Nicki Minaj has once again proven her prowess in the music industry with the release of her latest single, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze.” This new song, the second single for her upcoming studio album NM5, debuted at number one on the Hot Rap Songs chart, giving Minaj back-to-back number ones on this chart.
Prior to the release of “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” the artist teased fans with promotional snippets on her social media platforms, a strategy similar to what she did with her hit single “Super Freaky Girl.” The song features elements of Lumidee’s 2003 hit “Never Leave You (Uh Oh)” and is another sample-buoyed banger that has caught the attention of many music lovers.
The success of “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” can be attributed to its impressive sales, with about 41,000 copies sold in the first week, making it the hip-hop song with the most sales this year. The only song that has sold more is Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” which has sold an impressive 70,000 copies.
“Super Freaky Girl,” released last August and samples late funk rocker Rick James’s 1981 hit song “Super Freak,” became Minaj’s third U.S. number one and her first unaccompanied number one. It topped the Hot Rap Songs chart for 11 weeks in 2022 and became one of the year’s biggest songs. It also made music history by becoming the first solo female rapper with a number-one Hot 100 debut since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1997.
In addition to “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” Minaj also released an extended version called the “Roman Remix,” which features the return of her alter ego Roman Zolanski. Roman Zolanski, described as her “twin brother” and “a demon inside her,” is a character Minaj created to escape traumatic situations from her childhood, such as the frequent fighting between her parents.
Minaj’s success in the music industry is a testament to her talent, creativity, and ability to connect with her fans through her music. Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of NM5 and are excited to see what other surprises the artist has in store for them.