Travis Scott made a triumphant return to the stage at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards held in Las Vegas on May 15. It marked his first televised performance since the tragic incident at the Astroworld Festival the previous November, where 10 lives were lost. Despite the somber backdrop, the Cactus Jack rapper wowed fans with a sneak peek of his upcoming album, UTOPIA.
Dressed for the occasion in wintry attire, Travis Scott performed two tracks from his highly anticipated Astroworld follow-up. First, he treated the audience at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to his latest single, “Mafia,” with backing vocals from J. Cole absent for the live rendition. Following that, he unveiled an unreleased song titled “Lost Forever,” a collaboration featuring British singer James Blake and Griselda’s own Westside Gunn.
The performance of “Lost Forever” showcased the song’s hauntingly atmospheric sound, a stark contrast to the extravagant Astroworld Festival that preceded it. The track had already been teased during Scott’s Cactus Jack Dior Summer 2022 fashion show the previous June. However, the fashion collection had been shelved following the Astroworld tragedy.
Prior to his Billboard Music Awards appearance, Travis Scott was seen backstage with his four-year-old daughter, Stormi, and Diddy, who hosted the awards ceremony. Diddy’s involvement in securing Scott’s performance stemmed from his campaign to support those who faced backlash and controversy in the music industry.
Diddy, who acknowledged that nobody is perfect and everyone faces hardships, defended Scott’s inclusion in the event, stating that it was time for forgiveness and moving forward with love and respect for those affected by the Astroworld incident.
The Billboard Music Awards performance was just the beginning of Travis Scott’s planned comeback. He had lined up several performances for the year, including co-headlining the South American leg of the 2022 Primavera Sound festival in São Paulo, Brasil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile.
Since the Astroworld Festival tragedy, Travis Scott had been gradually returning to live performances with low-key shows in Miami and across California, signaling his intention to overcome the controversy and forge ahead with his musical career.
Fans eagerly await the release of UTOPIA, the upcoming album that Travis Scott has been working on with his trusted producer/engineer, Mike Dean. Although no official release date has been announced yet, the excitement surrounding the project continues to build.
Travis Scott’s resilience in the face of adversity and his commitment to his art have resonated with his fans and the music industry alike. As he continues to perform and work on new music, it remains evident that Travis Scott’s journey is far from over, and he is poised to reclaim his place in the spotlight.