FTCU (song)

Last updated
"FTCU"
Nicki Minaj - FTCU.jpg
Single by Nicki Minaj
from the album Pink Friday 2
ReleasedJanuary 10, 2024
Recorded2023
Genre Trap
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

"FTCU" is a song by rapperNicki 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.

Contents

Background and composition

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

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

  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
  1. "FTCU" (Sleezemix; featuring Travis Scott, Chris Brown, and Sexyy Red) – 3:59
  2. "FTCU" – 2:52

Charts

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] 1

Accolades

Awards and nominations for FTCU
OrganizationYearCategoryResultRef.
BET Hip Hop Awards 2024 Song of the YearNominated [24]

Certifications

Certifications for "FTCU"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [25] Platinum1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "FTCU"
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
VariousJanuary 10, 2024Original [10]
United StatesJanuary 30, 2024 Rhythmic contemporary radio [26]
VariousApril 19, 2024
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Sleezemix [11]

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