Travis Scott Hints at Major Mike Dean Role on New Album

Fans who noticed Mike Dean’s limited presence on JACKBOYS 2 may have reason to be optimistic, as Travis Scott is signaling that his longtime collaborator could play a significant role in his next album.

Scott has been dropping hints about a new project since the release of JACKBOYS 2 last year. While that project received a mixed response from listeners, anticipation has continued to grow for a full-length follow-up to UTOPIA. Scott’s latest social media activity now suggests Mike Dean could be among the key figures helping shape what comes next.

On Friday night, August 28, Scott shared an archival Instagram clip featuring himself alongside Dean and producer Anthony Kilhoffer, an early collaborator who once managed Scott and is also widely known for his work with Kanye West.

The footage showed the three working on “Uptown” from Scott’s Owl Pharaoh era and reacting to Ferg’s appearance on the track. Scott accompanied the throwback footage with a message that immediately caught fans’ attention.

“You had to be there to understand,” Scott wrote before mentioning that an album was on the way and tagging both Dean and Kilhoffer.

The post has fueled speculation that the two could have substantial creative involvement in Scott’s upcoming project. Their participation could extend beyond individual production or engineering credits, although Scott has not officially revealed their roles or the album’s full creative team.

The reunion would be particularly notable given the discussion surrounding Dean’s absence from JACKBOYS 2. That absence, combined with social media activity that some interpreted as tension between the two, previously sparked rumors of a falling out. Those rumors ultimately appeared to be unfounded.

Scott has also offered some clues about the musical direction of his next project. During a recent Variety interview, he referenced a wide-ranging group of influences, including Parliament-Funkadelic, Oasis, Van Halen, Don Toliver, Raphael Saadiq and Daft Punk.

While details surrounding the album remain limited, Scott’s latest post points toward a renewed collaboration with two figures connected to important stages of his career. For fans hoping to hear Mike Dean involved heavily in the next chapter of Scott’s music, the latest tease is an encouraging sign.