No Frauds

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"No Frauds" is a diss track aimed at Remy Ma. The song's title and chorus are a response to a lyric from Ma's second diss track against Minaj, "Another One", where she raps, "I swear to God, this chick a real fraud." [15] In the song, Minaj criticizes Ma for her time in jail and her record sales, while also accusing Ma of getting plastic surgery and not being able to get clearance from Jay-Z to include the remix of "All the Way Up" on Plata O Plomo. [10] [16] She also makes mention of her own relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres, rapping, "I am the generous queen, ask Ms. Ellen." [17] She goes on to criticize "Another One" while suggesting that Ma uses a ghostwriter, rapping, "Tried to drop 'Another One', you was itchin' to scrap / You exposed your ghostwriter, now you wish it was scrapped." [15] The song has a "tense" and "sneaky" beat. [18] Social media users compared the song's production to that of Drake's song "Summer Sixteen", also produced by Cubeatz. [19]

Promotion and reception

For Billboard, Sowmya Krishnamurthy wrote that "No Frauds" "completely misses the point of 'Shether'", adding, "The biggest impediment against 'No Frauds' lyrics notwithstanding was timing." Krishnamurthy also considered Drake and Wayne's appearance on the song "misaligned", writing that Minaj was "more than equipped at a solo response". [14] Tom Breihan of Stereogum remarked that the only artist on "No Frauds" who "still sounds as good as ever" is Nicki, calling her verse "a great rap diss verse" and "vicious and righteous and petty and regal", but went on to write, "Remy still won, and I don't think Nicki will ever be able to do anything to change that." [18] Writing for DJBooth, Brian "Z" Zisook called "Shether" "more cutting" and "more impressive" than "No Frauds", adding that Minaj "will be declared the winner by the public internet...as its ['No Frauds'] star power will basically guarantee more play than the quality of the song should merit". Zisook also criticized the appearance of Drake and Lil Wayne on the song, writing that "neither of them addressed the situation" and "the first lesson in Diss Records 101 says you don't bring backup to a rap battle". [20]

"No Frauds" sold 78,861 copies during the first week of its release, debuting and peaking at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 during the week dated April 1, 2017. The song fell 70 spots to number 84 in its second week. [21] Minaj performed "No Frauds" at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and the 2017 NBA Awards. [22] [23] She also performed the song at the Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash concert, where Ma was also performing. [24]

Music video

Rah Ali, an American television personality and Remy Ma's co-star on the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, is mentioned by Minaj in "No Frauds" and makes an appearance in the song's music video. RahAli.jpg
Rah Ali, an American television personality and Remy Ma's co-star on the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York , is mentioned by Minaj in "No Frauds" and makes an appearance in the song's music video.

The music video for "No Frauds" was released on April 19, 2017, a month after the song's release, and directed by Benny Boom. The video was filmed in various locations throughout London, including in front of Big Ben and in a club, and features Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne posing in those locations. In the video, Minaj wears clothing from Alexander McQueen and Agent Provocateur, [25] Demode, and Osmose. [26] Ma's Love & Hip Hop: New York co-star and former friend, Rah Ali, also makes a cameo in the video. [27] The video was described as "flashy" and "luxurious" by Nolan Feeney of Entertainment Weekly . [28]

Reception

Out 's Justin Moran called the "No Frauds" video "surprisingly snoozy", writing, "Boom's treatment seems to rely heavily on Young Money's involvement, as Minaj ultimately gets outshined by the fire looks she wears throughout. Truthfully, her 'No Frauds' video should be credited as, 'Looks, featuring Nicki Minaj'." [29] In 2019, Kelsey Klemme of E! listed "No Frauds" as one of Minaj's best music videos. [30]

The music video received some backlash and criticism from fans and the media in the United Kingdom for featuring footage of Minaj on the Westminster Bridge, which had been the site of a terror attack weeks earlier. Previously, it was noted that clips of the bridge in the video would be cut. "When everybody involved in the project heard the news they were devastated and thought it would be in bad taste to feature it. The other London scenes will remain, but it's highly doubtful the bridge footage will make the cut", said an unnamed source from Minaj's camp via The Sun . Despite the statement, the scenes still ended up in the final cut of the video. [31] [32]

Personnel

Adapted from TIDAL. [33]

Production

Technical

  • 40 – engineering
  • Jeff Edwards – engineering
  • Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine – engineering
  • Nicki Valentin – assistant engineer
  • Yann Bordejo – assistant engineer
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • Dave Nakaji – assistant mixer
  • Iván Jiménez – assistant mixer

Charts

"No Frauds"
No Frauds cover.jpg
Single by Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne
ReleasedMarch 10, 2017 (2017-03-10)
Recorded2017
Genre Hip hop
Length4:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Changed It"
(2017)
"No Frauds"
(2017)
"Regret in Your Tears"
(2017)

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [54] Platinum70,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [55] Gold30,000
Canada (Music Canada) [56] Gold40,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [57] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousMarch 10, 2017 Digital download

[58]

United StatesMarch 14, 2017 Rhythmic contemporary [59]

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