Lake County, Illinois – Travis Scott is stepping up his directorial game inside the home of an NBA legend. On Friday (September 25), the Houston rapper returned with a video for his new single “Franchise” featuring Young Thug and M.I.A., marking his first release since “The Plan” in August.
The visual, self-directed by La Flame, was shot at Michael Jordan‘s mansion in Highland Park, Illinois. Travis and Thug can be seen hanging out around the ex-Chicago Bulls star’s estate, between playing games of poker and firing golf balls into the property’s lake. M.I.A. later makes an appearance in a flowered suit while surrounded by a herd of sheep.
“I’ve been rippin’ and runnin’, not slippin’ or slidin’, athletic tendencies/I’ve been up since cheffin’ it, whippin’ it to the base rock, I provide the remedy,” Travis raps in the last verse.
MJ’s famous “23” gate even gets some personalized Cactus Jack lights wrapped around it. Speaking on the release, Travis wrote on Instagram, “This is strictly for the ones that like to walk thru walls.”
FRANCHISSSSSEEEEEEE OUTTTTT NOWWWEWE THUGG. MIAAA. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHBBBhttps://t.co/kzzM1tUnyO pic.twitter.com/0CEBsA2AU9
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 25, 2020
In an interview with Zane Lowe, Travis talked about working with M.I.A. and the amount of respect he has for her.
“She reached out to me for something for her album and we tracked it in London,” he said. “She’s just one of my favorite artists as humans.”
Travis continued, “When I finished the song, I couldn’t think of nobody else that I could probably just maybe like, body this shit. You know what I’m saying? Body this shit like as hard as like anyone else, any other rapper, any other artists. And just that presence, man. We ain’t felt this presence in a long time.
“I’m just trying to get this gig shit like right man. We got to get better, right? You know what I’m saying? Like all of this, the energy man, music, beats, raps, God! Everything, she’s the illest of all time.”
The video premiered on IMAX screens across the world on Thursday (September 24) during showings of Tenet past 7 pm, giving fans the opportunity to experience “powerful precision sound and the highest quality crystal-clear imagery on the biggest screens.”
Ahead of its release, Travis took to Twitter to post a message sent to him by the film’s director, Christopher Nolan.
“Love the video (shot on film, no less!)” Nolan said. “I can’t wait to hear it on the IMAX speakers and see those sheep stampede across the giant screen as part of a Travis/Tenet/Travis sandwich! Great work.”
Travis, who recorded “The Plan” for Tenet, added, “I DIRECTED THIS FILM FOR THIS SAGA OF UTOPIA MY GUY CHRIS NOLAN LETS US ROCK IN ALL THE IMAXES WORLD WIDE.”
A MEESAGE FROM NOLAN pic.twitter.com/6LUnSBtFbv
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 24, 2020
I DIRECTED THIS FILM FOR THIS SAGA OF UTOPIA MY GUY CHRIS NOLAN LETS US ROCK IN ALL THE IMAXES WORLD WIDE. GO WATCH THE IMAX EXPERIENCE TONIGHT https://t.co/dEdmwRhTAJ pic.twitter.com/WfBCJ3WPpL
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 24, 2020
The song’s release date was announced on Monday (September 20). Travis revealed the cover art was created by George Condo, the visual artist who designed Kanye West‘s cover art for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
“I’m been up stairs cheifing them tunes!” he said. “Condo Been downstairs painting with da wine on tilt.”
I’m been up stairs cheifing them tunes! Condo Been downstairs painting with da wine on tilt
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 22, 2020