Sicko Mode
"Sicko Mode" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper Travis Scott, released by Epic Records on August 3, 2018, as the third track from Scott's third studio album, Astroworld (2018). The song features an uncredited guest rap by Canadian rapper Drake,[2] and additional uncredited vocals by Swae Lee[3] and Big Hawk posthumously.[4] It is Scott's first number one on the US Billboard Hot 100,[4] as well as the first hip hop song in history to spend at least 30 weeks in the chart's top ten region. It received nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
"Sicko Mode" | ||||
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Single by Travis Scott[lower-alpha 1] | ||||
from the album Astroworld | ||||
B-side | "Sicko Mode (Skrillex Remix)" | |||
Released | August 3, 2018 | |||
Genre | Hip hop[1] | |||
Length | 5:12 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
Travis Scott singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Sicko Mode" on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
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The song contains a sample from "Gimme the Loot", written by The Notorious B.I.G. and Easy Mo Bee, as performed by the former and an interpolation from "I Wanna Rock", written and performed by Uncle Luke.[5][6]
Critical reception
"Sicko Mode" received critical acclaim, with some critics considering it the highlight of Astroworld. Writing for Rolling Stone, Christopher R. Weingarten deemed the "hard-knocking" track the "album highlight,"[7] while Brendan Klinkenberg from the same magazine described it as "the apex of Scott's synthetic instincts."[8] Brian Josephs of Entertainment Weekly called it a "mini-suite of bangers."[9] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent felt Drake "sounds more important on this record than he did at any point on his own recent release, Scorpion, with a ballsy, confident flow."[10]
Chart performance
"Sicko Mode" debuted at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100,[11] It reached number two following the release of its music video, first behind "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B,[12] and then behind "Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande. It later became his first number one on the issue dated December 8, 2018, after seventeen weeks in the top 10, aided in part by the Skrillex remix.[4] The single also became his first top 10 on the Radio Songs chart.[13] It finished 3rd in Triple J's Hottest 100 2018.[14]
Music video
The music video for "Sicko Mode" was directed by Dave Meyers and Travis Scott. It was released on October 19, 2018. The video starts off with Scott's red head on a building while a camera zooms into it, and cuts to the next scene of people getting back into some multi-coloured houses. Following scenes show Drake walking a dog while being burned by an eclipse and Scott riding a horse. The video ends with Drake and Scott walking away.[15]
Remix
On November 28, 2018, an electronic remix by American record producer Skrillex was released.[16][17] The remix's accompanying audio and lyric videos were released to Scott's and Skrillex's YouTube channels on the same day.
On February 28, 2020, Swae Lee released his long-awaited follow-up "Someone Said", based on his one line from the song.[18]
Personnel
Track listing
A-side
- "Sicko Mode" – 5:02 Naomi B.M.
B-side
- "Sicko Mode" (Skrillex Remix) – 5:02
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[73] | 7× Platinum | 490,000 |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[74] | Platinum | 30,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[75] | 8× Platinum | 640,000 |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[76] | Platinum | 90,000 |
France (SNEP)[77] | Platinum | 200,000 |
Germany (BVMI)[78] | Gold | 200,000 |
Italy (FIMI)[79] | Platinum | 50,000 |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[80] | 2× Platinum | 120,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[81] | 2× Platinum | 60,000 |
Poland (ZPAV)[82] | 2× Platinum | 40,000* |
Portugal (AFP)[83] | 2× Platinum | 40,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[84] | Gold | 20,000 |
Sweden (GLF)[85] | Gold | 4,000,000 |
United Kingdom (BPI)[86] | Platinum | 600,000 |
United States (RIAA)[87] | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000 |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | August 21, 2018 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Original |
|
[89] |
Urban contemporary radio | [90] | ||||
Various | November 28, 2018 | Digital download | Skrillex remix | [91] |
Notes
- Apple Music credited Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk as featured artists for a brief period. The music video on YouTube continues to credit Drake as a featured artist.
References
- "'Sicko Mode' is Travis Scott Doing What Travis Scott Does Best". Rolling Stone.
- "Here are the full album credits for Travis Scott's ASTROWORLD". The Fader. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- "'Sicko Mode' is Travis Scott Doing What Travis Scott Does Best". Rolling Stone. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- Trust, Gary (December 3, 2018). "Travis Scott Scores First Billboard Hot 100 Leader: 'What's More 'Sicko Mode' Than Going No. 1?!'". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- "Here Are All the Samples Travis Scott Used on 'Astroworld'". Hypebeast. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- "How Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' Embraces His Southern Rap Roots Like Never Before". Billboard. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- Weingarten, Christopher (August 7, 2018). "Review: Travis Scott Starts Living Up to His Ambitions on 'Astroworld'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- Klinkenberg, Brendan (August 9, 2018). "'Sicko Mode' is Travis Scott Doing What Travis Scott Does Best". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- Josephs, Brian (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott 'Astroworld': EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- O'Connor, Roisin (August 6, 2018). "Travis Scott, Astroworld album review: Lightyears ahead of his peers". The Independent. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- Trust, Gary (August 13, 2018). "Drake Rules Billboard Hot 100 for Fifth Week With 'In My Feelings,' Travis Scott Debuts Two Songs in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- Trust, Gary (October 29, 2018). "Maroon 5 and Cardi B Rule Billboard Hot 100 For Sixth Week, Post Malone and Swae Lee Debut in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- "Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' Tops Hot 100 For Second Week, Panic! at the Disco's 'High Hopes' Hits Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- "Hottest 100 2018". Triple J. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- Holmes, Charles (October 19, 2018). "'Sicko Mode' Is the 'Citizen Kane' of Travis Scott Music Videos". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- Saponara, Michael (December 26, 2018). "Y'all Know I Don't Follow Suit: How Travis Scott's 'SICKO MODE' Became the Unlikeliest No. 1 Hit of 2018". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "Sicko Mode (Skrillex Remix) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- https://www.sohh.com/rae-sremmurds-swae-lee-announces-fire-music-arrives-in-48-hours/
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- "Italian single certifications – Travis Scott – Sicko Mode" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 8, 2020. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Sicko Mode" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
- "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved June 30, 2020. Type Travis Scott in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Sicko Mode in the box under TÍTULO
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