Travis Scott

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Travis Scott's appearance on "Open Arms" was the result of a deliberate creative choice by SOS producer Rob Bisel, who wanted Scott to do something unexpected for the album. Bisel said, "it just seems like there's no need to repeat the same play from that playbook, like what's something you wouldn't expect from Travis?" Upon hearing the suggestion, SZA sent Scott the beat and received his verse one or two weeks later, during the final stages of the album recording process. Critics focused heavily on Scott's feature—some considered him a fitting addition, welcoming his uncharacteristically gentle tone on the third verse. Variety's A. D. Amorosi deemed Scott the song's centerpiece, while The Observer's Kitty Empire wrote, "Versatility largely wins out [on SOS]. Only SZA could find room for Travis Scott on a slow jam ballad." However, writing for Time, Andrew Chow and Moises Mendez II thought Scott's contributions were tolerable at best. Scott's verse on "Open Arms" casts him as SZA's romantic foil; he calls her his "ride-or-die" and his "favourite color," reassuring her that he will treat her as best as he can "no matter what comes between" them.

In Their Own Story

The choice to have Scott depart from the more uptempo, trap sound of "Love Galore" was an idea from fellow SOS producer Rob Bisel, who wanted him to do something unexpected for the album: "it just seems like there's no need to repeat the same play from that playbook, like what's something you wouldn't expect from Travis?" Upon hearing the suggestion, SZA sent Scott the beat and received his verse one or two weeks later, during the final stages of the album recording process. Scott's verse on "Open Arms" casts him as SZA's romantic foil; he calls her his "ride-or-die" and his "favourite color," reassuring her that he will treat her as best as he can "no matter what comes between" them.

Reader's Guide

Travis Scott is a featured artist on SZA's song "Open Arms" from SOS (2022), performing the third verse. He is one of only three artists who sent in verses for the album after SZA reached out to a list of possible collaborators. Scott's appearance was the result of a deliberate creative choice by producer Rob Bisel, who wanted him to do something unexpected. Scott's verse on "Open Arms" casts him as SZA's romantic foil; he calls her his "ride-or-die" and his "favourite color," reassuring her that he will treat her as best as he can "no matter what comes between" them. A solo version of "Open Arms" replaces Scott with SZA's take on the third verse. This marks Scott and SZA's fourth collaboration, following their work on "Ok Alright" from Rodeo (2015), "Love Galore" from Ctrl (2017), and "Power Is Power" from the Game of Thrones soundtrack (2019). Scott also appears on SOS as a background vocalist on the track "Low."

Did You Know?

• Travis Scott was among several artists who sent in verses for SZA's SOS album after she reached out to a list of possible collaborators that included Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, and Drake.
• The idea to have Scott depart from his usual trap sound on "Open Arms" came from SOS producer Rob Bisel, who wanted him to do something unexpected.
• Scott's verse on "Open Arms" was received one or two weeks after SZA sent him the beat, during the final stages of the album recording process.
• This marks Scott and SZA's fourth collaboration, following "Ok Alright" from Rodeo (2015), "Love Galore" from Ctrl (2017), and "Power Is Power" from the Game of Thrones soundtrack (2019).