Barker also remains extremely close with his former stepdaughter Atiana, Moakler's daughter with ex-fiancé, boxer Oscar De La Hoya; who appears regularly on The Kardashians where she is referred to as Barker’s “daughter. Barker began taking drum lessons at age five with a drummer named Michael Mai, who would expose young Barker to many different playing styles. In his first television interview since the crash, he said to MTV, "I'm already playing my drums again, and I'm already back in the studio". Following a cancelled European tour, DeLonge went back to San Diego to record an album he deemed an experiment in ideas he felt weren't suited to Blink-182. Hearing others yell, " Stop, drop and roll," Barker dropped to the ground and Goldstein helped him put out the fire on his feet.

In 2001, Barker married Melissa Kennedy, but the two divorced in August 2002 after nine months of marriage. The pilots told the control tower that a tire had blown out and they would be aborting the take-off.He has continued to work with rappers, releasing extended plays with Yelawolf, Asher Roth, and Nottz, as well as with Blink-182 and the Transplants. Though Goldstein had been prescribed medication for pain following the crash, the medical examiner reported that he died from "acute intoxication" listing several prescription drugs and cocaine. The experiment became a full-time band and toured in 2002, which led to strained relations between DeLonge and Hoppus.

Aside from drumming, he founded the clothing company Famous Stars and Straps in 1999, and the record labels LaSalle Records in 2004 and DTA Records in 2019. In early 2007, Barker began to work on hip-hop remixes and production techniques for many artists, preparing some loops and beats for Juelz Santana and looking to open two new boutiques, one in Los Angeles named Fast Life and one in Venice Beach by the name of Rogue Status.Due to his fame, Rolling Stone referred to him as "punk's first superstar drummer" as well as one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time. They told me I'd be on some of the medicine for the rest of my life, but I got off all of them," said Barker. Word had got around that not only was Travis Barker an amazing drummer, [but that] he was also an amazing studio drummer which was a skill that a lot of drummers don't necessarily share. Essentially, DJ AM would mix a set of classic songs (which ranged from classic rock to dance) live with two turntables, then Barker would "enhance AM's groove" with live drums.

The series followed Barker and his new family through his daily life, including Blink-182's final tour and the new Transplants album. Barker continued his collaborations, working with Chester French, LL Cool J, Cypress Hill and producing an entire EP of collaboration, Psycho White, with rapper Yelawolf. His mother, who had been diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome three months earlier, died the day before he started high school. The meeting was set up by Australian social-media influencer Samuel Weidenhofer, who traveled from Melbourne to help arrange it. the group toured nationwide with San Diego-based Blink-182, who had recently completed their second album Dude Ranch.

To complete the project, Blink members Hoppus and Barker were forced to replace Blink co-founder Tom DeLonge with vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio. Barker's speed and accuracy meant that once his parts were recorded, he was free to head off and rehearse (and sit in with other bands).

Barker and Kelly announced the album name, Born with Horns, by getting matching tattoos of the album name on their arms. He also began appearing in music videos, including Puff Daddy's " Bad Boy for Life," as well as adding to his collection of vintage Cadillacs. As well as Run the Jewels, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Yelawolf and the late XXXTentacion, he has drummed for Pink, Britney Spears and James Arthur. In March 2007, Moakler told People magazine that she and Barker (still married) were back together, but denied that she was pregnant.Barker and Moakler were together during a DJ set Barker was playing with DJ AM in Las Vegas on January 7, 2009. The trio's drummer, Scott Raynor, announced to his fellow members that he would depart following the SnoCore Tour in February 1998. He has worked with the new pop-punk era Willow Smith and TikTok e-boy turned singer Lil Huddy, signed TikTok emo Jxdn, produced Trippie Redd’s Neon Shark album, and drummed on Bebe Rexha’s new single. After more than two years of setbacks and delays, Barker finally released his long-in-the-works solo debut, Give the Drummer Some, in March 2011.