From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Sicko Mode"
Skrillex remix cover art. Cover on streaming services replaces "I went to Astroworld" with "I went on [platform name]".
Single by Travis Scott
from the album Astroworld
ReleasedAugust 21, 2018 (2018-08-21)
Genre
Length5:12
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Travis Scott singles chronology
"Dangerous World"
(2018)
"Sicko Mode"
(2018)
"Neighbor"
(2018)
Music video
"Sicko Mode" on YouTube
Audio sample

"Sicko Mode" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. It features vocals from Canadian rapper Drake, [a] [3] 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. [4] [5]

"Sicko Mode" was Scott's first number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 (although Drake is not credited on the Billboard charts), [4] [6] as well as the first hip-hop song in history to spend at least 30 weeks in the chart's top ten region. It was universally acclaimed by critics, and received nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

The song contains a sample from "Gimme the Loot", written by the Notorious B.I.G. and Easy Mo Bee, as performed by the former and an interpolation from "I Wanna Rock", written and performed by Uncle Luke. [7] [8] On December 9, 2020, the song was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Composition

The song is in three distinct movements. There is the first movement, which starts from the beginning of the song to the one minute mark. The second movement starts at the one minute mark and ends before the three minute mark. The third movement starts at the three minute mark to the end of the song. The first movement is written in the key of G minor, the second movement is written in the key of C-sharp minor, and the third movement is composed in the key of E-flat minor. [9] The first movement reminiscences about a time with friends in winter. The second movement reminisces about past relationships with women. The third movement reminisces about the rappers' high school years, but now enjoys the luxury of flying out of a fixed base operator. The overall theme of the song is about reminiscing about past events in the rappers' lives and where they are now.

Critical reception

"Sicko Mode" received critical acclaim, with some critics considering it the highlight of Astroworld. Writing for Rolling Stone, Christopher R. Weingarten deemed the "hard-knocking" track the "album highlight", [10] while Brendan Klinkenberg from the same magazine described it as "the apex of Scott's synthetic instincts". [11] Brian Josephs of Entertainment Weekly called it a "mini-suite of bangers". [12] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent felt Drake "sounds more important on this record than he did at any point on his own recent release, Scorpion, with a ballsy, confident flow". [13]

Chart performance

"Sicko Mode" debuted at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, [14] It reached number two following the release of its music video, originally behind " Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B, [15] and then behind " Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande. It later became his first number one on the issue dated December 8, 2018, after seventeen weeks in the top 10, aided in part by the Skrillex remix; [4] had Drake been credited, it would have been his 7th number-one hit. The single also became Scott's first top 10 on the Radio Songs chart. [16] It finished 3rd in Triple J's Hottest 100 2018. [17] Reflecting on its commercial impact, Billboard magazine's Andrew Unterberger called the song "a three-part prog-rap odyssey that would've been unimaginable as a radio single years earlier, but which got audiences so hyped with its unexpected beat switches and back-and-forth hooks that the pop world had no choice but to meet it halfway". [2]

"Sicko Mode" was the only number-one hit during the 2010s decade to feature a key change. [18]

Music video

The music video for "Sicko Mode" was directed by Dave Meyers and Travis Scott. It was released on October 19, 2018. The video starts off with Scott's red head on a building while a camera zooms into it, and cuts to the next scene of people getting back into some multi-colored houses. Following scenes show Drake walking a dog while being burned by an eclipse and Scott riding a horse. The video ends with Drake and Scott walking away. [19] As of May 2022, the video has over a billion views. [20]

Live performances

Travis Scott performed the song at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards [21] and the Super Bowl LIII halftime show. [22]

Remixes and covers

On November 28, 2018, an electronic remix by American record producer Skrillex was released. [23] [24] The remix's accompanying audio and lyric videos were released to Scott's and Skrillex's YouTube channels on the same day.

