Released: 2023
Nicki Minaj’s “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” works with a flavour of braggadocio and the rise of a self-constructed queen, employing a heavy mix of lyrical imagery to paint her ascension, defiance, and power. This track showcases Minaj’s inimitable style and celebrates individuality while critiquing those who try to emulate her style. It’s a raw, bold, and confrontational piece, leaving no room for doubt about who the queen in the game is.
The first verse sets the tone for Minaj’s strident assertion of reign with lines like “Only on them C’s if it’s breeze. Red Ruby Da Sleeze, Chinese on my sleeve.” Here, she sets fire to peacocking imitators, brushing off any assertions of their similarity to her. The line “Who the fuck told bitches they was me now? I knew these bitches was slow, I ain’t know these bitches senile” is a hard-hitting critique of anyone in the rap game trying to jack her swag.
Nicki goes deeper into the game, flossing her wealth with lines like “700 on the horses, when we fixin’ to leave.” She’s slyly referencing her robust car collection, specifically ones with that much horsepower. The ominous line “Married a shooter ‘case you niggas tried to breathe loud” invoking her readiness for battle, hinting at her ties with people ready to use force if the situation warrants.
In the hook, the phrase “Bad gyal don’t die, die, die” is a nod to her tenacity, emphasizing that she isn’t going anywhere, regardless of the challenges. When she sings “Rude boy want me touchin’ on his body, like, yeah. Boy affi dead if he ever diss me,” she’s drawing on her Caribbean roots, using patois-esque lyrics to demand respect and lay down the law that disrespect will not be tolerated.
In the subsequent verses, Minaj deftly uses her brand of lyrical homicide to take down competitors. She references the high-end watch brand Movado – “Shout out to hoes that’s watching me like Movados” – an ingenious twist, illustrating her status as the one to watch in the game. The line “All them, all them botched face photos, why would you post those?” might hint at the contemporary obsession with cosmetic self-enhancement, particularly in the world of fame.
The cleverly bouncy line, “Man, these bitches so slow, man, they slower than sloths,” and the boastful declaration “600 horse, how you gon’ catch the boss?” signifies her belief in her speed and agility, both mentally and in terms of her success. Ending with the stark, ice-cold line “Oh you don know that my niggas kill witnesses?” makes certain that her reign is uncontested, and that she’s in control.
In all, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” captures Minaj’s flamboyant style, bold assertions, and clever lyrical displays, asserting her reign in the hip-hop game. Even as she flexes her power and wealth, she serves up fierce reminders that nobody is close to touching her throne, making sure to blend in elements of her Caribbean roots for a spicy kick.
