The Barbz have enthusiastically waited for Nicki Minaj’s 2023 return. After nearly five years since Queen dropped, much has happened in Nicki’s life. For one, she’s a mother and a wife and those factors have undoubtedly played a role in her creativity. For example, she previously revealed that she turned down an appearance on Gunna’s “p power” due to her explicit nature. However, the absence of hyper-sexualized bars hasn’t compromised the potency of Nicki’s pen in any way.
This week, the singer slid through with her first official release of the year, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” and she didn’t disappoint. With an iconic Lumidee sample to back her, Nicki’s slides like butter and delivers an incredible performance that proves her pen isn’t one to f*ck with. It’s not shocking, especially after her claims on Instagram the day prior. “Ghost writers all around the world are scrambling,” she wrote. “Nicki still on hiatus. This b!@ch right here tho? She outside.”
Lumidee & Saucy Santana On Nicki Minaj Single
The release of “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” marked a triumphant return for Nicki Minaj following the success of last year’s “Super Freaky Girl.” The Rick James-sampling single became Nicki’s first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 but it seems like she might do it again with her latest release. Immediately after it dropped, fans rejoiced at Nick’s return, especially with her wordplay and fierce delivery across the record. Once again, Nicki proved that she deserved her spot as the greatest female rapper of all time on Billboard and Vibe’s viral list.
Lumidee, whose hit record “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh Uh Oooh)” is used on the song, praised the way Nicki flipped the song. “20 years strong,” she wrote. “Queen sh*t.” Saucy Santana also shared a positive reaction to the single on Instagram live. “One thing about Nicki Minaj, you have to listen to the song 10x ‘cause of the bars,” he said. “That’s why she’s so ill.” Evidently, the response from Lumidee and Saucy Santana is similar to the general public who rejoiced at Nicki’s return to the limelight.
It was all fun & games when Nicki was called “Otis,” “Arms,” & “Super Freaky Grandma.” But Nicki get on the track being direct, calling bitches horses, roaches, & botched, now y’all mad? This is rap. Rap is supposed to be competitive. We not holding hands & braiding hair bitch.
The Queen is back with her first track of 2023. Nicki Minaj just dropped “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” Friday (March 3), marking her first single since “Super Freaky Girls.” Her 2022 release earned the Trinidadian rapper her first Hot 100 No. 1 as a solo artist. “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” which effortlessly pulls in a sample from “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” by Lumidee, continues to prove the 40-year-old’s reign as a dominating lyricist.
Just a week ago, Minaj touched down in her home country in celebration of the 2023 Trinidad and Tobago Carnival (if you haven’t seen her epic costume this year, be sure to check it out). The trip marked the rapper’s first return since her 2020 performance at the Carnival, and she wasn’t shy of showing her IG followers what a great time she was having.
Minaj Drops A New Track And Revives “Queen Radio” All In One Day
While partying it up with the festivities, she previewed “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” on her Instagram. The impromptu announcement of the song took place while Minaj was repping iconic two-toned pink buns, and showed her at a party rapping to the lyrics. “Only on them C’s if it’s breeze / Red Ruby Da Sleeze, Chinese on my sleeve / These wannabe Chun-Li’s, anyway (Nǐ Hǎo),” she raps. Defending her throne, she adds in “who the fuck told bitches they was me now? / I knew these bitches was slow, I ain’t know these bitches senile.”
Minaj also dropped incredible news for Barbz last month, announcing the return of her Apple Music show, Queen Radio. While posing in a gorgeous pinstripe bikini (likely from her trip to the Caribbean), she took to Instagram to disclose that the release date of the revival would also be Friday (March 3). Gracing listeners with both a fire new track and the continuation of Queen Radio, Minaj has shown that she’s not done adding to her legacy yet. Be sure to check out HNHH for more news on hip-hop and pop culture.
Quotable Lyrics:
Bad gyal don’t die-die-die Hundred rounds on that, grrah-ta-ta Real one lick a shot-ta-ta She my lil’ vibe, my lil’ ah-ah-ah Bad gyal don’t run from nobody, like ah Rude boy want me touchin’ on his body, like ya Boy affi dead if he ever diss me You know what to do if he ever miss me
Is NM5 finally upon us? Tonight, Nicki Minaj finally shared the much-anticipated solo follow-up to her No. 1 smash hit, “Super Freaky Girl.” On her new single, Minaj introduces a new alter ego named “Ruby Red Da Sleeze,” for whom the single is named after.
