Mind Playing Tricks on Me

"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" is a single by the Geto Boys, featured on their 1991 album We Can't Be Stopped.

The lyrics describe the mental anguish and exhaust of life as a gangster, including dealing with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, paranoia, suicidal ideation, and loneliness. The song samples "Hung Up on My Baby" by Isaac Hayes, from his 1974 film Tough Guys.[1] At the song's peak, it reached 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest charting single by the Geto Boys.

"Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
Single by Geto Boys
from the album We Can't Be Stopped
ReleasedJuly 1, 1991 (1991-07-01)
Recorded1991
GenreHorrorcore, G-funk, Southern hip hop
Length5:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Brad Jordan
  • Doug King
  • William Dennis
Producer(s)Scarface
Geto Boys singles chronology
"Do It Like a G.O."
(1990)		 "Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
(1991)		 "I Ain't With Being Broke"
(1992)
Audio sample
"Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
  • file
  • help

Background

The song was originally intended for a Scarface solo album as he penned three of the song's four verses.[2] However, the Geto Boys' label, Rap-A-Lot Records, decided that the record would be more valuable as a breakout single for the group.[3]

On an episode of Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts, Scarface and his grandmother spoke about how she inspired the track "Mind Playing Tricks on Me".[4] Scarface's grandmother was reportedly mumbling to herself, and when asked, "'Mama, what you talkin' about?'" replied, "'Oh, nothing, my mind's just playing tricks on me'".[5]

Reception and legacy

"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" has received critical praise since it was first released. In 2012, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it the fifth greatest hip-hop song of all time.[6] The song was ranked number 18 out of 100 Best Rap Songs Of All Time by LiveAbout.[7] VH1 ranked the song 82 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's, and 45 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.[8][9] Pitchfork Media ranked the song 45 on its Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s list, with reviewer Tom Breihan writing, "this track established the South as a serious force in the music, proving that these Texans could do dark better than anyone on either coast."[10] The song was also included in The Pitchfork 500, a compilation book of the greatest 500 songs from 1976 to 2006.[11]

On a 2019 episode of NPR's Morning Edition, Rodney Carmichael described the song as unique because at the time of its release it emphasized the trauma and vulnerability of life in the streets.[12]

References and sampling

"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" has been referenced and sampled by numerous artists. The Kottonmouth Kings made a cover of the song for their 2001 album, Hidden Stash II: The Kream of the Krop. The Insane Clown Posse also covered the song with Anybody Killa (also known as ABK) and Lil Wyte on their 2012 album, Smothered, Covered & Chunked. Brazilian rapper, Gabriel o Pensador sampled "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" in his song, "Lavagem Cerebral", from the 1993 album, Gabriel o Pensador.

"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" was referenced by Prodigy, in his single, "Mac 10 Handle". Ice Cube referenced the song in, "When Will They Shoot". Hip-hop duo, Clipse, referenced the Geto Boys song on "Nightmares", off of their 2006 album, Hell Hath No Fury. The Notorious B.I.G. interpolates "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" on the 1994 song, "One More Chance". In the OutKast song, "She Lives in My Lap", Andre 3000 samples Scarface's vocals from the track. The Game's track, "Walk in the Streets" references the song with the lines: "Must I remind you that Geto Boy track/Your mind is playin' tricks on you, you'll never go plat".[13] The Game further references the Geto Boys' track in his 2010 song, "Big Money", with the hook, "I got big money, I drive big cars/Everybody know me/It's like I'm a movie star".[14] Beanie Sigel's "Feel It In the Air" off of his 2005 album, "The B. Coming" samples Scarface's introduction to the song by rapping, "I sit alone in my four cornered room starring at hammers".[15] Destiny's Child interpolates "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" in their 1998 song, "Illusion", featuring Wyclef and Pras, from their self-titled debut album.[16][17] A vocal sample from "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" is used in Killer Mike's "Big Money, Big Cars" featuring Chamillionaire and Messy Marv released in 2008 on the album, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II.[18] Additionally, rapper Jean Grae references Geto Boys' rapper, Bushwick Bill's dream sequence from "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" in her 2004 song, "Going Crazy".[19]

In a 2012 Complex Magazine interview, rapper Kid Cudi cited "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" as his "favourite song in the world".[20] Kid Cudi further revealed that the song was the inspiration for his hit single, "Day 'n' Nite", saying, "I love it so much I wanted to make my own version of it. And then "Day 'n' Nite" came out of it".[21] Kid Cudi later sampled the song on his third studio album, Indicud (2013), on the track "Beez" featuring Wu-Tang Clan member, RZA.[22]

In the 2018 Netflix television miniseries, Maniac, "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" is featured in the first episode, The Chosen One![23]

Track listing
  1. "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (Radio Version)
  2. "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (Dirty Version)
  3. "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (Club Version)
  4. "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (Instrumental)

Charts
Chart (1991) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 23
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[25] 32
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 10
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[27] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[28] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me, retrieved 2020-01-13
  2. "Stressed Out: How 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me' Gave Anxiety A Home In Hip-Hop". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  3. "Stressed Out: How 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me' Gave Anxiety A Home In Hip-Hop". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  4. Markman, Rob. "Scarface's Grandma Inspired 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me'". MTV News. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  5. Markman, Rob. "Scarface's Grandma Inspired 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me'". MTV News. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  6. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-50-greatest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-20121205/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-19691231
  7. since 2005, Henry Adaso Henry Adaso has written about hip-hop; for "Vibe, founded the award-winning blog The Rap Up He has written; Mtv, "; Rehab, Rap; more. "The 100 Best Rap Songs Spanning Over 40 Years of the Genre's History". LiveAbout. Retrieved 2020-01-09.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. "VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". Spinditty. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  9. "VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs". Stereogum. 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  10. "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  11. Plagenhoef, Scott; Schreiber, Ryan, eds. (November 2008). The Pitchfork 500. Simon & Schuster. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-4165-6202-3.
  12. "Stressed Out: How 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me' Gave Anxiety A Home In Hip-Hop". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  13. The Game – Walk In The Streets, retrieved 2020-01-13
  14. The Game – Big Money, retrieved 2020-01-13
  15. Beanie Sigel (Ft. Melissa Jiménez) – Feel it in the Air, retrieved 2020-01-13
  16. Destiny's Child (Ft. Pras & Wyclef Jean) – Illusion, retrieved 2020-01-13
  17. "Destiny's Child (album)", Wikipedia, 2020-01-09, retrieved 2020-01-13
  18. Killer Mike (Ft. Chamillionaire & Messy Marv) – Big Money, Big Cars, retrieved 2020-01-13
  19. Jean Grae – Going Crazy, retrieved 2020-01-13
  20. "Soundtrack To My Life: Kid Cudi's 25 Favorite Albums". Complex. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  21. "Soundtrack To My Life: Kid Cudi's 25 Favorite Albums". Complex. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  22. Kid Cudi (Ft. RZA) – Beez, retrieved 2020-01-13
  23. "Music from Maniac S1E01". Tunefind. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  24. "Geto Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  25. "Geto Boys – Awards". AllMusic. TiVo Corporation. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  26. "Geto Boys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  27. "Geto Boys Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  28. "American single certifications – Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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