| Stop Trying to Be God | |
| Artist: | Travis Scott featuring Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey and Stevie Wonder |
| Album: | Astroworld |
| Released: | August 3, 2018 |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 5:38 |
| Label: | |
"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. Scott eventually flies around on a dragon, commanding it to breathe fire upon a town and bringing about the Apocalypse.[10] He is confronted by God, who shoots lasers from his eyes and punishes Scott.[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.
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 |
| France (SNEP)[17] | 76 |
| Italy (FIMI)[18] | 97 |
| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[19] | 1 |