On her new song, Minaj delivers her crafty bars over the Diwali riddim, as well as a sample of Lumidee’s 2003 hit, “Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh!)”
Over the course of nearly two decades since Minaj first stepped on the scene, the rap game has evolved, but no matter the how much things change, or how long she’s been gone, Minaj reminds everyone that she always comes out on top.
“Only on them Cs if it’s breeze / Red Ruby Da Sleeze / Chinese on my sleeves / These wannabe Chun Lis / Anyway, ni hao / Who the f*ck told b*tches they was me know,” she raps.
With a new single, the Barbz are restless with anticipation, as it appears Minaj is getting closer to dropping her fifth studio album. She’s kept details about the album rather mum, however, in an interview with i-D last year conducted by JT of City Girls, Minaj revealed that it is on the way.
“I’m not gonna say when it’s gonna come out,” Minaj said, “but the album will be out soon.”
In the meantime, you can listen to “Ruby Red Da Sleeze” above.
The Billboard Women in Music Awards took an interesting turn after Doechii and Latto received their awards. Fans believe Latto’s speech was shady towards Doechii after it sounded similar to the one the Florida artist gave earlier. The Billboard Women in Music Awards, which was held at the Los Angeles YouTube Theater on March 1, […]
For Women’s History Month, SOHH is highlighting five female artists that should make a comeback to music after taking hiatuses. Those female artists include Amerie, Shontelle, Tweet, Shawnna, and Lumidee. SOHH, here are the five female musicians that should return to hip-hop/R&B: Amerie This R&B singer came onto the scene by singing the chorus for […]
Nicki Minaj is revving up for the release of her new single this Friday. The singer announced the single, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” during her appearance in Trinidad during Carnival. It marks the first solo single from the Queens rapper following her first chart-topping hit, “Super Freaky Girl.” More importantly, it appears to be the official launch of the rollout for her follow-up to Queen. It’s been nearly five years since her last album and fans have had an insatiable appetite for more music from Nicki.
Following the release of the new single, she’ll return to the airwaves for Queen Radio. It seems as though her upcoming broadcast could provide more details on not just the song, but her upcoming album. Hopefully, she’ll reveal a title or at least a timeframe of when we could expect the project to land on DSPs. At the same time, we could certainly expect Nicki to air out some of her grievances. Only time will tell but fans are counting down the clock until midnight until Nicki unloads her upcoming single.
With the new single expected to drop in less than 12 hours, Nicki Minaj has fans across the world anticipating her return. Nicki’s status as the Queen of Hip-Hop has undoubtedly been tested over the years as several individuals alleged that she uses a ghostwriter. Since Nicki’s emerged, she’s taken pride in the fact that she pens her own bars, and as we’ve seen in the past, the use of a ghostwriter can take a toll on an artist’s overall reputation.
As she hyped the release of her new single, she unveiled a Chun-Li-inspired photoshoot before putting ghostwriters on notice. “Tmrw night,” Nicki captioned the picture. “Ghostwriters all around the world are scrambling Just watch. Nicki still on hiatus. This b!@ch right her tho? She outside.” Nicki’s clearly readying to clear the room with her upcoming single but will it help her attain another #1 on the Billboard Hot 100? Only time will tell. Check out her post above and let us know what your thoughts are in the comment section.
Nicki Minaj has long-since cemented herself as one of the household names in hip-hop and rap. The female rapper and singer/songwriter has displayed an innate ability to create top-charting tracks in both the pop and rap lanes throughout her career. However, a deeper dive into her catalog proves that she’s more than a hit artist. Her vulnerable songwriting and diverse sonic directions have made for a truly impressive catalog.
The New York City-raised artist first made a name for herself from 2007 to 2009, releasing 3 mixtapes within that time period. Already displaying an innate ability to bounce between braggadocios verses and heartfelt vocal falsettos, her childhood influences ranged from Janet Jackson to Nas. Minaj would start the 2010s off with her debut full-length project in the form of “Pink Friday.” Featuring artists such as Drake, Eminem, Kanye West, and Rihanna, she spent no time becoming one of the hottest names in the music industry.
After her first release, Minaj would continue to expand her scope as an artist. With a limelight personality, she would go on to release hit tracks such as “Anaconda” and “Starships.” Additionally, she would put a microscope the pop scene by releasing “The Pinkprint” in 2014. Most recently, she released “Queen” in 2018. Amidst a strong run of features in 2020 and 2021, she’s been teasing a new album on social media. Still one of the biggest artists in the world, this list is all about the very best tracks from her diverse catalog (so far).
