Trippin' (Total song)

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“Trippin'”
[[Image:‎|200px|“Trippin'” cover]]
Single by Total featuring Missy Elliott
from the album Kima, Keisha, and Pam
Released 1998
Format CD single, Vinyl Single
Genre R&B
Length 4:26
Label Bad Boy
Writer(s) Melissa Elliott
Darryl Pearson
Timothy Mosley
Sean Combs
Mario Winans
Keisha Spivey
JaKima Raynor
Producer Missy Elliott
Darryl "Day" Pearson
Timbaland (co-producer)
Puff Daddy (co-producer)
Mario Winans (co-producer)
Certification Gold
Total singles chronology
"What About Us?"
(1997)
"Trippin'"
(1998)
"Sitting Home"
(1998)

"Trippin'" was the first single released from the R&B girl group Total's 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.

[edit] Music video

Directed by Joseph Kahn, 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.

[edit] Track listing

CD Single

  1. Remix (Featuring DMX)
  2. PD Mix
  3. Missy Mix
  4. Remix Instrumental


12" Vinyl Single
Side 1 Remix (Featuring DMX)

  1. Club Mix
  2. Radio Mix
  3. Acappella

Side 2

  1. PD Mix
  2. Missy Mix
  3. PD Mix: Acappella
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