With the formation of his Cactus Jack label,
Travis Scott followed a blueprint laid out by some of the biggest rap stars that precede him. Much like
J. Cole's Dreamville label or
Lil Wayne's Young Money roster before that, Cactus Jack allows
Scott to slowly build an empire in his own image, offering a platform for new artists he handpicks. The brief
Jackboys compilation acts as an introduction to the Cactus Jack roster in its earliest stages. Though it spans only a slim seven tracks and 21-minute running time, the scant material is packed with big-name appearances and attention-grabbing performances from the new Cactus Jack signees. There's a feature from
Young Thug on the slithering flute-loop driven "Out West" as well as established stars like
Rosalía,
Offset, and
Lil Baby stopping by on various songs. Cactus Jack newcomers
Sheck Wes, Luxury Tax, and
Don Toliver trade verses with
Scott on "Gang Gang," and
Toliver stands out on the mournfully soulful "Had Enough" and the ominous "What to Do?"
Jackboys is multifaceted even in its brevity. The seven tracks move across druggy trap vibes, brooding emo rap hooks, and bravado-heavy bangers like the
Pop Smoke-featuring closer "Gatti." The various creative directions are cohesive enough to gel, but the songs rush by in a flash, making
Jackboys feel less like an introduction to an exciting new label and more like a sneak preview of what's to come. ~ Fred Thomas