The Scotts

"The Scotts" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American hip hop super-duo the Scotts, composed of rappers and singers Travis Scott and Kid Cudi.^[1] It was released in various formats, including on 7-inch vinyl, cassette and as a CD single through Epic, Cactus Jack, and Wicked Awesome on April 24, 2020.^[2][3][4] The song release was supported by four different visuals on YouTube.^[5]

"The Scotts"
Single by the Scotts
Released	April 24, 2020
Recorded	2019–2020
Studio	H.O.M.E. (Los Angeles)
Genre	Trap
Length	2:45
Label	Epic Cactus Jack Wicked Awesome
Songwriter(s)	Jacques Webster Scott Mescudi David Biral Denzel Baptiste Oladipo Omishore Patrick Reynolds Mike Dean
Producer(s)	Take a Daytrip Dot da Genius Plain Pat
Travis Scott singles chronology
"Turks" (2020) "The Scotts" (2020) "TKN" (2020)
Kid Cudi singles chronology
"Leader of the Delinquents" (2020) "The Scotts" (2020) "The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady" (2020)

The song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, for the chart dated May 9, 2020, becoming Scott's third US number-one single, following "Sicko Mode" and "Highest in the Room". For Cudi, it was his first US number-one single.^[6][7]

Both artists had previously collaborated on Scott's "Through the Late Night" and "Way Back" on Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016), Cudi's "Baptized in Fire" on Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' (2016), and Scott's "Stop Trying to Be God" on Astroworld (2018).^[8] On September 3, 2021, Kid Cudi stated via Twitter that a full-length "The Scotts" album was in store for the future, though he noted that he did not know when it would happen, only that it would at some point.^[9] He reiterated this in July 2023 following the release of Scott's fourth studio album Utopia, after previously stating in December 2022 that they were no longer working on the album.^[10][11]

Background and promotion

On April 20, 2020, it was reported that Scott teamed up with Fortnite Battle Royale to start a virtual tour through the game called "Astronomical" starting on April 23 until April 25.^[12] The rapper would premiere and play a new song at several different times during the game.^[13] Players of the game got to hear snippets of the song before its official release.^[14] In total, the concert was witnessed by an audience of over 12 million players.^[15] On April 23, Scott revealed the cover art of the song on his Instagram and announced that the song would feature Kid Cudi.^[16] The song title is a reference to Scott's stage surname and Cudi's real first name, who inspired Scott to take the name in the first place.^[17] The cover art of the single was created by American artist Kaws.^[18]

Critical reception

To Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone, the song felt "like a symbolic passing of the torch" after Scott's longstanding admiration for Cudi's work but eventually thought that "the results are mixed" despite having been "very hyped" beforehand.^[19] Rap-Up described the song as an "explosive banger" with Scott igniting "the two-minute track while Cudder keeps the fire burning".^[3]

Chart performance

"The Scotts" debuted at number one the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of May 9, 2020. The song became Scott's 3rd number one single and Cudi's first. The song also made Scott the sixth artist in history to have multiple songs that debuted at number one following Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Drake and Ariana Grande.^[6]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[20]

• Jacques Webster (Travis Scott) – vocals, songwriting, composition, recording engineering, uncredited co-production^[21]
• Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi) – vocals, songwriting, composition
• David Biral – songwriting, composition, production
• Denzel Baptiste – songwriting, composition, production
• Mike Dean – songwriting, composition, master engineering, mixing engineering, uncredited co-production^[21]
• Oladipo Omishore – songwriting, composition, production
• Patrick Reynolds – songwriting, composition, production
• Jimmy Cash – recording engineering
• Ali Adel - music video editing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2020) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[22] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 29 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[25] 29 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 1 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27] 4 Denmark (Tracklisten)[28] 5 Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[29] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[30] 6 France (SNEP)[31] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[32] 8 Global 200 (Billboard)[33] 183 Greece International (IFPI)[34] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[35] 12 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[36] 1 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[37] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[38] 2 Italy (FIMI)[39] 2 Lithuania (AGATA)[40] 2 Malaysia (RIM)[41] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43] 2 Norway (VG-lista)[44] 5 Portugal (AFP)[45] 1 Romania (Airplay 100)[46] 45 Singapore (RIAS)[47] 13 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[48] 2 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[49] 21 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[52] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[53] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[54] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[55] 31 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[56] 8 US Rolling Stone Top 100[57] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[58] 77 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[59] 43 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[60] 95 US Billboard Hot 100[61] 86 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[62] 38 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[63] 45

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64]	Gold	35,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[65]	Gold	15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[66]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[67]	2× Platinum	160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[68]	Gold	45,000‡
France (SNEP)[69]	Platinum	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[70]	Gold	35,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[71]	Gold	30,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[72]	Gold	15,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[73]	Platinum	20,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[74]	Platinum	10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75]	Gold	30,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[76]	Gold	10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[77]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[78]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[79]	Platinum	2,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	April 24, 2020	Digital download streaming 7-inch single 12-inch single CD single cassette single	Epic Cactus Jack Wicked Awesome	[1][80]

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2020