In a surprising turn of events, Travis Scott has found himself embroiled in controversy following the release of several bonus editions of his 2014 mixtape *Days Before Rodeo*. The re-release, which has seen a surge of deluxe and live versions, has drawn sharp criticism from pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who is currently in a high-stakes competition with Scott for the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Houston rapper’s move comes as part of a strategic push to boost the mixtape's visibility and sales figures. On August 30, Scott unveiled *Days Before Rodeo – Live from Atlanta: Chopped & Screwed – Vault 1 & 2*, a collection featuring unreleased snippets from the mixtape's recording sessions and recordings from a recent anniversary performance in Atlanta. Additionally, three deluxe versions of the mixtape were announced, each containing two new tracks and available exclusively through Scott’s official website.
Scott’s decision to flood the market with these bonus releases has not gone unnoticed. Carpenter, whose debut album *Sweet N’ Sour* is currently competing fiercely with Scott's re-released mixtape, took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the situation. “This is for Nicki,” she tweeted, drawing a direct comparison to Scott’s previous chart battle with Nicki Minaj.
In 2018, Travis Scott's *Astroworld* narrowly defeated Nicki Minaj's *Queen* for the number one position on the Billboard 200. Minaj was vocal about her disappointment, accusing Scott of manipulating the system with his album bundles and merchandise offers. She famously criticized him on Queen Radio, suggesting that his sales figures were inflated by these bundles rather than actual album sales.
The recent tweet from Carpenter appears to be a nod to this past feud, with Carpenter positioning herself as a challenger in a similar vein. Her message resonated with Minaj, who subsequently gave Carpenter a shoutout on Instagram Live. “Shout out Sabrina Carpenter, shout out all the Sabrina Carpenter fans,” Minaj declared, seemingly in support of Carpenter's bid to secure the top chart position.
As it stands, the battle between Scott's *Days Before Rodeo* re-release and Carpenter’s *Sweet N’ Sour* is proving to be a tight race. Early estimates suggested that Carpenter's album had shifted over 300,000 equivalent units by midweek, while Scott’s mixtape was trailing with approximately 217,000 units.
However, the gap between the two releases is expected to narrow as the week progresses, thanks to Scott's strong streaming presence.
Despite the fierce competition, Scott’s re-release is poised to make a significant impact on the charts. If it maintains its momentum, *Days Before Rodeo* could potentially outpace other major Hip Hop releases from 2024, including Eminem's *The Death of Slim Shady*. The mixtape’s re-release has already shown impressive first-week sales figures, contributing to its potential to become one of the year’s highest-selling rap albums.
The ongoing chart battle highlights the intense competition within the music industry, where strategic releases and promotional tactics can dramatically shift sales figures.
For Scott and Carpenter, the stakes are high, and the outcome of this chart clash will likely have long-lasting implications for their careers.
As the week progresses, fans and industry observers will be keeping a close eye on the Billboard 200 to see who will come out on top. Will Travis Scott’s strategic re-releases give him the edge, or will Sabrina Carpenter’s growing fanbase and recent support from Nicki Minaj propel her to the number one spot?
