On Friday, Jan. 30, rapper and producer Caleb Zackery Toliver, known by his stage name Don Toliver, released his seventh studio album, OCTANE. The album contains 18 tracks, lasting 49 minutes. OCTANE features a synth-heavy blend of hip-hop, psychedelic trap, and R&B, with bass-heavy beats, glitchy effects, and layered synths, making this album feel reminiscent of a fast car ride with the music turned all the way up.
Toliver has remained a prominent figure within the music industry for over seven years. His rise to fame came during the release of Travis Scott’s studio album ASTROWORLD. He featured on the track “CAN’T SAY”, which quickly rose to fame as the album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. He was signed to Scott’s record label, Cactus Jack Records, just days after the release of ASTROWORLD. He later cemented his status in the industry in the following years with hits such as “No Idea” and “After Party”.
His 2024 album, HARDSTONE PSYCHO, peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and his top 40 single “BANDIT” gained him even more widespread recognition. 2025 was a quieter year for Don Toliver as he was welcoming the birth of his son with partner and fellow singer-songwriter Kali Uchis.
The album features many notable artists, including Yeat, Travis Scott, Rema, Teezo Touchdown, and SahBabii. OCTANE is heavily influenced by his time spent at the Mount Wilson Observatory, his love for luxury vehicles and the outdoors, and how fatherhood has reshaped his outlook on life. The album is a raw representation of Don Toliver’s life and journey in his most vulnerable form.
OCTANE has a mix of melodic R&B and synth-heavy production, making the album feel fast-paced yet smooth. Features from artists like Yeat and Teezo Touchdown help diversify the album by giving it an energy that some of the slower tracks lack. The third track, “Rendezvous (feat. Yeat)” delivers a synthy and distorted sound to the album, projecting confidence and wealth, painting pictures of nightlife and clubbing.
OCTANE offers original sounds with new samples on three of the songs. The first track of the album, “E85”, contains a sample of “Chest Pain (I Love)” by Malcolm Todd. The song by Todd is categorized as indie pop or alternative R&B, which Toliver uses to create a song inspired by Trap Pop, alternative R&B, and Cloud Rap.
The second track, “Body”, contains a sample from the dance-pop and contemporary R&B hit “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake. He combines repetition of the word “body”, as sung by Timberlake, with a melodic trap production to create an electrifying track.
On the final track of the album, “Sweet Home,” Toliver uses the method of interpolating to sample “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock into the background of the song. Interpolation is the usage of a melody from a previously recorded song, but re-recording the melody instead of directly sampling it. Toliver uses the melody of this pop-rock country song by Kid Rock to create a psychedelic trap-R&B track.
The seventh track, “Long Way to Calabasas,” has a softer and more melodic sound. This track reflects on Don Toliver’s outlook on his life since the birth of his son, his journey to where he is now, and the success he has earned through his career. The track tells a story that evokes a feeling of moving through landscapes symbolizing his love for the outdoors.
“Sweet Home” serves as the final track on OCTANE. The track captures Toliver’s experience being trapped between a state of unregulated pursuit of pleasure and his longing for real connection. In the track, he uses alcohol, travel, and swagger to distract from his emotional uncertainty.
This album marks a new point in Don Toliver’s career and life. With creative production, exciting lyrics, and the birth of his son inspiring him, it’s hard to tell what’s next to come for Toliver. We can expect more collaboration with Travis Scott and the members of Cactus Jack Records. OCTANE marks a milestone in Toliver’s career and a development of his experience in the industry. The creativity and diverse moods the album provides earn OCTANE four out of five feathers.
