Travis Scott’s Jackboys 2 feels like a missed opportunity, lacking vision, cohesion, and a true group dynamic.
Following “Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy,” anticipation for Travis Scott’s Jackboys 2 began building through leaked audio and live performance previews. Still, for some reason, I wasn’t particularly excited. Before diving in, I revisited the original Jackboys from 2019. It was a decent group effort with a unified sound and minimal outside features. It came and went, but it sounded better than what this sequel turned out to be.
Jackboys 2 feels less like a collective showcase and more like a Travis Scott and Don Toliver project, with scattered contributions from Sheck Wes and SoFaygo. Eh. While Don continues to receive proper spotlight, the others are left in the background. They show up on tracks that feel more like filler than highlights. Travis seems to be emulating the success of rap groups like A$AP Mob or Watch the Throne. But he never allows other members to shine.
The album’s features were hit or miss. GloRilla and Future felt natural, but appearances from Tyla and Vybz Kartel seemed misplaced. Overall, there’s a lack of cohesion and no clear identity or theme. I kept trying to figure out what Jackboys 2 was supposed to be, but it’s just 55 minutes of empty, formulaic music. This could’ve been a breakout moment for lesser-known Cactus Jack members, but instead, it reinforced the same hierarchy: Travis and Don at the top. The rest are fighting for scraps. The project lacks purpose and vision. It doesn’t even attempt to answer the question: What are the Jackboys, and what do they represent?
That said, there were some enjoyable moments. “CHAMPAIN AND VACAY” had potential, though Waka Flocka’s shouting felt more distracting than hype-inducing. “NO COMMENTS” offered a solid blend of synth-heavy production and Toliver’s melodic flow. Travis’s diss aimed at Pusha T on “CHAMPAIN AND VACAY,” however, fell completely flat. Pusha has taken massive shots in the past. The past? That would be the year 2025. Other highlights include “2000 EXCURSION” and 21 Savage’s feature on “KICK OUT,” both of which brought energy and solid production.
But moments like these weren’t enough to carry the album.
Since Astroworld, a certified classic, Travis Scott has felt creatively stagnant, opting for safe, formulaic tracks over experimentation. At this point in his career, he could be pushing boundaries, but Jackboys 2 proves he’d rather play it safe.
It didn’t impress me, but it didn’t surprise me either. Travis knows his lane and rarely leaves it. While I won’t be revisiting the full project, a couple of songs might make it to my playlist.
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