"FTCU" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj from her fifth studio album Pink Friday 2 (2023). The song impacted rhythmic radio as the album's fifth single on January 30, 2024, through Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records. Produced by ATL Jacob, it contains a sample of "Fuck the Club Up" by Waka Flocka Flame featuring Pastor Troy and Slim Dunkin. A remix entitled the "Sleezemix" featuring Travis Scott, Chris Brown and Sexyy Red was released on April 19.

"FTCU"
Cover art of "FTCU": a woman's legs facing a purple-hued city skyline at night, with the song title depicted as a large neon sign on one of the buildings
Single by Nicki Minaj
from the album Pink Friday 2
ReleasedJanuary 30, 2024
Recorded2023
GenreTrap
Length
  • 2:52
  • 2:32 (STPU edition)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)ATL Jacob
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Everybody"
(2024)
"FTCU"
(2024)
"Big Foot"
(2024)
Audio video
"FTCU" on YouTube

Background and composition edit

The song samples lyrics from "Fuck the Club Up"[1] and contains trap production.[2] It finds Nicki Minaj asserting her dominance in the hip hop music industry.[3][4] In addition, she seemingly takes shots at fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the second verse with lyrics mentioning rappers Tory Lanez and Iggy Azalea: "Stay in your Tory lane, bitch, I'm not Iggy"; Lanez had shot Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. Azalea had written a letter in support of him to the court in the legal case of the shooting.[2][5]

Critical reception edit

Robin Murray of Clash called the song a "foul-mouthed club salute".[6] Nick Malone of PopMatters described the bass in the song's production as a "pimp smack to the jaw".[7] Fred Thomas of AllMusic regarded the song to be one of the "concise burners" from Pink Friday 2.[8] However, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd of Pitchfork commented "Minaj should be taking a victory lap—she is one of the most important rappers of this century—and yet she seems to feel like she has to keep reiterating her position and punching down, hitting a low point on the Waka Flocka-sampling 'FTCU' when she raps, 'Stay in your Tory lane, bitch, I'm not Iggy.'"[4]

Promotion edit

Minaj appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 20, 2023, and performed a freestyle over the beat of FTCU, "battling" Colbert.[9] A remix of the song entitled "Sleezemix" featuring rappers Travis Scott, Sexyy Red and singer Chris Brown was released on April 19, 2024.

Track listing edit

  • Streaming/digital download[10]
  1. "FTCU" (explicit) – 2:52
  2. "FTCU" (clean) – 2:52
  3. "FTCU" (STPU edition) – 2:32
  4. "FTCU" (STPU edition; clean radio version) – 2:32
  5. "FTCU" (instrumental) – 2:32
  • Streaming/digital download – Sleezemix[11]
  1. "FTCU" (Sleezemix; featuring Travis Scott, Chris Brown, and Sexyy Red) – 3:59
  2. "FTCU" – 2:52

Charts edit

Chart performance for "FTCU"
Chart (2023–2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 58
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[13] 10
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 23
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 31
Greece International (IFPI)[16] 41
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 44
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 40
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[20] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 15
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 6
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 3

Certifications edit

Certifications for "FTCU"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "FTCU"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various January 10, 2024 Original [10]
United States January 30, 2024 Rhythmic contemporary radio [25]
Various April 19, 2024
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Sleezemix [11]

References edit

  1. ^ Diep, Eric (December 12, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Caps Off Her Comeback Year With Style & Swag On 'Pink Friday 2'". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Walker, Joe (December 8, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Seemingly Disses Megan Thee Stallion & Latto On 'Pink Friday 2'". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Petridis, Alexis (December 8, 2023). "Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday 2 review – 'You're never far from a glowing endorsement of her own vagina'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Shepherd, Julianna Escobedo (December 11, 2023). "Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday 2 Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  5. ^ Cowen, Trace William (December 8, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Fans Are Convinced She's Dissing Latto and Megan Thee Stallion on 'Pink Friday' Sequel". Complex. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  6. ^ Murray, Robin (December 8, 2023). "Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 | Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Malone, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Reigns on 'Pink Friday 2'". PopMatters. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Thomas, Fred (December 18, 2023). "Pink Friday 2 Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Denis, Kyle (2023-12-21). "Watch Nicki Minaj & Stephen Colbert Have a Hilarious Rap Battle on 'The Late Show'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  10. ^ a b "FTCU". Spotify. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "FTCU (SLEEZEMIX)". Spotify. April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 8 January 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1766. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 8, 2024. p. 3.
  13. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  18. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – Nicki Minaj – FTCU". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  25. ^ "Your Radio Add Recaps". Hits. January 23, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.