Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight

On his second album, Travis Scott is flying free, enjoying the spoils of fame and spotting the pitfalls. Sharp storytelling and warm synths give Birds a surreal, cinematic feel. He brings street anthems in bunches (“way back,” “coordinate,” “through the late night”) and his confidence beams on the intimate “first take” and “guidance," a Latin-tinged R&B track à la “One Dance.” If Rodeo showed that Travis Scott is comfortable coloring outside hip-hop's lines, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight shows he’s capable of creating a masterpiece.