Stop Trying to Be God
{{Short description|2018 song by Travis Scott}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Stop Trying to Be God
| artist = Travis Scott featuring Philip Bailey and James Blake
| album = Astroworld
| released = August 3, 2018
| recorded = 2016–2017
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative hip hop|trap}}
| length = 5:38
| label = * Grand Hustle
| writer = {{hlist|Jacques Webster II|James Litherland|Mike Dean|Kevin Gomringer|Tim Gomringer|Joshua Adams}}
| producer = {{hlist|Scott|J Beatzz|Dean|Cubeatz ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|YqvCptqhHfs|"Stop Trying to Be God"}}|type=song}}
}}
"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."{{Cite magazine|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=2018-08-07|title=How Travis Scott (and His A&R) Got John Mayer, Drake and Stevie Wonder on the Same Album|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/travis-scotts-ar-thinks-astroworld-should-win-a-grammy-706064/|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|last=Burney|first=Lawrence|date=October 8, 2018|title=Mike Dean on his approach to producing for Travis Scott and Kanye West|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/10/08/mike-dean-interview-travis-scott-and-kanye-west|website=The FADER|language=en}}
Composition
{{Listen
| pos = right
| filename = Stop Trying to Be God.ogg
| title = "Stop Trying to Be God"
| description = 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.
| format = Ogg
}}
"Stop Trying to Be God" is an "indie trap" song.{{Cite magazine|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher R.|date=2018-08-07|title=Review: Travis Scott Starts Living Up to His Ambitions on 'Astroworld'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-travis-scott-starts-living-up-to-his-ambitions-on-astroworld-707220/|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Daramola|first=Israel|date=August 8, 2018|title=Astroworld Only Has One Problem—Travis Scott|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/08/review-astroworld-only-has-one-problem-travis-scott/|website=SPIN|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Findlay|first=Mitch|date=2018-08-03|title=Travis Scott, James Blake, Stevie Wonder Go Ethereal On 'Stop Trying To Be God'|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/travis-scott-james-blake-stevie-wonder-go-ethereal-on-stop-trying-to-be-god-new-song.1979758.html|website=HotNewHipHop|language=en}} Lyrically, the song is a warning against developing a God complex from one's ego.{{Cite web|last=Wallace|first=Riley|date=August 6, 2018|title=Review: Travis Scott Ascends Even Higher Past His Imitators With 'Astroworld'|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3218/title.review-travis-scott-ascends-even-higher-past-his-imitators-with-astroworld|website=HipHopDX}}
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".{{Cite web|last=Kaye|first=Ben|date=August 6, 2018|title=Travis Scott is a Biblical figure in 'Stop Trying to Be God' video: Watch|url=https://consequence.net/2018/08/travis-scott-stop-trying-to-be-god-video/|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=August 6, 2018|title=Travis Scott Drops Epic New 'Stop Trying to Be God' Video: Watch|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/travis-scott-drops-epic-new-stop-trying-to-be-god-video-watch/|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Indiana|first=Jake|date=2018-08-07|title=Travis Scott's Biblical References in 'Stop Trying To Be God'|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/travis-scott-stop-trying-to-be-god-video-references/|website=Highsnobiety|language=en}} 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.{{Cite magazine|last=Aniftos|first=Rania|date=August 6, 2018|title=Kylie Jenner is a Golden Angel in Travis Scott's 'Stop Trying to be God' Music Video: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8469032/travis-scott-stop-trying-to-be-god-music-video/|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} He is confronted by God, who shoots lasers from his eyes and punishes Scott.{{Cite web|last=Cook-Wilson|first=Winston|date=2018-08-07|title=Video: Travis Scott - 'Stop Trying to Be God'|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/08/travis-scott-stop-trying-to-be-god-video-watch/|website=Spin|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=August 6, 2018|title=Watch Travis Scott Get Biblical in Wild 'Stop Trying to Be God' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-travis-scott-get-biblical-in-wild-stop-trying-to-be-god-video-707333/|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} James Blake later appears singing in a graveyard.{{Cite news|last=Gotrich|first=Lars|date=2018-08-07|title=Travis Scott Rides A Fire-Breathing Dragon In 'Stop Trying To Be God' Video|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/07/636278850/travis-scott-rides-a-fire-breathing-dragon-in-stop-trying-to-be-god-video}} The video ends with a recreation of Jesus in a manger, with Kylie Jenner reappearing and holding a lamb that sings.
Live performances
Travis Scott performed the song with James Blake at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.{{Cite web|last=Holmes|first=Charles|date=August 20, 2018|title=Travis Scott's VMA Performance Was A Thrilling Theme Park Adventure|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3097169/travis-scott-vmas-2018/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821085822/http://www.mtv.com/news/3097169/travis-scott-vmas-2018/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2018|website=MTV News|language=en}} They also performed the song with Philip Bailey at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite news|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|last2=Kreps|first2=Daniel|title=Grammys 2019: Travis Scott Takes Audience to 'Astroworld' With Two Tracks|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/grammys-2019-travis-scott-astroworld-performance-792017/|date=February 10, 2019|ref=Rolling Stone}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Travis Scott|title=Stop Trying to Be God|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Travis Scott|title=Stop Trying to Be God|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|access-date=October 31, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Travis Scott|title=Stop Trying to Be God|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|date=November 2, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Travis Scott|title=Stop Trying To Be God|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|date=July 5, 2024|id=20136-4514-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Travis Scott songs}}
{{Kid Cudi songs}}
{{James Blake}}
{{Philip Bailey}}
{{Stevie Wonder}}
Category:James Blake (musician) songs
Category:Music videos directed by Dave Meyers (director)
Category:Song recordings produced by Cubeatz
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Dean (record producer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Travis Scott
Category:Songs written by James Blake (musician)
Category:Songs written by Cubeatz
Category:Songs written by Mike Dean (record producer)