| "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 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 |
|---|---|
| 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] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada) [29] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
The discography of American rapper Kid Cudi consists of eight 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, and record producer. Throughout his career, Scott has achieved four number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, along with 80 total charted songs. Scott has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and won a Billboard Music Award, Latin Grammy Award, MTV Video Music Award, and multiple BET Hip Hop Awards. As of 2020, Scott has sold over 45 million certified records in the US 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 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 singer 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.
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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. 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 and singer Travis Scott featuring fellow American singer and rapper 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.
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"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 and singer-songwriter. He released his first major label mixtape, Donny Womack, in August 2018. He is known for his singles "No Idea" and "After Party", from his debut studio album, Heaven or Hell (2020), which gained popularity on the video-sharing app TikTok, as well as his feature on fellow rapper and label-boss Travis Scott's song "Can't Say", from Scott's third studio album, Astroworld. In August 2020, he was featured alongside Nav and Gunna on the song "Lemonade" by Internet Money, becoming his first top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cactus Jack Records is a record label founded by American rapper and singer Travis Scott. The label's current acts include Scott, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, SoFaygo and WondaGurl.
"Gatti" is a song released by American record label Cactus Jack Records, known as JackBoys, and 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 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.
Astroworld Festival was an annual music festival run by American rapper and singer Travis Scott, held in Houston, Texas, at NRG Park, near the former site of Six Flags AstroWorld. The festival was first held in November 2018.
"Meltdown" is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on July 28, 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.
Kid Cudi songs | |
|---|---|
| A Kid Named Cudi | |
| Man on the Moon: The End of Day | |
| Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager | |
| WZRD | |
| Indicud | |
| Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven | |
| Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' | |
| Kids See Ghosts | |
| Man on the Moon III: The Chosen | |
| The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 |
|
| Entergalactic | |
| Insano | |
| Other singles | |
| Featured singles | |
| Promotional singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Unreleased songs | |
