Crowd surging atTravis Scott's Astroworld music festivalled to at least eight deathsand "scores" of injuries, according to authorities.
Officials declared the Houston concerta "mass casualty incident"at 9:38 p.m. Friday local time during the festival atNRG ParkAn estimated 50,000 people were in attendance, according to Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña.
The surge began around the time thatScott, thefestival headliner, took the stage.
The 29-year-oldrapperlaunched the Astroworld festival in 2018,months after the release of his third studio album of the same name. Since then the concert has occurred every year, except for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, at Houston's NRG Park – the former location of Six Flags AstroWorld theme park.
Everythingwe know about the Astroworld tragedy:Witnesses describe what they saw
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Scott's fans sold out this year's Astroworld festival in less than an hour, according to a press release from festival organizers.
He is scheduled toheadlinethe Day N Vegas Festival next Saturday.USA TODAY has reached out to festival representatives for comment.
Here's everything we know about the "Astroworld" rapper.
Who is Travis Scott?
Scott, bornJacques BermanWebster II, was born and raised in the "Space City." The rapper revealed the source of his stage name during a 2018 appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," saying it was a combination of his "two superheroes": His uncle Travis andhis favorite artist Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.
The rapper released his first album "Rodeo" in 2015,but before releasing the project that housed his quadruple-platinum hit"Antidote," the rapper released several singles from his previous projects like "Upper Echelon" and "Mamacita."
After "Rodeo" the rapper went on to release albums"Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight" and "Astroworld."
"Astroworld" led Scott to receive multiple Grammy nominations including best rap album and best rap song for his collaboration with Drake for "Sicko Mode." He has been nominated eight times throughout his career.
The rapper announced plans torelease his fourth project in 2021 called "Utopia." The same day as the tragic Astroworld concert, Scott released two singles "Escape Plan" and "Mafia."
'I am absolutely devastated':Travis Scott responds to fatal Astroworld concert
He has a reputation for rowdy concerts
Scott's high-energy performances are synonymous with mosh pits and crowd surfing. In 2015, the rapper compared his shows to professional wrestling, telling GQ, "I always want to make it feel like it’s the WWF or some (expletive). You know, raging and having fun and expressing good feelings is something I plan on doing and spreading across the globe."
But sometimes the ragingcan go too far.Often times, the rapper encourages it.Scott has been arrested at least two times for inciting riots and disorderly conduct at his shows.
In 2015, the rapper was arrested after encouraging fans to jump securitybarricades during his Lollapalooza set, which was promptlyshut down.He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of probation, according to Billboard.
In 2017, Scott was charged withinciting a riot, disorderly conduct and endangering the welfare of a minor after he encouragedconcertgoers at theWalmart Arkansas Music Pavilionto rush the stage, injuring a security guard, a police officer and several others. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and the other charges were dropped, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.He was ordered to pay court fees andrestitution to two injured people.
Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner romance
Scott has made many headlines for his romance with pop culture star Kylie Jenner.
The couple began dating in 2017 and a year later welcomed their first child Stormi, now 3.
In 2019 rumors swirled that the couple was splitting up because of cheating allegations against Scott. The rapper cleared those up in a statement to Instagram a day after Jenner said the two werefocusing on their "friendship."
More:Travis Scott addresses 'what's real' following Kylie Jenner breakup rumors
(It's)really affecting when u see false things said about u," Scott wrote on his Instagram Story at the time."Once again, these false stories about me cheating are simply not true.Focusing on life, music, and family at this moment is what's real."
The couple, along with their daughter, stepped out on the red carpet as a unit thisJunefor the annualParsons Benefit in New York City.
Jenner later shareda shot of her and Scott cozying up togetherand dubbed the night"one for the books."
Three months later Jenner announced that she and Scott would be expecting their second baby with anInstagram of an emotiona home videosimply captioned:"@travisscott."
'Stormi, we're going to have a baby':Kylie Jenner announces her second pregnancy
Travis Scott's Cactus Jack brand
In 2017 Travis Scott launched his own record label, Cactus Jack Records, which later became the brand name for the rapper's other endorsem*nts and ventures.
The record label has signed names like Sheck Wes, Don Toliver and was the label behind 2018's "Astroworld," along with T.I.'s Grand Hustle and Epic Records.
McDonald's teamed up with the rapper in 2020 to create the Cactus Jack meal which launched a series of recent celebrity collaborations with the fast food chain, including Saweetie and J Balvín.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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