Let us know what your favorite Nicki Minaj songs are in the comments.
Champion
The seventh track from her sophomore project “Pink Friday… Roman Reloaded,” “Champion” is a triumphant song from start to finish. Booming drums and shimmering synths add to the celebratory mood of the song. Minaj reflects on her work ethic propelling her out of Queen, speaking directly to her family and friends who supported her rise to fame. Impressively, she outperforms the features from Drake and Nas. However, her ability to get two of the most relevant names in hip-hop on the same track was massively telling about Minaj’s pristine status in the music industry. In addition, she absolutely kills the hook on what is likely the best track off of this record.
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Recording artists Skylar Grey (L) and Nicki Minaj perform onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Bed of Lies
Nicki Minaj and Skylar Grey bounce off of each other on the uncanny and heartbreaking “Bed of Lies.” The track is a direct response to her sudden breakup with 11-year-long partner and fellow MC Safaree. Grey delivers what is the best feature on “The Pink Print,” with an ethereal hook. For the numerous bangers that Minaj is known for, “Bed of Lies” showcases her ability to let her songwriting be the driving force of an engaging track. Painting her ex exploitative and soulless, she states: “You can never make eye contact, everything you got was based off of my contact.”
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Grand Piano
Coming right after “Bed of Lies,” “Grand Piano” is essentially a narrative continuation of that track. Undoubtedly Minaj’s most powerful outro track, she is self-deprecating regarding her naivety in believing that her heart could never be broken. While “The Pink Print” is a record that endorses female power, “Grand Piano” is Minaj letting her audience know that for all of the boldness and power which she displays, the scars are still there. Driven by somber piano chords, it’s one of her most impressive vocal performances to date.
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Recording artist Nicki Minaj accepts award for Best Hip-Hop Video for ‘Anaconda’ onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. (Photo by Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images)
Anaconda
Hear me out. “Anaconda” is mildly cringe-worthy and unbearable to listen to. There’s no denying that. However, “Anaconda” is the track that solidified Minaj as a global icon both as a musician and as a personality. The music video was a hot topic of debate throughout, as old heads argued that it’s expression was overtly vulgar and sexual. Approaching 10 years since it’s release, the song highlighted a shift towards body positivity and sexuality through less of a filtered lens. Minaj stated: “I wanted to reinstate something. Because of the shift in pop culture, even hip-hop men are really glorifying the less curvy body. I wanted to say, ‘Hey ladies, you’re beautiful’”.
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Moment 4 Life
The hit song from Nicki Minaj’s debut album, “Moment 4 Life” resembles the cinematic sound of much of her earlier mixtapes. Similar to the previously mentioned “Champion”, Minaj and Drake are each marveling at their success in their lives. Through and through a nostalgic feel-good song, the duo are at the top of the mountain; “I can’t believe we really made it, I’m partly surprised.” Booming drums and soft piano chords seamlessly mix, as Minaj states “I wish that I could have this moment for life” on one of her catchiest hooks to date.
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Right By My Side
Nicki Minaj’s feature choices have been relatively hit or miss throughout her catalog. However, Minaj and Chris Brown flourish together on “Right By My Side.” Ironically, Brown doesn’t even write his verse for the track. One of the noteworthy tracks from the up-and-down “Pink Friday… Roman Reloaded” record, it’s an uncompromising love song. Minaj states “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, what I need is you right by my side.” A heartwarming blend of high hats and drums, it’s a relatively simple song that showcases Minaj and Brown’s vocal talents.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 21: (L-R) Recording artists Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake attend the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/BBMA2017/Getty Images for dcp)
Seeing Green
It wasn’t possible to make this list without featuring “Seeing Green.” Initially released to streaming in 2021, the song was actually created in 2009 as a part of the featured mixtape, “Beam Me Up Scotty.” Sampling Heather Headley’s “In My Mind,” the production is absolutely killer. Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake are each at the top of their pen games, with bars such as: “I am the star in any room that I stand in / I am the stand-out, you just my stand in.”
Who is Coi Leray’s Dad? At this point, many people know that it’s culture figure Benzino. “Nepo Baby” is one of the latest Internet terms. It comes from the word “nepotism” which basically means giving family members opportunities over others. So a “Nepo Baby” is someone whose fame can be credited to a family member. Calling Coi Leray a “Nepo Baby” is overall inaccurate. Benzino is not exactly a household name for this generation. But, connections, especially in the music industry, still matter.
