Stop Trying to Be God
"Stop Trying to Be God" | |
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Song by Travis Scott featuring Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey and Stevie Wonder | |
from the album Astroworld | |
Released | August 3, 2018 |
Genre | Alternative trap |
Length | 5:38 |
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Music video | |
"Stop Trying to Be God" on YouTube | |
"Stop Trying to Be God" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper Travis Scott from his third studio album Astroworld (2018). The song features additional vocals from Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey of the band Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder, who plays harmonica on the track as well. The song was written by Blake, Scott, J Beatzz, Mike Dean, and CuBeatz, being produced by all but the former.
Background
In an interview with Rolling Stone discussing Astroworld, Travis Scott's A&R Sickamore said, "The record we worked on the longest is "Stop Trying to Be God". I think that was the oldest record on the album."[1]
In an interview with The Fader, Mike Dean spoke about working on the song:
It was crazy. It took like a year for it to all come together. Travis had to first part done and it just developed. I got a call one day that Stevie was coming to the studio and I was like "I'll be right there" [laughs]. I recorded his harmonica. Like, I never record people very much anymore. I just get somebody else to do that. With Stevie, I'm not gonna switch to someone else.[2]
Composition
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"Stop Trying to Be God" is an "indie trap" song.[3] It features deep-voiced humming from Kid Cudi, as well as "subtle organ" and a harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder. After the instrumental switches in the bridge, James Blake sings with "equally inspiring and haunting" vocals.[4][5] Lyrically, the song is a warning against developing a God complex from one's ego.[6]
Music video
The music video was directed by Dave Meyers, and has Biblical references. It opens with a herd of sheep walking down the street. Travis Scott is the shepherd, and is "resurrected in hellfire".[7][8] Kylie Jenner appears in the video as a gold-glowing Virgin Mary, who cradles Scott after he is scorched. Scott also appears as a figure resembling God as seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.[9] In the next sequence, Scott delivers a sermon before baptizing a line of people in a lake at a water park.[7][9] Scott eventually flies around on a dragon, commanding it to breathe fire upon a town and bringing about the Apocalypse.[7][10] He is confronted by God, who shoots lasers from his eyes and punishes Scott.[8][11][12] James Blake later appears singing in a graveyard.[13] The video ends with a recreation of Jesus in a manger, with Kylie Jenner reappearing and holding a lamb that sings.[9]
Live performances
Travis Scott performed the song with James Blake at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.[14] They also performed the song with Philip Bailey at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[15]
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[16] | 87 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] | 19 |
France (SNEP)[18] | 76 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[19] | 100 |
Italy (FIMI)[20] | 97 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] | 94 |
Portugal (AFP)[22] | 39 |
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[23] | 1 |
UK Singles (OCC)[24] | 70 |
US Billboard Hot 100[25] | 27 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] | 18 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[27] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[28] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[29] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Leight, Elias (August 7, 2018). "How Travis Scott (and His A&R) Got John Mayer, Drake and Stevie Wonder on the Same Album". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Burney, Lawrence (October 8, 2018). "Mike Dean on his approach to producing for Travis Scott and Kanye West". The FADER.
- ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (August 7, 2018). "Review: Travis Scott Starts Living Up to His Ambitions on 'Astroworld'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Daramola, Israel (August 8, 2018). "Astroworld Only Has One Problem—Travis Scott". SPIN.
- ^ Findlay, Mitch (August 3, 2018). "Travis Scott, James Blake, Stevie Wonder Go Ethereal On 'Stop Trying To Be God'". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ Wallace, Riley (August 6, 2018). "Review: Travis Scott Ascends Even Higher Past His Imitators With 'Astroworld'". HipHopDX.
- ^ a b c Kaye, Ben (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott is a Biblical figure in 'Stop Trying to Be God' video: Watch". Consequence.
- ^ a b Minsker, Evan (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott Drops Epic New 'Stop Trying to Be God' Video: Watch". Pitchfork.
- ^ a b c Indiana, Jake (August 7, 2018). "Travis Scott's Biblical References in 'Stop Trying To Be God'". Highsnobiety.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (August 6, 2018). "Kylie Jenner is a Golden Angel in Travis Scott's 'Stop Trying to be God' Music Video: Watch". Billboard.
