Wanda Webster, Travis Scott’s mother, remembers the exact moment she realised her son was destined to be a star – not a star rapper, but an actor. “He was in all the plays,” she tells Dazed, casting her mind back to Travis’ time in middle school. “He was the lead in The Nutcracker and he tried out for a line part in The Wiz, but he didn’t get it. He went to the teacher and was like, ‘Look, I need a speaking part’. She called me and, because he was always in trouble at school, I was like, ‘Oh, Lord, here we go…’ But she said, ‘Your son is so keen on music and acting. I’ve decided to create a speaking part for him’. I knew early on [that he was going to be successful].” 

It didn’t necessarily come as a surprise: Travis, Mrs Webster explains, hails from a long line of performers, from his soul musician father to his school dean and jazz band-leading grandfather. But it wasn’t a straight road to stardom – a theme that is touched on in a new short film promoting Beats’ new Powerbeats Fit headphones. In the video, Mrs Webster wakes up as a stand-in for a young and aspirational Travis, saying, “I know you love music, but you need to go to school first and get an education, you can’t keep doing this, Jack.” 

It’s a small nod to a turbulent period in Mrs Webster’s relationship with her son. “When he got to college,” she continues, her voice darkening, “I’m paying all his tuition, but he was everywhere but college! We didn’t know that.” During this time, the soon-to-be “Goosebumps” hitmaker had secretly stopped attending the University of Texas to pursue music, causing him to be briefly cut off from his family. 

But it was only a couple of years later that Mrs Webster, who worked at Apple during Travis’ childhood, started seeing the fruits of her son’s labour. “[Record producer] Anthony Kilhoffer called us and said, ‘I want you to come to this festival in Texas’,” she tells Dazed, referring to SXSW in 2013. “We had no idea he had got big. When [Travis] started performing, I couldn’t believe it was Baby Jack! He wasn’t scared, he wasn’t shy, it was amazing. Me and my husband were just so shocked.” 

Today, she describes herself as his number one fan and tries to attend “all the big moments” in person. “I always tell people, whatever your children want to do, let them do it,” she sums up. “You know, we have our dreams, but they have their dreams. He manifested his.”

Below, Wanda Webster, Travis Scott’s mother, breaks down her five favourite releases from her son’s discography, as well as why she loves Tupac.

“APPLE PIE”

Mrs Webster: I know some of the words are bad, I’m sorry! But, when I listen to the words, he’s telling me, ‘Mom, you don’t have to take care of me anymore. I’m my own person, I found my purpose’. That’s why I love that song so much. He says, ‘I don’t want no more apple pie’. Look, I’m a mother, I love my kids. My motto is: I’ll go to jail behind my children. He’s telling me that he has made it, he doesn’t need me to be so worried about him. 

“THANK GOD” 

Mrs Webster: I love this because my granddaughter [Stormi Webster] is on that song. I was actually in California when the song was being made, and my twins [Travis’ siblings] and Stormi went to the studio. He wanted her to do a part on the song, and she did it in one take! She was so proud, she was just looking at her dad. When we were in Tokyo, she came out, and she sang it. She was just standing there, waiting on her part, and when it was her time, she was a little star. 

“MARIA I’M DRUNK”

Mrs Webster: I like this mainly because I like Young Thug. I love Young Thug and Justin Bieber. It’s a good song. When they were just starting out, it was just Baby Jack and Young Thug in these small, small venues. Look at them both now, they’re both so successful!

Did you have an interest in rap music before your son became an artist? 

Mrs Webster: No… Well, when Baby Jack was a little boy, it was Tupac. There was something about Tupac. I listened to his story and how he came up. I loved that.

“TELEKINESIS”

Mrs Webster: He ends with this song at every concert. I fell in love with it in London because, at the end, he walked out singing the song, talking to the people, and shaking hands. He was so excited. I think that’s why I was so happy, because he was so happy. It was a good moment.

“GOOSEBUMPS”

Mrs Webster: There’s no sentimental reason here; I just like it. I was putting up my Christmas decorations and listening to Christmas music, but then I always listen to my son, too. When he was growing up, Lord… My husband was a drummer, and I used to scream, ‘Turn that off! Get off the music!’ It was just non-stop in my house, now look!