Stop Trying to Be God

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"

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.

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"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]