Don Toliver Talks 'OCTANE' Success, Plans for Next Album & Travis Scott at Billboard House @ SXSW

The Houston rapper discusses his chart-topping album, working with mentor Travis Scott, and sampling Justin Timberlake.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:53am

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Don Toliver, the 31-year-old Houston rapper, recently sat down with Billboard at the Billboard House @ SXSW to discuss the success of his album 'OCTANE', which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Toliver talked about having Travis Scott as a mentor, sampling Justin Timberlake on the track 'BODY', and revealed that he's already working on his next album despite 'OCTANE' being less than 2 months old.

Why it matters

Don Toliver's rise to rap's A-list with 'OCTANE' marks a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his ability to deliver a chart-topping album. His relationship with mentor Travis Scott and his willingness to experiment with samples from iconic artists like Justin Timberlake highlight Toliver's creative vision and ambition. The fact that he's already working on new music so soon after 'OCTANE''s release demonstrates Toliver's drive and the momentum he's built in the industry.

The details

Toliver's 'OCTANE' album topped the Billboard 200 chart with 162,000 album units earned, marking his first #1 album. All 18 tracks from the album also landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Toliver discussed his love for Justin Timberlake and how he didn't initially recognize the 'Rock Your Body' sample used on the track 'BODY'. He also talked about his relationship with mentor Travis Scott, who appeared on the 'OCTANE' standout track 'Rosary' with a last-minute verse. Despite 'OCTANE' being less than 2 months old, Toliver revealed he's already working on his next album, driven by the success of his latest project and the creative energy he's experiencing.

  • Don Toliver's 'OCTANE' album was released in January 2026.
  • Toliver's interview at the Billboard House @ SXSW took place on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Don Toliver

A 31-year-old rapper from Houston, Texas who recently released his chart-topping album 'OCTANE'.

Travis Scott

A rapper and producer who serves as a mentor to Don Toliver and appeared on the 'OCTANE' track 'Rosary'.

Justin Timberlake

A popular singer-songwriter whose song 'Rock Your Body' was sampled by Don Toliver on the 'OCTANE' track 'BODY'.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, I love Justin Timberlake a lot. My mom played him, Pharrell and Outkast and all these crazy great artists when I was growing up as a kid in the car. I got a lot of fond memories of that. Justin Timberlake is always one of my favorites. Justified, that album is literally in my top 10 favorite albums of all time.”

— Don Toliver (Billboard)

“I didn't think that deep into it. As I sat with it for like a week, I was like, 'Hold on, this is literally one of my favorite songs of all-time.' 'Rock Your Body' is one of those songs that triggers an endorphin in my body. To put those two together was so iconic for me.”

— Don Toliver (Billboard)

“I really try to keep the relationship that me and him have as far away from music as I can sometimes. At the end of the day, we are human beings.”

— Don Toliver (Billboard)

“This album, I was like, 'Whatever Travis wanna do — he could pull up however he wanna do it. I just wanted to make sure he understood my journey with the music when I played it for him. He just caught a vibe for 'Rosary' and he understood my idea for it. It was crazy, I really love his verse on the song.”

— Don Toliver (Billboard)

“I am already working on my next album. To be honest, bro, I just realized within myself that I just love music and I just feel like right now if I don't put out anything, I just need to capture this moment because it's a lot going on in my life when I was making this album and when it came out and it's just fueling me to be as creative as I can possibly be.”

— Don Toliver (Billboard)

The takeaway

Don Toliver's rapid rise to the top of the charts with 'OCTANE' and his immediate plans to work on new music demonstrate his creative drive and ambition. His willingness to experiment with samples from iconic artists like Justin Timberlake, as well as his close relationship with mentor Travis Scott, highlight Toliver's artistic vision and his ability to push boundaries in the rap genre.