"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 | |
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 |
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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 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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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. |