Hyaena (song)

"Hyaena" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott and the opening track from his fourth studio album Utopia (2023). It was produced by Scott, with additional production from WondaGurl, Mike Dean, Jahaan Sweet and Noah Goldstein. The song samples "Proclamation" by Gentle Giant and "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic.

"Hyaena"
Song by Travis Scott
from the album Utopia
ReleasedJuly 28, 2023
GenreRap rock
Length3:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

Composition

The song opens with the sample of "Proclamation",[1] in the form of distorted vocals and electronic instruments,[2] after which the instrumental transitions to a breakbeat accompanied with "hacked-up" harpsichords.[3] Travis Scott mimics Kanye West's rapping style,[4] while lyrically he name-drops celebrities and brags about money and various luxuries like private planes.[5]

Music Video

The music video is directed by Andrew Dosunmu[lower-alpha 1]. The music video is a segment in the film Circus Maximus. Travis Scott was spotted visiting a village in the Kano State of Nigeria for the video,[6] which consists of documentary footage of Scott and life in the village.

Reception

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Clash's Robin Murray wrote that it "throws a curveball", describing the sample as "triggering a dramatic shift, the shuddering electronics replete with incredible detail."[2] Tom Breihan of Stereogum praised the performance, but criticized the lyrics: "Scott really locks in with that breakbeat, hitting the pocket and displaying a casual command that I've rarely heard in him. But what he's saying is stuff like this: 'Write a show by myself like I'm Chelsea Handler / Or write a series 'bout my bitches like I'm Kelsey Grammer.'"[3] Thomas Galindo of American Songwriter wrote that Travis Scott's "sparse use of autotune" "helps him deliver more raunchy, raw, fiery verses as he used to a decade ago", citing "Hyaena" as among the songs in which this quality is most notably displayed.[7] Rolling Stone's Andre Gee wrote that Scott "fervently chains together end rhymes with multiple syllables and raps in interesting cadences."[8]

In an album review, Nathan Evans of NME stated that Utopia "rivals OutKast's Stankonia for how it devours genres and settings into his world", before writing "But Scott sounds maddened by the pursuit of finding that vague world. It's reflected in how he puts himself in the throes of the quaking opener 'Hyaena'".[9] Vivian Medithi of HipHopDX wrote a negative response, commenting it sounds like a "Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho reject".[10]

Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard placed "Hyaena" at number 6 in her ranking of the songs from Utopia.[11]

In a Facebook post, Gentle Giant responded favorably toward the sample of their song being used: "We are honored by the inclusion of our 1974 song 'Proclamation' in the intro track to Travis Scott's new album 'Utopia.' We are always amazed how Gentle Giant's music continues to inspire and evolve across diverse genres and generations, particularly within the Hip-Hop community."[12]

Charts
Chart performance for "Hyaena"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 16
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[14] 7
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 15
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] 10
Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] 28
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 49
France (SNEP)[19] 23
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 10
Greece International (IFPI)[21] 26
Hungary (Single Top 40)[22] 21
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[23] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 19
Italy (FIMI)[25] 36
Latvia (LAIPA)[26] 5
Lithuania (AGATA)[27] 20
Luxembourg (Billboard)[28] 14
MENA (IFPI)[29] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[31] 17
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[32] 14
Portugal (AFP)[33] 26
Romania (Billboard)[34] 22
South Africa (Billboard)[35] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 59
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 21
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[38] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[40] 7

Notes
  1. Stated in the end credits of Circus Maximus.

References
  1. Jenkins, Craig (August 2, 2023). "Travis Scott Is Raging Into Oblivion". Vulture. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. Murray, Robin (July 28, 2023). "Travis Scott – Utopia". Clash. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. Breihan, Tom (July 28, 2023). "Premature Evaluation: Travis Scott Utopia". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  4. McKinney, Jessica (July 28, 2023). "Why Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Reminds You Of Kanye West And 'Yeezus'". Complex. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. Leake, Desmond (August 1, 2023). "Travis Scott's Utopia: In With the Old and Out With the New". Paste. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. https://dailytrust.com/american-rapper-travis-scott-spotted-in-kano/
  7. Galindo, Thomas (2023-07-29). "Review: Travis Scott's Return on 'Utopia' is Everything Rap Needed, and Then Some". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  8. Gee, Andre (July 31, 2023). "Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Is an Empty Paradise". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. Evans, Nathan (2023-07-31). "Travis Scott - 'Utopia' review: lofty concept, shaky execution". NME. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  10. Medithi, Vivian (2023-07-30). "'Utopia' Is More Boring Than Travis Scott". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  11. Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (July 28, 2023). "Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Album: All 19 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. "Gentle Giant". Facebook. July 28, 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  13. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  14. "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  15. "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  16. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202331 into search. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  17. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  18. "Travis Scott: Hyaena" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  19. "Travis Scott – Hyaena" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  20. "Travis Scott Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  21. "Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 35/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  22. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  23. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  24. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  25. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  26. "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 31. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  27. "2023 31-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  28. "Travis Scott Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  29. "The Official Mena Chart — This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 28/07/2023 to 03/08/2023". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  30. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  31. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". VG-lista. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  32. "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 28.07.2023–03.08.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  33. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  34. "Travis Scott Chart History (Romania Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  35. "Travis Scott Chart History (South Africa Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  36. "Travis Scott – Hyaena". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  38. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  39. "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  40. "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
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