"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 [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] According to music critics and fans, Minaj took 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"),[8][9][10] before alluding to Megan's promotional song "Flamin' Hottie" for a Hot Cheetos and DoritosSuper Bowl commercial ("Dorito bitches mad that they not chose").[8][9] She also referenced the 2020 shooting of Megan, 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").[8][10] 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").[10]
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."[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 Nicki 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]
