Image via T.K. Atakora
Future’s ties to the Dungeon Family are well known, and on the Atlanta rapper’s new album, Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD, he pays tribute to another pioneering Southern hip-hop group. The closing track, “Tricks on Me,” is not only named after Geto Boys‘ “Mind Playing Tricks on Me,” but also references the seminal song in its lyrics.
“Tricks on Me” is produced by Drake’s frequent collaborator Nineteen85, and on the chorus, Future name-drops the Houston trio’s classic song:
Maybe my mind playin' tricks on me
Maybe my mind playin' tricks on me
Houston’s Geto Boys feature group members Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill. The trio put an indelible stamp on Southern hip-hop and gangsta rap in the early ‘90s with timeless songs like “Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” and their signature track, 1991’s “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.”
Taken from We Can’t Be Stopped, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” topped the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart in October 1991. The track is known for its paranoid tone and lyrics which reflect the stresses of the group’s lifestyle.
The first verse opens with memorable lines by breakout star Scarface:
At night I can’t sleep, I toss and turn
Candlesticks in the dark, visions of bodies bein' burned
Four walls just starin' at a nigga
I’m paranoid, sleepin' with my finger on the trigger
Similarly, Future addresses the downsides of his fame on “Tricks on Me.” In particular, he seemingly references his well-publicized issues with his ex-fiancé, R&B singer Ciara, with whom he shares a child. On the intro, he references a lawsuit:
Just got a call from my mom
Tellin' me what the lawyer was sayin'
About the lawsuit
I thought they had had that down, yeah
In January 2017, Ciara dropped a $15 million defamation lawsuit against Future in response to his comments about her being a bad mother.
Later on in the chorus, he mentions troubles with an ex:
Could it be my ex playin' tricks on me?
Someone that’s jealous playin' tricks on me
In December 2018, TMZ reported that Ciara’s legal team was seeking a mediator to hash out a better visitation schedule for their son. The former couple have also frequently jabbed at each other on social media, in the press, and in court as they attempt to resolve the custody battle over their child.
Elsewhere in the song, Future seems to blame his former lifestyle as a reason for the downfall of their relationship:
I was lettin' the shit I can’t control destroy me
It was goin' too deep for you, baby, pardon me
I tried to treat that shit just like a party
I'ma feel weak if I tell you sorry
Earlier this week, Future appeared on Genius' series For The Record to discuss The WIZRD. Watch the episode below:
Read all the lyrics to Future’s “Tricks on Me” and Geto Boys' “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” on Genius now.
