Red Ruby da Sleeze

"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 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 [sic] 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 of Lumidee's "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" in the background.^[6]

Minaj performs in her new titular alter-ego, Red Ruby or Red Ruby Da Sleeze.^[7] Media speculated that Minaj dissed Megan Thee Stallion with the lyric "700 on 'em horses when we fixin' to leave / But I don't fuck with horses since Christopher Reeves", which references actor Christopher Reeve's falling off a horse accident that left him paralyzed.^[8][9][10] It was also speculated that the lyrics "Dorito bitches mad that they not chose" and "Ya fuckin' bozo / That .40 cal a make 'em dance like a go-go" addressed Megan, the former alluding to Megan's promotional song "Flamin' Hottie" for a Hot Cheetos and Doritos Super Bowl commercial, and the latter alluding to the claim that rapper Tory Lanez allegedly yelled "Dance bitch, dance!" when shooting at Megan.^[8][9][10] Minaj also references fashion designer Donna Karan with the lyric "We don't be Karen like Donna-na, na-na-na-na".^[10]

Reception

Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote, "[Minaj] 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 is hard and pop at the same time."^[9] 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."^[4]

Music video

An official music video was teased on March 15, 2023,^[11] and released on May 13. Directed by Grizz^[12] and filmed in Trinidad and Tobago and California,^[13] it sees Minaj on the deck and in the backyard of her Hidden Hills mansion.^[12][13][14] She is shown in different outfits, such as a black monokini, a red Dior bikini, and a red kimono^[12] which she wears over a swimsuit and later takes off,^[13] as well as various clothing of high fashion brands.^[12][15] Reality star Brooke Bailey from Basketball Wives appears alongside Minaj in multiple scenes, such as sitting under a cabana, walking down the city streets and shopping for fashion,^[12][13] and posing in front of a white Range Rover, while also wearing luxury clothing.^[12] Additionally, Minaj is seen going on joyrides at night with Jamaican dancehall artist Skeng,^[16] and in a pink Rolls-Royce with red interior.^[14] Her collaboration with Bailey and outfits in the clip were teased in Instagram posts prior to the release of the video.^[17]

Track listings

• Streaming/digital download^[18]

1. "Red Ruby da Sleeze" – 3:34

• Digital download – acapella^[19]

1. "Red Ruby da Sleeze" (acapella) – 3:34

• Streaming/digital download – sped up^[20]

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

1. ^ Mendez, Marisa (February 24, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Previews New Song That Samples 2000s Hit". HipHopDX. Archived 6 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
2. ^ Singhvi, Diya (March 3, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Delivers Heat In "Red Ruby Da Sleeze": Stream". HotNewHipHop. Archived 3 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
3. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (2023-09-30). "Everything We Know About Nicki Minaj's Upcoming Album, 'Pink Friday 2'". Uproxx. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
4. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 3, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Returns Ready to Rumble, and 8 More New Songs". The New York Times. Archived March 3, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
5. ^ Blistein, Jon (March 3, 2023). "You Can't Walk in Her Crocs: Nicki Minaj Drops First Song of 2023 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze'". Rolling Stone. Archived 10 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
6. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (March 3, 2023). "First Stream: New Music From Nicki Minaj, Morgan Wallen, J-Hope & J. Cole and More". Billboard. Archived 3 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
7. ^ Guy, Zoe (March 3, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Debuts a New Alter Ego, 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze'". Vulture. Archived 24 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
8. ^ Brasil, Sydney (March 3, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Seemingly Disses Megan Thee Stallion on New Single "Red Ruby Da Sleaze"". Exclaim!. Archived 7 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
9. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 3, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Goes After Megan Thee Stallion On Her New Single "Red Ruby Da Sleeze"". Stereogum. Archived 3 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
10. ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (March 3, 2023). "Fans Think Nicki Minaj Disses Megan Thee Stallion and Latto on New Song 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze'". XXL. Archived 3 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
11. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (March 16, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Shows Some Skin In Her Spicy Teaser Trailer For The 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Music Video". Uproxx. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
12. ^ Corrine, Amber (May 15, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Drops "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" Video Starring Brooke Bailey". Vibe. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
13. ^ Peters, Michelle (May 14, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Goes Back to Trinidad in Island-Themed 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
14. ^ Ellington, Andre (May 14, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Serves Up An Eyeful In 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
15. ^ Li, Joyce (May 15, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Shows off Her Bodacious Curves in New "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" Music Video". Hypebeast. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
16. ^ Legaspi, Althea (May 13, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Drops Early Mother's Day Gift With 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
17. ^ Nevares, Gabriel Bras (May 14, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Flexes Her Curves & Much More In "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" Music Video". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
18. ^ "Red Ruby Da Sleeze". Spotify. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
19. ^ "Red Ruby da Sleeze (Acapella) Digital Single". Nicki Minaj. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
20. ^ "Red Ruby Da Sleeze (Sped Up)". Spotify. March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
21. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 13, 2023. Archived March 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
22. ^ "South Africa Songs: Week Of March 18, 2023". Billboard. Archived April 14, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
23. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
24. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
25. ^ "A Recap of Radio Add Recaps". Hits. March 14, 2023. Archived January 10, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2024.