Red Ruby da Sleeze explained

Red Ruby da Sleeze
Cover:Nicki Minaj - Red Ruby da Sleeze.png
Type:single
Artist:Nicki Minaj
Album:Pink Friday 2
Recorded:2022
Genre:
Length:3:35
Label:
Producer:
  • Go Grizzly
  • Cheeze Beatz
  • Kobang
Prev Title:Princess Diana
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Alone
Next Year:2023

"Red Ruby da Sleeze" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj from her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2 (2023). Initially released on March 3, 2023 as a promotional single, it was officially released on March 14, 2023 to US rhythmic contemporary radio through Young Money and Republic Records, serving as the album's second single. It contains a sample of "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (2003) by Lumidee and was produced by Go Grizzly, Cheeze Beatz and Tate Kobang. The song debuted in the top 20 in the United States.

Background and composition

Nicki Minaj first previewed the track on February 23, 2023 on Instagram, also announcing in a post that it would be released on March 3, 2023.[1] She teased the song with a video of her rapping to it at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.[2] Minaj referred to the track as a "street record b4 my next official single."[3]

Over a beat of "near-Flamenco handclaps" and trap drums,[4] the song finds Nicki Minaj rapping and singing.[5] The chorus functions as a percussive breakdown, featuring faint vocals of "Uh oooooh's" from the sample in the background.[6]

Minaj performs in her new titular alter-ego. According to music critics and fans, Minaj takes shots at Megan Thee Stallion, beginning with a reference to the incident in which actor Christopher Reeve became paralyzed from falling off of a horse ("700 on 'em horses when we fixin' to leave / But I don't fuck with horses since Christopher Reeves"),[7] [8] [9] [10] before alluding to Megan's promotional song "Flamin' Hottie" for a Hot Cheetos and Doritos Super Bowl commercial ("Dorito bitches mad that they not chose") as well as her shooting in 2020, specifically when her attacker, Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, allegedly yelled "Dance bitch, dance!" while shooting Megan ("Ya fuckin' bozo / That .40 cal a make 'em dance like a go-go"). In addition to Megan Thee Stallion, Minaj also references fashion designer Donna Karan and disses rapper Latto in a reference to when she called Latto a "Karen" during their argument on Twitter in October 2022 ("We don't be Karen like Donna-na, na-na-na-na").

Reception

The track received critical acclaim upon release, with many referencing the lyrics, punch lines, and production. Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote, "I don't know what Megan Thee Stallion did to piss off Nicki Minaj, or why Nicki can't seem to tolerate the presence of other visible female rappers. But Nicki can really rap, and she can really, really rap when she's mad about something. She goes off on this thing, moving in and out of patois, and the beat — from producers Go Grizzly, Cheeze Beatz, and Tate Kobang — is hard and pop at the same time." Jon Pareles of The New York Times commented "Calm arrogance is Nicki Minaj's gift. There's no need to decipher all her allusions because her delivery and production say it all." and "Her percussive rhymes are competitive in every realm — linguistic, sexual, financial, culinary ('guacamole with the taco') — and their utter confidence is still convincing." In a year-end ranking, the track was ranked at No. 24 out of Harpsichords Zine's 2023's 33 Best Songs, referring to Red Ruby as "one of [Nicki Minaj's] more cruel alter egos," and continuing "who is in fact sleazier than Chun-Li, but also more crafty about her witty attacks than the rambunctious Roman."[11]

Music video

An official music video was teased on March 15, 2023,[12] and released on May 13. Directed by Grizz[13] and filmed in Trinidad and Tobago and California,[14] it sees Nicki Minaj on the deck and in the backyard of her Hidden Hills mansion.[15] She is shown in different outfits, such as a black monokini, a red Dior bikini (wearing it by a pool) and a red kimono which she wears over a swimsuit and later takes off, as well as various clothing of high fashion brands.[16] Reality star Brooke Bailey appears alongside Minaj in multiple scenes, such as sitting under a cabana, walking down the city streets and shopping for fashion, and posing in front of a white Range Rover, while also wearing luxury clothing. Additionally, Minaj is seen going on joyrides at night with Jamaican dancehall artist Skeng,[17] and in a pink Rolls Royce with red interior. Her link-up with Bailey and outfits in the clip were teased in Instagram posts prior to the release of the video.[18]

Track listings

  1. "Red Ruby da Sleeze" – 3:34
  1. "Red Ruby da Sleeze" (acapella) – 3:34
  1. "Red Ruby da Sleeze" (sped up) – 2:59
  2. "Red Ruby da Sleeze" – 3:34

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 5
South Africa (Billboard)[23] 18

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 49
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[25] 25

Release history

Country!scope="col"
DateFormatVersionLabels
VariousMarch 3, 2023Original
March 7, 2023Digital downloadAcapella
United StatesMarch 14, 2023Rhythmic contemporary radioOriginal[26]
VariousMarch 30, 2023Sped up

