Trippin' (Total song)
Encyclopedia
"Trippin'" is a song by R&B
girl group Total
, released as the first single from their second album in 1998
. It was also their second release working with production/writing duo Missy Elliott
& Timbaland
, after What About Us?, although Timbaland this time provided only co-production and instrumentation, with the pairs' longtime collaborator Darryl Pearson instead handling main production with Elliott. Elliott was also often given a "featuring" credit (likely to create increased publicity for the track) despite only providing background vocals and spoken word to the song. The track was by far the group's biggest hit, peaking at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart.
The song was released with the Puff Daddy, Harve Pierre
& Mario Winans
Remix as the main version with regards to the singles' cover and tracklistings. This remix featured a re-arranged version of the original lyrics, heavily sampled LL Cool J
's "4, 3, 2, 1" and DMX
(who also appeared on the sampled track) provided rap vocals. Both the original version (listed as "PD Mix") and another main remix (a similar, stripped-down version: the "Missy Mix") were also featured. Radio stations and the video however, simply censored the album version/PD Mix and a video for the remix was not shot.
, the video for "Trippin'" features a more sexual image of the group than previous productions. Its background appears to be based on classical Victorian
and Edwardian interior design and begins with an upwards view of a transparent floor where Missy Elliott, member Pam and one of the dancers are seen briefly. Missy Elliott appears on screen and speaks the intro of the song and when Puff Daddy speaks the girls' names, they also have close-ups: Pam on a sofa, Keisha on a bed and a chair and Kima in a large bath and lying on the floor. Dancers and Missy Elliott speaking reappear and on repetition of their names, the members of Total are seen once again close-up.
While Pam sings the first verse, dancers dressed in formal attire such as suits and hats are seen performing what resembles breakdancing and the girls and Missy Elliott are flashed on screen repeatedly in their previous positions.
Keisha is featured more prominently as she sings the second verse and the girls, Missy Elliott and the dancers are repeatedly flashed onscreen constantly throughout the rest of the video. As the video reaches its climax, Kima splashes water on the transparent floor.
12" Vinyl Single
Side 1 Remix (Featuring DMX)
Side 2
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
girl group Total
Total (band)
Total was an American R&B girl group and one of the signature acts of Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records imprint during the 1990s.-Emergence & Total:...
, released as the first single from their second album in 1998
1998 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
. It was also their second release working with production/writing duo Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
& Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, after What About Us?, although Timbaland this time provided only co-production and instrumentation, with the pairs' longtime collaborator Darryl Pearson instead handling main production with Elliott. Elliott was also often given a "featuring" credit (likely to create increased publicity for the track) despite only providing background vocals and spoken word to the song. The track was by far the group's biggest hit, peaking at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart.
The song was released with the Puff Daddy, Harve Pierre
Harve Pierre
Harve Pierre, also known by the stage-name Joe Hooker, is a writer, singer and producer. Pierre is also the President of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy record company. As a singer, he uses almost "out-of-tune", loud, rap-style singing vocals...
& Mario Winans
Mario Winans
Mario Winans is an American R&B singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born Mario Brown, he is the son of gospel recording artist Vickie Winans and her first husband, Bishop Ronald Brown. He is also the stepson of his mother's second husband, gospel singer, Pastor Marvin...
Remix as the main version with regards to the singles' cover and tracklistings. This remix featured a re-arranged version of the original lyrics, heavily sampled LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
's "4, 3, 2, 1" and DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
(who also appeared on the sampled track) provided rap vocals. Both the original version (listed as "PD Mix") and another main remix (a similar, stripped-down version: the "Missy Mix") were also featured. Radio stations and the video however, simply censored the album version/PD Mix and a video for the remix was not shot.
Music video
Directed by Joseph KahnJoseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn is an American music video, advertising, and feature film director.-Early life:Kahn was born in Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He is of Korean ancestry. He spent part of his childhood growing up in Livorno, Italy until his family moved to Texas...
, the video for "Trippin'" features a more sexual image of the group than previous productions. Its background appears to be based on classical Victorian
Victorian fashion
Victorian fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in British culture that emerged and grew in province throughout the Victorian era and the reign of Queen Victoria, a period which would last from June 1837 to January 1901. Covering nearly two thirds of the 19th century, the 63 year reign...
and Edwardian interior design and begins with an upwards view of a transparent floor where Missy Elliott, member Pam and one of the dancers are seen briefly. Missy Elliott appears on screen and speaks the intro of the song and when Puff Daddy speaks the girls' names, they also have close-ups: Pam on a sofa, Keisha on a bed and a chair and Kima in a large bath and lying on the floor. Dancers and Missy Elliott speaking reappear and on repetition of their names, the members of Total are seen once again close-up.
While Pam sings the first verse, dancers dressed in formal attire such as suits and hats are seen performing what resembles breakdancing and the girls and Missy Elliott are flashed on screen repeatedly in their previous positions.
Keisha is featured more prominently as she sings the second verse and the girls, Missy Elliott and the dancers are repeatedly flashed onscreen constantly throughout the rest of the video. As the video reaches its climax, Kima splashes water on the transparent floor.
Track listing
CD Single- Remix (Featuring DMX)
- PD Mix
- Missy Mix
- Remix Instrumental
12" Vinyl Single
Side 1 Remix (Featuring DMX)
- Club Mix
- Radio Mix
- Acappella
Side 2
- PD Mix
- Missy Mix
- PD Mix: Acappella
Charts
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 60 |