On February 28, 2020, Swae Lee released the single "Someone Said", based on his line from the song. [25]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and liner notes. [26]

Performance

  • Travis Scott – vocals, songwriting
  • Drake – vocals, songwriting
  • Swae Lee – additional vocals, songwriting
  • Big Hawk – additional vocals, songwriting

Production

Technical

  • Travis Scott – recording engineer, mixing
  • Ben Sedano – assistant engineer
  • Jimmy Cash – assistant engineer
  • Jon Scher – assistant engineer
  • Sean Solymor – assistant engineer
  • Mike Dean – mixing, mastering

Additional songwriting credits as pertaining to the samples: "I Wanna Rock" as performed by Luke, written by Luther Campbell, Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch; and "Gimme the Loot" as performed by the Notorious B.I.G., written by Christopher Wallace, Osten Harvey, Bryan Higgins, Trevor Smith, James Jackson, Malik Taylor, Keith Elam, Christopher Martin, Kamaal Fareed, Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Tyrone Taylor, Fred Scruggs, Kirk Jones and Chylow Parker.

Track listing

A-side

  1. "Sicko Mode" – 5:12

B-side

  1. "Sicko Mode" (Skrillex Remix) – 5:05

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia ( ARIA) [86] 9× Platinum 630,000
Austria ( IFPI Austria) [87] Platinum 30,000
Brazil ( Pro-Música Brasil) [88] 3× Diamond 480,000
Canada ( Music Canada) [89] Diamond 800,000
Denmark ( IFPI Danmark) [90] 2× Platinum 180,000
France ( SNEP) [91] Diamond 333,333
Germany ( BVMI) [92] Platinum 400,000
Italy ( FIMI) [93] 2× Platinum 140,000
Mexico ( AMPROFON) [94] 3× Platinum 180,000
New Zealand ( RMNZ) [95] 2× Platinum 60,000
Poland ( ZPAV) [96] 4× Platinum 200,000
Portugal ( AFP) [97] 3× Platinum 30,000
Spain ( PROMUSICAE) [98] Platinum 40,000
United Kingdom ( BPI) [99] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States ( RIAA) [100] Diamond 10,000,000
Streaming
Greece ( IFPI Greece) [101] 2× Platinum 4,000,000
Sweden ( GLF) [102] Gold 4,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Publication Rank Ref.
Pitchfork
19
[103]

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
United States August 21, 2018 Rhythmic contemporary radio Original [104]
Urban contemporary radio [105]
Various November 28, 2018 Digital download Skrillex remix [106]

Notes

  1. ^ Apple Music credited Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk as featured artists for a brief period. The music video on YouTube continues to credit Drake as a featured artist.

