"Stop Trying to Be God" | |
---|---|
Song by Travis Scott featuring Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey and Stevie Wonder | |
from the album Astroworld | |
Released | August 3, 2018 |
Genre | Alternative hip hop |
Length | 5:38 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | |
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.
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]
"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]
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]
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]
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
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 |
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‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [30] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
The discography of American musician Kid Cudi consists of ten studio albums, one compilation album, one box set, three extended plays (EPs), one mixtape, 32 singles, eight promotional singles and 32 music videos, the details of which are included in his videography.
Jacques Bermon Webster II, known professionally as Travis Scott, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Throughout his career, Scott has achieved four number-one hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, along with a total of over one hundred charting songs. Scott has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards and won a Latin Grammy Award, Billboard Music Award, MTV Video Music Award, and multiple BET Hip Hop Awards. As of 2023, Scott has sold over 49 million certified records in the U.S. alone. Scott's musical style has been described as a "blend between traditional hip-hop and lo-fi" and often characterized as "ambient," with a heavily appraised influence from rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi. His stage name is derived from the latter's real name, Scott Mescudi, combined with the name of a favorite uncle.
"Faith" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder featuring fellow American singer Ariana Grande. It serves as the lead single from the soundtrack of the 2016 musical-animated film Sing. The song was written by Francis Farewell Starlite and producers Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco. The single was released on November 4, 2016.
"Yosemite" is a song by American rapper and record producer Travis Scott. The song features appearances from fellow American rapper Gunna and Canadian rapper Nav. It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio, as the third single from Scott's third studio album, Astroworld, on November 20, 2018. The artists wrote the song alongside producers June James, Turbo, and Ramy.
"Butterfly Effect" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released by Epic Records on May 15, 2017, as the lead single from Scott's third studio album, Astroworld (2018). The song was written by Scott with Murda Beatz and Felix Leone.
English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer James Blake has released 8 studio albums, 9 extended plays, 28 singles and 18 music videos.
"Watch" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring fellow American rappers Lil Uzi Vert and Kanye West. Written alongside producer Pi'erre Bourne, it was released by Cactus Jack, Grand Hustle, and Epic Records on May 4, 2018. It was expected to be the second single from Scott's third studio album Astroworld, before being excluded when the album was released on August 3, 2018.
Astroworld is the third studio album by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on August 3, 2018, through Cactus Jack Records and Grand Hustle Records, and distributed by Epic Records. The album features guest vocals from Frank Ocean, Drake, Swae Lee, Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey, Juice Wrld, Sheck Wes, the Weeknd, 21 Savage, Gunna, Nav, Don Toliver, Quavo, and Takeoff, among others. Production was handled by multiple producers, including Scott himself, Mike Dean, Allen Ritter, Hit-Boy, WondaGurl, Tay Keith, Tame Impala, Frank Dukes, Sonny Digital, Murda Beatz, and Thundercat, among others. The album follows Scott's second studio album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016), and his collaborative album with Quavo, Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho (2017).
"Stargazing" is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott. It was released on August 3, 2018 as the only promotional single and first track off of his third studio album, Astroworld. The song debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Carousel" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring Frank Ocean, released on August 3, 2018 as the second track off of the former's third studio album Astroworld (2018).
"Sicko Mode" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. It features vocals from Canadian rapper Drake, who was credited on Apple Music but not on the Billboard Hot 100 or Spotify. It was originally released by Epic Records on August 3, 2018, as the third track from Astroworld (2018), before being released as the second single on August 21. It features additional uncredited vocals by fellow American rappers Swae Lee and the late Big Hawk.
"No Bystanders" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott from his third studio album Astroworld (2018). It features additional vocals from American rappers Juice Wrld and Sheck Wes. The song interpolates the song "Tear da Club Up" by Three 6 Mafia.
"Wake Up" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on March 26, 2019, as the fourth single from Scott's third studio album, Astroworld (2018).
"Can't Say" is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott from his third studio album Astroworld (2018). The song features fellow American rapper and singer Don Toliver, and is the song that broke him into the mainstream. The song was written alongside producers WondaGurl, Mike Dean, & London Cyr, and samples "25 Lighters" by DJ DMD featuring Fat Pat and Lil' Keke. In the song, the artists sing about taking drugs and seducing women.
Caleb Zackery "Don" Toliver is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. His debut mixtape, Donny Womack (2018) was released a day prior to fellow Houston rapper Travis Scott's album Astroworld (2018), on which Toliver guest appeared on its song "Can't Say". The following week, he signed with Scott's record label, Cactus Jack Records, in a joint venture with Atlantic Records.
Cactus Jack Records is a record label founded by American rapper and singer Travis Scott in 2017. As of 2024, current acts include Scott himself, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, SoFaygo, and Wxrdie, while former acts include Smokepurpp.
"Gatti" is a song released by American record label Cactus Jack Records, known as JackBoys, performed by American rappers Travis Scott & Pop Smoke from the former two's compilation album, JackBoys (2019). The song was written by the rappers alongside Peter Klapka, producer 808Melo, and co-producer Axl. A drill song, it sees Travis Scott rap about American model Kylie Jenner and why they broke up. Many critics lauded Pop Smoke's inclusion in the song.
"The Scotts" is a song by American hip hop super-duo the Scotts, composed of rappers and singers Travis Scott and Kid Cudi. It was released in various formats, including on 7-inch vinyl, cassette and as a CD single through Epic, Cactus Jack and Wicked Awesome on April 24, 2020. The song release was supported by four different visuals on YouTube.
Utopia is the fourth studio album by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released through Cactus Jack and Epic Records on July 28, 2023. The album features guest appearances from Teezo Touchdown, Drake, Playboi Carti, Beyoncé, Rob49, 21 Savage, the Weeknd, Swae Lee, Yung Lean, Dave Chappelle, Young Thug, Westside Gunn, Kid Cudi, Bad Bunny, SZA, Future, and James Blake. Physical releases of the album feature additional guest appearances from Lil Uzi Vert and Sheck Wes. Production was handled by a variety of record producers, including Scott and Blake themselves, WondaGurl, Ye, Allen Ritter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Wheezy, Buddy Ross, Vegyn, 30 Roc, Jahaan Sweet, Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, Bnyx, Oz, Justin Vernon, the Alchemist, Dom Maker, Illangelo, DVLP, and Metro Boomin, among others. The album serves as the follow-up to Scott's third studio album, Astroworld (2018), as well as JackBoys (2019), his compilation album that was released in collaboration with Cactus Jack. It is a concept record that was accompanied by a film titled Circus Maximus which was released the day before the album.
"Meltdown" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on August 15, 2023, as the seventh track and third single from the former's fourth studio album Utopia. The artists wrote the song with producers Coleman, Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, Bnyx.