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mendez . Marisa . Nicki Minaj Previews New Song That Samples 2000s Hit . . 3 April 2023 . February 24, 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406011715/https://hiphopdx.com/news/nicki-minaj-previews-new-single . live .
  2. Web site: Singhvi . Diya . Nicki Minaj Delivers Heat In "Red Ruby Da Sleeze": Stream . . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 3 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403042930/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/640120-nicki-minaj-delivers-heat-in-red-ruby-da-sleeze-stream . live .
  3. NickiMinaj. 1633496597903572999. Never said this. Super Freaky Girl stats… not on my album??? RRDS?!?!! I said it's my street record b4 my next official single. Never said not on my album. SFG ONLY FEMALE RAP SONG TO DEBUT #1. Broke about 10 records. Not on my album? #ComeOnSon stupid. March 8, 2023.
  4. News: Pareles . Jon . Nicki Minaj Returns Ready to Rumble, and 8 More New Songs . 3 April 2023 . . March 3, 2023 . https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/arts/music/playlist-nicki-minaj-kali-uchis-summer-walker.html . March 3, 2023.
  5. Blistein . Jon . You Can't Walk in Her Crocs: Nicki Minaj Drops First Song of 2023 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' . . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 10 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310154608/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nicki-minaj-new-song-red-ruby-da-sleeze-1234690245/ . live .
  6. Lipshutz . Jason . First Stream: New Music From Nicki Minaj, Morgan Wallen, J-Hope & J. Cole and More . . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 3 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403041434/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/new-music-releases-nicki-minaj-morgan-wallen-j-hope-amp-j-cole-and-more-1235279184/ . live .
  7. Web site: Guy . Zoe . Nicki Minaj Debuts a New Alter Ego, 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' . Vulture . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 24 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324184210/https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/nicki-minaj-red-ruby-da-sleeze-queen-radio.html . live .
  8. Web site: Brasil . Sydney . Nicki Minaj Seemingly Disses Megan Thee Stallion on New Single "Red Ruby Da Sleaze" . . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307134709/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/nicki_minaj_seems_to_be_dissing_megan_thee_stallion_on_her_latest_track . live .
  9. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Nicki Minaj Goes After Megan Thee Stallion On Her New Single "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" . . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 3 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403041427/https://www.stereogum.com/2215719/nicki-minaj-goes-after-megan-thee-stallion-on-her-new-single-red-ruby-da-sleeze/ . live .
  10. Web site: Coleman II . C. Vernon . Fans Think Nicki Minaj Disses Megan Thee Stallion and Latto on New Song 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' . . 3 April 2023 . March 3, 2023 . 3 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403041444/https://www.xxlmag.com/nicki-minaj-disses-megan-thee-stallion-latto-red-ruby-da-sleeze/ . live .
  11. Web site: Harpsicord's Top 33 Songs of 2023 [33-23] ]. 2024-01-05 . Harpsichord . en-US.
  12. Web site: Chelosky . Danielle . Nicki Minaj Shows Some Skin In Her Spicy Teaser Trailer For The 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Music Video . . 3 August 2023 . March 16, 2023.
  13. Web site: Corrine . Amber . Nicki Minaj Drops "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" Video Starring Brooke Bailey . . 3 August 2023 . May 15, 2023.
  14. Peters . Michelle . Nicki Minaj Goes Back to Trinidad in Island-Themed 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Video: Watch . Billboard . 3 August 2023 . May 14, 2023.
  15. Web site: Ellington . Andre . Nicki Minaj Serves Up An Eyeful In 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Video . . 3 August 2023 . May 14, 2023.
  16. Web site: Li . Joyce . Nicki Minaj Shows off Her Bodacious Curves in New "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" Music Video . . 3 August 2023 . May 15, 2023.
  17. Legaspi . Althea . Nicki Minaj Drops Early Mother's Day Gift With 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Video . Rolling Stone . 3 August 2023 . May 13, 2023.
  18. Web site: Nevares . Gabriel Bras . Nicki Minaj Flexes Her Curves & Much More In "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" Music Video . HotNewHipHop . 3 August 2023 . May 14, 2023.
  19. Web site: March 3, 2023 . Red Ruby Da Sleeze . March 3, 2023 . Spotify.
  20. Web site: Red Ruby da Sleeze (Acapella) Digital Single. Nicki Minaj. December 14, 2023. December 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231214182908/https://shop.nickiminajofficial.com/collections/digital-download-music/products/red-ruby-da-sleeze-acapella-digital-single. dead.
  21. Web site: March 30, 2023 . Red Ruby Da Sleeze (Sped Up) . March 30, 2023 . Spotify.
  22. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. March 13, 2023. April 3, 2023. March 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230318014130/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5521. live.
  23. South Africa Songs: Week Of March 18, 2023. Billboard. April 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230414075048/https://www.billboard.com/charts/south-africa-songs-hotw/2023-03-16/. April 14, 2023. live.
  24. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 23, 2023.
  25. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 23, 2023.
  26. Web site: A Recap of Radio Add Recaps. Hits. March 14, 2023. January 10, 2024. January 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240110164405/https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=335107. live.

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