How Travis Scott’s ‘Days Before Rodeo’ Became The Best-Selling Mixtape in History

Travis Scott’s ‘Days Before Rodeo’ has reached new heights, making history as the highest-selling mixtape ever, just a month after its re-release. Originally dropped on streaming platforms in celebration of its 10th anniversary, ‘Days Before Rodeo’ has skyrocketed in sales, capturing the attention of old fans and new listeners alike. 

Alongside the mixtape’s re-release, Scott unveiled a deluxe digital version featuring fresh tracks, a limited-edition vinyl, and a sold-out show in Atlanta where he performed most of the mixtape. The exclusive digital deluxe edition, coupled with the Atlanta concert, helped fuel massive anticipation and sales. The excitement surrounding the mixtape’s anniversary was enough to earn Scott a couple of new records. 

Image Courtesy: People

Not only does ‘Days Before Rodeo’ now hold the title for the highest-selling mixtape in history, but it also added another accolade to Scott’s repertoire. The rapper celebrated his fourth consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard charts, joining the ranks of his earlier successes with ‘Utopia’ in 2023, ‘Astroworld’ in 2018, and ‘Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight’ in 2016.

In addition to dominating the mixtape category, Scott’s vinyl sales also broke records. According to Billboard, he achieved the highest-selling vinyl sales week for a rap album and marked the sixth-best week across all genres since Luminate began tracking in 1991. With an impressive 156,000 album units sold in a single week, most of those came from exclusive vinyl sales through his webstore, proving Scott’s influence stretches across both digital and physical formats.

Image Courtesy: The Fader

Scott’s meteoric rise began during the tail end of the Blog Era when he first released ‘Days Before Rodeo’ in 2014. The free SoundCloud mixtape immediately captured the mainstream’s attention, featuring collaborations with artists like Migos, Big Sean, and Young Thug. Mixing and mastering by legends Mike Dean and Alex Tumay, along with production from names like Metro Boomin and Wondagurl, solidified ‘Days Before Rodeo’ as a groundbreaking project.

What’s remarkable about the mixtape’s continued success is its staying power. In 2024, ‘Days Before Rodeo’ even overtook Eminem’s highly anticipated ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ (Coup de Grâce) as the highest-selling rap album of the year. The achievement is no small feat, as Eminem’s concept album had dominated charts since its release, but Scott’s legacy continues to rise.

Though ‘Days Before Rodeo’ didn’t instantly top the charts following its anniversary release, the buzz was undeniable. Competing against the success of pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who momentarily held the top spot, Scott’s mixtape quickly surged ahead, proving that rap’s influence remains as powerful as ever in the music industry.

This monumental achievement cements Travis Scott as a defining figure in contemporary music, blending his unique production style with a keen sense of market timing. The overwhelming response to ‘Days Before Rodeo’ is a testament to Scott’s enduring legacy, a decade after he first exploded onto the scene.

-Sushmita Sarkar