If you were anywhere near a computer in April 2020, you probably remember the chaos. A giant, holographic Travis Scott stomping through the Fortnite map while "SICKO MODE" rattled your headset. It was surreal. But the real peak of that "Astronomical" event wasn't the old hits. It was the moment a brand-new track dropped, a dark, pulsing anthem featuring the man Travis literally named himself after: Kid Cudi. THE SCOTTS wasn't just a song; it was a promise of a new era.
The track debuted at number one. It broke records. It felt like the beginning of the biggest supergroup in modern rap history. Fast forward to 2026, and the vibe is... different.
The "album" we were all promised? It basically vanished.
The Rise and Quiet Fall of THE SCOTTS
Initially, everything looked perfect. The name itself is a nod to both artists—Jacques Bermon Webster II (Travis) and Scott Mescudi (Cudi). It felt like a passing of the torch. Cudi had been Travis's idol for years, and now they were equal partners. They even had a logo. They had the KAWS-designed artwork. It was a whole brand.
Then the silence started.
Honestly, fans spent two years dissecting every single tweet. Every time Cudi mentioned "the boys" or Travis posted a vague studio pic, the internet went into a frenzy. We all thought we were getting a full project. Maybe ten tracks of that heavy, psychedelic trap.
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But music is a business of momentum. In late 2022, Kid Cudi finally pulled the plug. During a Q&A session on X (formerly Twitter), a fan asked about the status of the collaboration. Cudi’s response was pretty blunt: "The moment has passed." He essentially said they’d moved on.
Why did the hype die out?
It wasn't a lack of chemistry. If you listen to their previous work—"through the late night" or "Baptized in Fire"—the energy is undeniable. It was more about timing and life. Travis went through a massive professional hiatus following the Astroworld tragedy in 2021. Cudi was busy with Entergalactic, his Netflix project, and his own solo trilogies.
By the time things settled, the "sound" of THE SCOTTS felt like a snapshot of 2020. Trying to recreate that in 2024 or 2025 probably felt forced to them. Artists hate feeling like they're chasing an old ghost.
The Massive Success of the Lead Single
Even if we never get the full album, you can't ignore the numbers the single pulled. It was Travis's third number-one hit, but more importantly, it was Kid Cudi’s first-ever number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. That’s wild when you think about Cudi's influence over the last fifteen years.
The production was a "who's who" of heavy hitters:
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- Take a Daytrip (the duo behind "Mo Bamba")
- Dot da Genius (Cudi's long-time right hand)
- Plain Pat
- Mike Dean (the synth wizard himself)
The song is only 2 minutes and 45 seconds long. It’s short. It’s punchy. It’s got that signature Mike Dean outro that sounds like a synth-heavy sunset. It actually broke Spotify's global streaming record for the biggest debut of 2020 at the time, racking up 7.45 million streams in 24 hours.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Beef"
There’s always rumors of a fallout when a project gets scrapped. People pointed to Cudi’s friendship with Pete Davidson or his public back-and-forth with Kanye West as reasons why he might have distanced himself from the Travis/Cactus Jack circle.
The truth is much more boring.
They’re still cool. In 2023, Cudi appeared on Travis Scott’s UTOPIA on the track "LOOOVE." It was a clear signal that there was no bad blood. They just didn't want to do a whole album together anymore. It’s kinda like when you and a friend plan a road trip, life gets busy, and you realize you'd rather just grab dinner once a month instead.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're still obsessed with the THE SCOTTS era, there are a few things you should know about the legacy of that short-lived duo.
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1. Watch the Physicals
The vinyl and cassette releases of the single were sold in limited batches on the Cactus Jack store. Because the "group" is technically defunct now, these items have become legitimate collector's pieces. If you find an original KAWS-cover vinyl for under $50, you've found a steal.
2. Dive into the "Hidden" Collabs
If you’re craving that specific sound, don't just wait for an album that isn't coming. There are five main collaborations that basically serve as a "mini-album":
- "through the late night" (Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight)
- "Baptized in Fire" (Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin')
- "STOP TRYING TO BE GOD" (Astroworld)
- "THE SCOTTS" (Single)
- "LOOOVE" (UTOPIA)
3. Follow the Producers
If it’s the sound you miss—that eerie, distorted synth-trap—keep tabs on Take a Daytrip and Mike Dean. They are the architects of that atmosphere. Mike Dean’s solo work, specifically his 4:20 and 4:24 albums, carries that exact same DNA without the vocals.
The era of THE SCOTTS was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for hip-hop and gaming. While the full-length project is officially "scrapped" according to Cudi, the impact it had on how music is premiered in the digital age changed everything. We don't get Lil Nas X or Ariana Grande concerts in games without Travis and Cudi proving it could work first.
To keep up with any potential future "one-off" tracks, keep your eyes on the Cactus Jack and Wicked Awesome social feeds. They tend to drop things with zero warning.