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{{short description|1991 single by Geto Boys}}
{{for|the Atom and His Package song|Adam Goren}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Mind Playing Tricks on Me
| cover = Mindplayingtricksonme.jpg
| alt =
|
| artist = [[Geto Boys]]
|
| released = {{Start date|1991|7|1}}
| recorded = 1991
|
| genre = {{hlist|[[Southern hip-hop]]|[[horrorcore]]|[[gangsta rap]]}}
| length = 5:11
| label = {{hlist|[[Rap-A-Lot Records|Rap-A-Lot]]|[[Priority Records|Priority]]}}
| writer = {{hlist|Brad Jordan|Doug King|William Dennis}}
| producer = [[Scarface (rapper)|Scarface]]
| prev_title = Do It Like a G.O.
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = I Ain't With Being Broke
| next_year = 1992
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Mind Playing Tricks on Me.ogg
| description = "Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
}}
}}
'''"Mind Playing Tricks on Me'''" is a song by [[Geto Boys]], featured on their 1991 album ''[[We Can't Be Stopped]]''. The lyrics describe the mental anguish and exhaustion of life as a [[gangster]], including dealing with symptoms of [[post-traumatic stress disorder]], [[paranoia]], [[suicidal ideation]], and [[loneliness]]. It also samples "Hung Up on My Baby" by [[Isaac Hayes]], from his 1974 film ''[[Three Tough Guys|Tough Guys]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me|url=https://genius.com/Geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-lyrics|language=en|access-date=2020-01-13}}</ref> At the song's peak, it reached 23 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], making it the highest-charting single by the Geto Boys.
== Background ==
The song was originally intended for a [[Scarface (rapper)|Scarface]] solo album as he penned three of the song's four verses.<ref name="npr.org">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/29/726615663/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-anxiety-american-anthem|title=Stressed Out: How 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me' Gave Anxiety A Home In Hip-Hop|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> However, the Geto Boys' label, [[Rap-A-Lot Records]], decided that the record would be more valuable as a breakout single for the group.<ref name="npr.org"/>
On an episode of ''[[Yo! MTV Raps|Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts]]'', Scarface and his grandmother spoke about how she inspired the track "Mind Playing Tricks on Me".<ref name="Markman">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1675165/scarface-geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513134319/http://www.mtv.com/news/1675165/scarface-geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2017|title=Scarface's Grandma Inspired 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me'|last=Markman|first=Rob|website=MTV News|language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> 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'".<ref name="Markman"/>
In 1994, Scarface recorded a new solo version of the song titled "Mind Playin' Tricks '94", for his album ''[[The Diary (Scarface album)|The Diary]]''.
== 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 and at number 192 on their "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-50-greatest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-20121205/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-19691231|title = 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time|magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]|date = 5 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2021-09-15 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> The song was ranked number 18 out of 100 Best Rap Songs of All Time by LiveAbout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/best-rap-songs-of-all-time-2857834|title=The 100 Best Rap Songs Spanning Over 40 Years of the Genre's History|first=Henry |last=Adaso |website=LiveAbout|language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> [[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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spinditty.com/playlists/Top-100-Songs-of-the-90s|title=VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s|website=Spinditty|language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/24391/vh1s_100_greatest_hiphop_songs-2/franchises/list/|title=VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs|date=2008-09-29|website=Stereogum|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' 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".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/|title=The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21|website=Pitchfork|date=2 September 2010 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> The song was also included in ''[[The Pitchfork 500]]'', a compilation book of the greatest 500 songs from 1976 to 2006.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Plagenhoef |editor1-first=Scott |editor2-last=Schreiber |editor2-first=Ryan |date=November 2008 |title=[[The Pitchfork 500]] |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |page=114 |isbn=978-1-4165-6202-3 }}</ref>
On a 2019 episode of [[NPR]]'s ''[[Morning Edition]]'', [https://www.npr.org/people/512510132/rodney-carmichael 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/29/726615663/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-anxiety-american-anthem|title=Stressed Out: How 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me' Gave Anxiety A Home In Hip-Hop|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref>
=== 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]]''. Rapper [[Kodak Black]] sampled the song in his song, "[[Transportin']]".
In a 2012 ''[[Complex Networks#Complex|Complex]]'' magazine interview, rapper [[Kid Cudi]] cited "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" as his "favorite song in the world".<ref name="Cudi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/03/soundtrack-to-my-life-kid-cudis-25-favorite-albums/ |title=Soundtrack To My Life: Kid Cudi's 25 Favorite Albums |website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |language=en |access-date=2020-01-13}}</ref> 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".<ref name="Cudi" />
It was also featured on ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''{{'}}s fictional radio station West Coast Classics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2013/10/grand-theft-auto-v-the-official-final-tracklist-is-here/ |title=Grand Theft Auto V: The official, final tracklist has been revealed |date=2 October 2013}}</ref>
Hip-hop group [[Clipping (band)|Clipping]]'s 2020 album ''[[Visions of Bodies Being Burned]]'' is titled after a lyric in the song.
==Track listing==
#"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (radio version)
#"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (dirty version)
#"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (club version)
#"Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (instrumental)
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1991–1992)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|23|artist=Geto Boys|song=Mind Playing Tricks on Me|artistid={{BillboardID|Geto Boys}}|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 4, 2018}}
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Dance Singles Sales|Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="US-Dance-Sales">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/geto-boys-mn0000077283/awards | title=Geto Boys – Awards | publisher=[[TiVo Corporation]] | work=[[AllMusic]] | accessdate=September 4, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506082132/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/geto-boys-mn0000077283/awards |archivedate=May 6, 2016}}</ref>
| 32
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|10|artist=Geto Boys|song=Mind Playing Tricks on Me|artistid={{BillboardID|Geto Boys}}|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 4, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|1|artist=Geto Boys|song=Mind Playing Tricks on Me|artistid={{BillboardID|Geto Boys}}|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 4, 2018}}
|-
|}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Geto Boys|title=Mind Playing Tricks on Me|award=Gold|relyear=1991|certyear=1991|refname=riaa}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Geto Boys}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1991 singles]]
[[Category:Geto Boys songs]]
[[Category:Gangsta rap songs]]
[[Category:Horrorcore songs]]
[[Category:1991 songs]]
[[Category:Songs about suicide]]
[[Category:Songs about diseases and disorders]]
[[Category:Songs about loneliness]]
[[Category:Priority Records singles]]
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