Within the upset of the century, Travis Scott’s voice will not be the primary that you simply hear on JACKBOYS 2, the second iteration of the Houston rapper’s Cactus Jack compilation challenge. Ushering the listener into the label’s renegade world is the legendary Bun B, one-half of Texas rap icons UGK, touting the potential of Houston changing into the following rap stronghold, delivered within the type of a faux-radio interview. A good quantity of mythmaking and shot-calling happens within the 30-second intro: Bun evokes DJ Screw’s immense impression and idyllic sweet paint imagery earlier than dropping an eye-widening assertion, promising that JACKBOYS 2 would be the report to persuade the remainder of the nation that Houston is up subsequent. The declare is uttered in such a terse method that it virtually feels sarcastic when it hits your eardrums.
But, it falls in keeping with Travis’ bulletproof self-efficacy. Within the years for the reason that 2019 launch of JACKBOYS, his standing as one in all rap’s resident raging superstars has not often been challenged, regardless of all of the tragedy and tabloid gossip. He’s ballooned to the scale of a pink big star, wielding spectacles like Astroworld and UTOPIA to maneuver weight in merchandise and ticket gross sales with an unnerving fidelity.
However as Cactus Jack’s label head, Travis’ consideration has been considerably neglectful. It’s onerous on the market for the likes of Don Toliver, SoFaygo (one album and a slew of low-impact EPs after signing in 2021), Sheck Wes (one full-length challenge since 2018), and the newly signed Wallie the Sensei. JACKBOYS 2 is one other try and rectify this example, the place Travis tries to construct a blockbuster occasion to let his expenses showcase their stuff. Although, just like the primary version, the Cactus Jack roster is relegated to supporting roles, lowering alternatives for an already shallow expertise pool. It’s particularly magnified by paint-by-numbers lure and rage manufacturing that coasts on the tenets what’s sizzling proper now as a substitute of pushing the envelope with quirkiness and individuality—whirring synths and pounding snares bleed collectively for songs at a time— whereas feeling devoid of earnest effort by its spearheading determine, manifesting in a report that pushes you nearer to sleep than it does to rage.
It’s as if the crew tried to translate the “huge cinematic occasion” feeling that colours Travis’ albums (and, to a lesser extent, Toliver’s solo releases like 2021’s Lifetime of a DON) right into a compilation mixtape with none of the muse wanted to assist it. It’s apparent from the outset: “Champain & Vacay” ought to break the doorways down with Waka Flocka Flame ad-libs, however the subdued, spaced-out synths mix with Travis’ uninspired rebuttals at Pusha T creates a distractingly incongruous vitality. It will get to the purpose the place you start to take Travis for his phrase when he raps, “On tracks not givin’ a fuck/On wax not givin’ a fuck,” on “2000 Tour.” Even the celebrity bells and whistles appear to be perfunctory on JACKBOYS 2—congratulations to 21 Savage’s ghostly ad-libs on “Kick Out” and Future and Playboi Carti’s compulsory weave over an unmemorable F1LTHY beat on “The place Was You”—which appears counterintuitive at its core.
