Wikipedia

FTCU (song)

"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 and final single on January 30, 2024, through Young Money 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, 2024.

"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 10, 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

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The song samples lyrics from Waka Flocka Flame's "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

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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

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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

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  • 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

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Accolades

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Awards and nominations for FTCU
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
BET Hip Hop Awards 2024 Song of the Year Nominated [27]

Certifications

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Certifications for "FTCU"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Gold 15,000‡
United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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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 [30]
Various April 19, 2024
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Sleezemix [11]

References

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  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. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  26. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  27. ^ "2024 BET Hip Hop Awards: Nominees". BET.
  28. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Nicki Minaj – FTCU". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  29. ^ "American single certifications – Nicki Minaj – FTCU". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "Your Radio Add Recaps". Hits. January 23, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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