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 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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Nicki Minaj | ||||
| from the album Pink Friday 2 | ||||
| Released | January 10, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2023 | |||
| Genre | Trap | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | ATL Jacob | |||
| Nicki Minaj singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio video | ||||
| "FTCU" on YouTube | ||||
Background and composition
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
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
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
- Streaming/digital download[10]
- "FTCU" (explicit) – 2:52
- "FTCU" (clean) – 2:52
- "FTCU" (STPU edition) – 2:32
- "FTCU" (STPU edition; clean radio version) – 2:32
- "FTCU" (instrumental) – 2:32
- Streaming/digital download – Sleezemix[11]
- "FTCU" (Sleezemix; featuring Travis Scott, Chris Brown, and Sexyy Red) – 3:59
- "FTCU" – 2:52
Charts
| 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] | 1 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[24] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| 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 |
|
Sleezemix | [11] | |
References
- Diep, Eric (December 12, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Caps Off Her Comeback Year With Style & Swag On 'Pink Friday 2'". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Walker, Joe (December 8, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Seemingly Disses Megan Thee Stallion & Latto On 'Pink Friday 2'". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Murray, Robin (December 8, 2023). "Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 | Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Malone, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Reigns on 'Pink Friday 2'". PopMatters. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Thomas, Fred (December 18, 2023). "Pink Friday 2 Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Denis, Kyle (2023-12-21). "Watch Nicki Minaj & Stephen Colbert Have a Hilarious Rap Battle on 'The Late Show'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- "FTCU". Spotify. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- "FTCU (SLEEZEMIX)". Spotify. April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 8 January 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1766. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 8, 2024. p. 3.
- "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- "American single certifications – Nicki Minaj – FTCU". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- "Your Radio Add Recaps". Hits. January 23, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.