- ^ Cook-Wilson, Winston (August 7, 2018). "Video: Travis Scott - 'Stop Trying to Be God'". Spin.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (August 6, 2018). "Watch Travis Scott Get Biblical in Wild 'Stop Trying to Be God' Video". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Gotrich, Lars (August 7, 2018). "Travis Scott Rides A Fire-Breathing Dragon In 'Stop Trying To Be God' Video". NPR.
- ^ Holmes, Charles (August 20, 2018). "Travis Scott's VMA Performance Was A Thrilling Theme Park Adventure". MTV News.
- ^ Grow, Kory; Kreps, Daniel (February 10, 2019). "Grammys 2019: Travis Scott Takes Audience to 'Astroworld' With Two Tracks".
- ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #486". auspOp. August 18, 2018. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "SNEP Top Singles: Week 32 (2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 10, 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Travis Scott – Can't Say" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Italian Charts - Stop Trying to Be God" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. August 9, 2018.
- ^ "Travis Scott – Can't Say" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Travis Scott – Can't Say". AFP Top 100 Singles.
- ^ "Swedish Heatseekers Chart - 3 August 2018".
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Travis Scott – Stop Trying to Be God" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – Stop Trying to Be God". Music Canada. November 2, 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- Rodeo (2015)
- Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016)
- Astroworld (2018)
- Utopia (2023)
Collaborative albums |
|
---|
- JackBoys (2019)
- Owl Pharaoh (2013)
- Days Before Rodeo (2014)
- "3500"
- "Antidote"
- "Pick Up the Phone"
- "Champions"
- "Goosebumps"
- "Beibs in the Trap"
- "Go Off"
- "Butterfly Effect"
- "Watch"
- "Sicko Mode"
- "Yosemite"
- "Wake Up"
- "Chopstix"
- "Power Is Power"
- "Antisocial"
- "Highest in the Room"
- "Out West"
- "The Scotts"
- "TKN"
- "The Plan"
- "Franchise"
- "Goosebumps (Remix)"
- "Durag Activity"
- "Escape Plan"
- "Mafia"
- "Down in Atlanta"
- "K-pop"
- "Delresto (Echoes)"
- "Meltdown"
- "I Know ?"
- "Née-Nah"
- "Fe!n"
- "Type Shit"
- "Chimes" (RMX)
- "Workin"
- "Whole Lotta Lovin'"
- "Bake Sale"
- "Love Galore"
- "Portland"
- "Know No Better"
- "Sky Walker"
- "4 AM"
- "Deserve"
- "Dark Knight Dummo"
- "Krippy Kush" (remix)
- "Close"
- "Champion"
- "Zeze"
- "Mile High"
- "First Off"
- "The London"
- "Take What You Want"
- "Hot" (remix)
- "Give No Fxk"
- "Turks"
- "Wash Us in the Blood"
- "Buss It" (Remix)
- "Hold That Heat"
- "Never Sleep"
- "Say My Grace"
- "At the Party"
- "Water" (remix)
- "Baptized in Fire"
- "Stargazing"
- "Backr00ms"
- "90210"
- "Through the Late Night"
- "Kelly Price"
- "Ghostface Killers"
- "Go Legend"
- "Carousel"
- "Stop Trying to Be God"
- "No Bystanders"
- "Can't Say"
- "Overdue"
- "What to Do?"
- "Gatti"
- "Solitaires"
- "Top Floor"
- "Hats Off"
- "Praise God"
- "Fair Trade"
- "Flocky Flocky"
- "Bubbly"
- "Pussy & Millions"
- "Raindrops (Insane)"
- "Trance"
- "Niagara Falls (Foot or 2)"
- "Open Arms"
- "Krzy Train"
- "Wit da Racks"
- "Aye"
- "Hyaena"
- "Thank God"
- "Modern Jam"
- "My Eyes"
- "God's Country"
- "Sirens"
- "Topia Twins"
- "Telekinesis"
- "Get Off Me"
- "Fuk Sumn"
- "Cinderella"
- Astroworld Festival
- Cactus Jack Records
- Huncho Jack
- Super Bowl LIII halftime show
- Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly
- Circus Maximus