their money. Earn Your Leisure is a college business class mixed with pop culture. Want to learn about the real estate game? Unclear as how the stock market works? We got you. Interested in starting a trucking company or a vending machine business? What's up? What's up? podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, what's up? This is Robin Dixon, co-host of Reasonably Shady, which has just been nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast category. This is

so big for Giselle and I, and of course, we must thank all of our fantastic listeners, But we need your help. Visit vote.naacpimageawards.net to vote for Reasonably Shady. That's vote.naacpimageawards.net. But don't wait. Voting closes on February 5th at 9 p.m. Eastern. And make sure to listen to Reasonably Shady every single Monday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own?

I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max.

You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love.

I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace for yourself. You're trying your best, and you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.