References

  1. ^ "'Sicko Mode' is Travis Scott Doing What Travis Scott Does Best". Rolling Stone.
  2. ^ a b Unterberger, Andrew (December 12, 2019). "2018 Was the Year That... Hip-Hop Took Its Victory Lap". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Here are the full album credits for Travis Scott's ASTROWORLD". The Fader. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Trust, Gary (December 3, 2018). "Travis Scott Scores First Billboard Hot 100 Leader: 'What's More 'Sicko Mode' Than Going No. 1?!'". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "'Sicko Mode' is Travis Scott Doing What Travis Scott Does Best". Rolling Stone. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "Drake". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  7. ^ "Here Are All the Samples Travis Scott Used on 'Astroworld'". Hypebeast. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  8. ^ "How Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' Embraces His Southern Rap Roots Like Never Before". Billboard. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  9. ^ "Travis Scott "Sicko Mode" Sheet Music".
  10. ^ Weingarten, Christopher (August 7, 2018). "Review: Travis Scott Starts Living Up to His Ambitions on 'Astroworld'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (August 9, 2018). "'Sicko Mode' is Travis Scott Doing What Travis Scott Does Best". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Josephs, Brian (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott 'Astroworld': EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  13. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott, Astroworld album review: Lightyears ahead of his peers". The Independent. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  14. ^ Trust, Gary (August 13, 2018). "Drake Rules Billboard Hot 100 for Fifth Week With 'In My Feelings,' Travis Scott Debuts Two Songs in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  15. ^ Trust, Gary (October 29, 2018). "Maroon 5 and Cardi B Rule Billboard Hot 100 For Sixth Week, Post Malone and Swae Lee Debut in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' Tops Hot 100 For Second Week, Panic! at the Disco's 'High Hopes' Hits Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  17. ^ "Hottest 100 2018". Triple J. 11 November 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  18. ^ All Things Considered (November 25, 2022). "Why the key change has disappeared from top-charting tunes".
  19. ^ Holmes, Charles (October 19, 2018). "'Sicko Mode' Is the 'Citizen Kane' of Travis Scott Music Videos". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  20. ^ Video on YouTube
  21. ^ Holmes, Charles (August 20, 2018). "Travis Scott's VMA Performance Was A Thrilling Theme Park Adventure and with the Astroworld Experience". MTV News.
  22. ^ "Travis Scott crowd surfs during Super Bowl LIII halftime performance". NFL.com. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  23. ^ Saponara, Michael (December 26, 2018). "Y'all Know I Don't Follow Suit: How Travis Scott's 'SICKO MODE' Became the Unlikeliest No. 1 Hit of 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  24. ^ "Sicko Mode (Skrillex Remix) - Single". iTunes. 28 November 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  25. ^ "Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee Announces Fire Music Arrives in 48 Hours". 26 February 2020.
  26. ^ "ASTROWORLD / Travis Scott on TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d Saponara, Michael (2018). "Y'all Know I Don't Follow Suit: How Travis Scott's 'SICKO MODE' Became the Unlikeliest No. 1 Hit of 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  28. ^ "Producer OZ Didn't Think Travis Scott & Drake's "Sicko Mode" Would Be A Hit". Genius. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  29. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Billboard Argentina Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  30. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  31. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  32. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  33. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  34. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  35. ^ " ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202018 into search. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  36. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  37. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  38. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  39. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  40. ^ " Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  41. ^ " Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  42. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  43. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Top Digital Download. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  44. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  45. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  46. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". VG-lista. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  47. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  48. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  49. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  50. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  51. ^ " Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  52. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  53. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  54. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  55. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  56. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  57. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  58. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  59. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  60. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. August 30, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  61. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  62. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  63. ^ "EESTI TIPP-100 MUUSIKAS Neid artiste ja lugusid kuulati möödunud aastal Eestis kõige rohkem". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  64. ^ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  65. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  66. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  67. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  68. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  69. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  70. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  71. ^ "Track Top-100 2019" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  72. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2019". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  73. ^ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  74. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  75. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  76. ^ "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  77. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  78. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  79. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  80. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2019". Rolling Stone. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  81. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  82. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  83. ^ "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  84. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  85. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  86. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  87. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Travis Scott ft. Drake, Swae Lee & Big Hawk – Sicko Mode" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  88. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  89. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Music Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  90. ^ "Danish single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  91. ^ "French single certifications – Travis Scott feat. Drake, Swae Lee & Big Hawk – Sicko Mode" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  92. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Travis Scott; 'Sicko Mode')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  93. ^ "Italian single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  94. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved March 5, 2021. Type Travis Scott in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Sicko Mode in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  95. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  96. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  97. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  98. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Travis Scott / Drake – Sicko Mode". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  99. ^ "British single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  100. ^ "American single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  101. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International)" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  102. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 44, 2018 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 14, 2018. Scroll to position 58 to view certification.
  103. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry. "The 100 Best Songs of 2018". Pitchfork. Conde Nast. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  104. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  105. ^ "Urban Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  106. ^ Blistein, Jon (November 28, 2018). "Hear Skrillex's Colossal Remix of Travis Scott, Drake's 'Sicko Mode'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 30, 2018.

External links