Trippin' (Total song)

"Trippin'"
Single by Total featuring Missy Elliott
from the album Kima, Keisha, and Pam
Released	August 23, 1998 (1998-08-23)
Format	CD single, CD maxi single, 12" single, cassette
Recorded	1998
Genre	R&B, hip hop, groove
Length	4:26
Label	Bad Boy
Writer(s)	Melissa Elliott, Darryl Pearson, Tim Mosley, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Mario Winans, Keisha Spivey, Jakima Raynor
Producer	Missy Elliott, Darryl Pearson, Timbaland, Puff Daddy, Mario Winans
Certification	Gold
Total singles chronology
"What About Us?" (1997) "Trippin" (1998) "Sittin' Home" (1999) Missy Elliott singles chronology "5 Minutes" (1998) "Trippin" (1998) "I Want You Back" (1998)

"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.

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.

Vocals

Lead Vocals: Pam (First verse, leads 1st singing of the chorus), Keisha (Second verse), Kima (Bridge)

Background Vocals: Pam, Keisha, Kima, Missy Elliott

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

Charts

End of year chart (1999)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	60