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Stop Trying to Be God

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"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
GenreIndie 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

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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

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"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

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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

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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

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 87
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 19
France (SNEP)[18] 76
Germany (GfK)[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

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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.

References

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  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. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018.
  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.
  30. ^ "British single certifications – Travis Scott – Stop Trying To Be God". British Phonographic Industry. July 5, 2024.
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