“BUTTERFLY EFFECT” is Travis Scott’s first solo release of 2017. It serves as the lead single to his third studio album, ASTROWORLD, which was released more than a year after this song. It is produced by Murda Beatz, who has worked with Travis a few times before, most notably on the Texan artist’s September 2016 tracks, “sweet sweet” and “outside.”

The “butterfly effect” is a concept that explains and proves how small causes can have large effects. Travis is also using a double-entendre with “butterfly” wherein, as he refers to the doors on his Lamborghini car; he also describes moving to his new life, how great it is, and how he could never go back to the old one.

On May 15, 2017, Travis released the track on SoundCloud, along with two other songs: “A Man” and “Green & Purple.” However, “BUTTERFLY EFFECT” was the only one out of the three songs that was released as a proper single onto streaming services. The official music video was released almost two months after, on July 13, 2017.