Many know Benzino as a co-owner of The Source magazine. This magazine specialized in covering the rap world. There’s no telling how many names Benzino had in his Rolodex because of this. The Source has been active since 1998. They have seen many of the changes that have happened in the rap world. Coi Leray’s music is quite different from what they were covering in 2006. She was still able to secure a feature from one of the biggest figures in the rap world.
Coi Leray’s Relationship with her Dad is Complex
Coi Leray and Benzino do not have a perfect relationship. We can only go off of the things both of them have publicly stated. They have both said negative things about each other. Their relationship dynamics connect to the music but also goes beyond it. We have learned about their dynamic through social media and interviews. Each of them has regularly spoken about the other. Some would say Coi Leray speaking on him is what brought this generation’s attention to him. “That’s why I never mentioned his name coming into this industry cause he can’t get over his past and don’t even realize how much he damaging when he does this stuff.” tweeted Coi.
Around when Coi Leray dropped her debut album Trendsetter, Benzino had something to say. But, it wasn’t positive. “You worried about being called broke on the day of my debut album. You ain’t even text me congratulations, you so bitter and evil. Ima pray for you.” tweeted Coi. This was in reference to the fact Benzino apparently lost The Source when Coi was around nine years old. She stated her family was “broke” once this happened. Benzino had a different perspective.
Benzino Almost Ruined One of Coi Leray’s Biggest Songs to Date
Whenever an up-and-coming artist gets a feature from a seasoned one, it’s a big deal. It can connect generations. It can bring new ears to both parties involved. Coi Leray secured a Nicki Minaj feature for their song “Blick Blick”. Benzino almost ruined this. Benzino spoke about Nicki Minaj’s feature before Nicki herself and Coi did. “She got this song with Nicki Minaj that’s gonna be coming out that’s gonna be crazy.” he said in a room on the app Clubhouse.
Initially, Nicki denied she had a verse. Then, later, it was revealed she wanted to pull the verse from the song. “I just felt bad that she was robbed of telling the world in her own way @ her own time. But that’s water under the bridge now. Good vibes all 2022” said Nicki during a Q&A on Twitter. This is perhaps the biggest example of Benzino impacting Coi Leray’s music. He shared information that she did not want to be revealed yet. Fortunately, he did genuinely apologize for his mistake.
Coi Leray and her Dad Benzino have multiple layers to their relationship. While it is not perfect they are still family. Coi knows his behavior not only affects her but others too. This is mainly other people in the music industry. Coi knows he can be difficult and wants people to understand that. In an interview with Vladtv from August 2020 she said “He’s crazy but he’s smart…he’s a business man…everybody’s not perfect.”
Being aware of how someone’s behavior affects others is a part of being in a relationship with them. Sometimes, a person’s behavior in the public eye is people’s only frame of reference for it. We don’t know what happens behind closed doors. “My dad is a great man,” “And I love him regardless of our differences, he’s still my father and I gotta respect him, right?” she said in an interview with The Breakfast Club. The public has mostly seen negative interactions between them but, of course, these are not the only interactions they have.
Coi Leray seen wearing a blue shirt with a dolphin print, grey shades, a grey mini pleated skirt, white socks and white sneakers before the JW Anderson show during London Fashion Week. (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)
Coi Leray and Benzino Appear to Have Mended their Relationship
Coi Leray and Benzino are working on their relationship. Since 2022, we have not heard anything about it. This could mean things are being handled away from social media. For the time being, her Dad’s name is not in headlines with hers. Ironically, they were able to work on their relationship because of the situation with the Nicki Minaj feature.
Coi shared that Nicki’s advice helped her strengthen her perspective. “…You have to respect your father…‘Regardless of what you’re going through bro, that’s your dad.” Nicki told Coi. It appears she fully understood this and took it to heart. Growth is important and can truly be beneficial for multiple reasons. Moving forward, people hope Coi and Benzino continue to work on and have a healthy relationship.
Let’s fck GOOO pic.twitter.com/C3KyX2UMDn
(@AyoChunleon) March 3, 2023
#RedRubyDaSleeze pic.twitter.com/86o3noMjSk
𝓛𝓐𝓜𝓞𝓤𝓝 𝓜
(@Prince_virgo914) March 3, 2023
