"Stop Trying to Be God"
Song by Travis Scott featuring Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey and Stevie Wonder
from the album Astroworld
ReleasedAugust 3, 2018
GenreAlternative trap
Length5:38
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.

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

"Stop Trying to Be God"
The ethereal composition weaves together heavenly hums and wistful harmonica lines. Scott's lyrics focuses on rebuking those whose egos make them feel and act god-like.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"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
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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Burney, Lawrence (October 8, 2018). "Mike Dean on his approach to producing for Travis Scott and Kanye West". The FADER.
  3. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (August 7, 2018). "Review: Travis Scott Starts Living Up to His Ambitions on 'Astroworld'". Rolling Stone.
  4. ^ Daramola, Israel (August 8, 2018). "Astroworld Only Has One Problem—Travis Scott". SPIN.
  5. ^ Findlay, Mitch (August 3, 2018). "Travis Scott, James Blake, Stevie Wonder Go Ethereal On 'Stop Trying To Be God'". HotNewHipHop.
  6. ^ Wallace, Riley (August 6, 2018). "Review: Travis Scott Ascends Even Higher Past His Imitators With 'Astroworld'". HipHopDX.
  7. ^ a b c Kaye, Ben (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott is a Biblical figure in 'Stop Trying to Be God' video: Watch". Consequence.
  8. ^ a b Minsker, Evan (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott Drops Epic New 'Stop Trying to Be God' Video: Watch". Pitchfork.
  9. ^ a b c Indiana, Jake (August 7, 2018). "Travis Scott's Biblical References in 'Stop Trying To Be God'". Highsnobiety.
  10. ^ Aniftos, Rania (August 6, 2018). "Kylie Jenner is a Golden Angel in Travis Scott's 'Stop Trying to be God' Music Video: Watch". Billboard.
  11. ^ Cook-Wilson, Winston (August 7, 2018). "Video: Travis Scott - 'Stop Trying to Be God'". Spin.
  12. ^ Blistein, Jon (August 6, 2018). "Watch Travis Scott Get Biblical in Wild 'Stop Trying to Be God' Video". Rolling Stone.
  13. ^ Gotrich, Lars (August 7, 2018). "Travis Scott Rides A Fire-Breathing Dragon In 'Stop Trying To Be God' Video". NPR.
  14. ^ Holmes, Charles (August 20, 2018). "Travis Scott's VMA Performance Was A Thrilling Theme Park Adventure". MTV News.
  15. ^ Grow, Kory; Kreps, Daniel (February 10, 2019). "Grammys 2019: Travis Scott Takes Audience to 'Astroworld' With Two Tracks".
  16. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #486". auspOp. August 18, 2018. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  17. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "SNEP Top Singles: Week 32 (2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 10, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Travis Scott – Can't Say" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  20. ^ "Italian Charts - Stop Trying to Be God" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. August 9, 2018.
  21. ^ "Travis Scott – Can't Say" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  22. ^ "Travis Scott – Can't Say". AFP Top 100 Singles.
  23. ^ "Swedish Heatseekers Chart - 3 August 2018".
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  25. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  28. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Travis Scott – Stop Trying to Be God" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  29. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – Stop Trying to Be God". Music Canada. November 2, 2020.
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