| "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] | 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 nine studio albums, one reissue, 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, better known by his stage name 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.
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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 |
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| Entergalactic | |||
| Insano |
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| Other singles | |||
| Featured singles | |||
| Promotional singles | |||
| Other songs | |||
| Unreleased songs | |||
| Studio albums |
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| EPs |
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| Singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Related articles | |
