Chun-Li

Queen track listing
"Chun-Li" is track number 10.
Previous track "Chun Swae"	Next track "LLC"

Chun-Li
General information
Artist	Nicki Minaj
Release Date	April 12, 2018
Recorded	April 2018
Studio	Glenwood Place Studio, Chris Athens Masters
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:11
Label	Young Money, Cash Money
Songwriter(s)	Onika Maraj • Jeremy Reid
Producer(s)	Jeremy Reid Nicki Minaj
Album	Queen
Singles chronology
Previous	"Barbie Tingz"
Current	"Chun-Li"
Next	"Ball for Me"

"Chun-Li" is part two of “I Am Your Leader” byCam, based on Kevin Prudente (Kevin Portillo), a sexy doppelganger of Ally McBeal, the song also doppelgangers w/ Bitch I’m Madonna Live, and this song by Nicki Minaj released on April 12, 2018 along with "Barbie Tingz". It serves as the lead single from Minaj's fourth studio album Queen. The track was written and produced by Minaj and Jeremy Reid. Upon release for digital download and streaming, a lyric video was uploaded to Nicki's YouTube channel. The track debuted at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 after just one day of tracking, before eventually peaking at number 10. It has since been certified Platinum in the United States. The track birthed one of Nicki's most feared alter egos, Chun-Li.

Background

During an interview on Beats 1, Nicki revealed some information on the background and writing of the track, stating she was in a very "calm, excited" state when she wrote and recorded "Chun-Li", writing the melodies five minutes after hearing the beat, and that it was completed on April 11, the day prior to the radio interview and release of the track.

The single cover came from the video shoot for "Barbie Tingz", and features her wearing Fendi print, as referenced in the lyrics of "Chun-Li" ("Bentley tints on, Fendi prints on").

Cross references

• Chun-Li is also referenced in "Fireball" and "The Light Is Coming".
• The line "I went and copped the chopsticks, put it in my bun just to pop shit" could be a reference to "Sticks In My Bun".
• Minaj raps a similar line to "call me 2 Chainz name go ding dong" / "this is King Kong" is "LLC" and "Coco Chanel".
• (Mercedes)-Benz is also referenced in "Bottoms Up", "Barbie Tingz", "Rich Sex" and "Majesty" among others.
• Direct reference to "Haterade".
• Fendi prints is later referenced in "Touch Down (Remix)".

Live Performances

• Chun-Li was performed on the season finale of Season 43 of Saturday Night Live.
• Nicki performed a medley of her songs including Chun-Li at the 2018 BET Awards.

Music video

The official video was released on May 4, 2018 alongside the video for "Barbie Tingz". It was directed by Steven Klein. The video begins with the sound of a gong and the words "Chun-Li" accompanied by the Traditional Chinese characters for the title (春麗) on the screen. The video continues with an approximate one minute black and white spoken introduction with Chinese subtitles. Nicki took home an MTV VMA award in 2018 for Best Hip-Hop Video for "Chun-Li".

Music Video	Information
	Premiere	May 4, 2018
	Filmed	April, 2018
	Director	Steven Klein
	Producer	Keith Brown & Stephen Holtzhauser
	Production co	Good Company Pictures, LLC
	Exec. producer
	Editor	Benjamin Rodriguez Jr.
	Choreographer
	Length	5:09
	Source	[1]

The vertical music video for the track came out on April 13, 2018, and Minaj released a teaser for the official music video shortly after on April 26, 2018.

Nicki Minaj - Chun-Li (Vertical Video)

Chun Li (Music Video Teaser)

Behind the scenes

Lyrics

"Chun-Li"

[Verse 1: Nicki Minaj] Ayo, look like I'm goin' for a swim Dunked on 'em, now I'm swingin' off the rim Bitch ain't comin' off the bench While I'm comin' off the court fully drenched Here go some haterade, get ya thirst quenched Styled on 'em in this Burberry trench These birds copy every word, every inch But gang gang got the hammer and the wrench (Brrr) I pull up in that quarter milli off the lot Oh, now she tryna be friends like I forgot Show off my diamonds like I'm signed by the Roc (By the rock) Ain't pushin' out his babies 'til he buy the rock [Chorus: Nicki Minaj] Ayo, I been on, bitch, you been corn Bentley tints on, Fendi prints on I mean I been Storm, X-Men been formed He keep on dialin' Nicki like the Prince song I-I-I been on, bitch, you been corn Bentley tints on, Fendi prints on Ayo, I been north, Lara been Croft Plates say Chun-Li, drop the Benz off [Interlude 1: Nicki Minaj] Oh, I get it, huh They paintin' me out to be the bad guy Well it's the last time You gonna see a bad guy do the rap game like me [Verse 2: Nicki Minaj] I went and copped the chopsticks Put it in my bun just to pop shit I'm always in the top shit Box seats, bitch, fuck the gossip How many of them coulda did it with finesse? Now everybody like, "She really is the best" You play checkers, couldn't beat me playin' chess Now I'm about to turn around and beat my chest [Bridge: Nicki Minaj] Bitch, it's King Kong, yes, it's King Kong Bitch, it's King Kong, this is King Kong Chinese ink on, Siamese links on Call me 2 Chainz, name go ding dong Bitch, it's King Kong, yes, I'm King Kong This is King Kong? Yes, Miss King Kong In my kingdom wit' my Timbs on How many championships? What? Six rings on [Interlude 2: Nicki Minaj] They need rappers like me They need rappers like me So they can get on their fucking keyboards And make me the bad guy, Chun-Li [Chorus: Nicki Minaj] Ayo, I been on, bitch, you been corn Bentley tints on, Fendi prints on I mean I been Storm, X-Men been formed He keep on dialin' Nicki like the Prince song I-I-I been on, bitch, you been corn Bentley tints on, Fendi prints on Ayo, I been north, Lara been Croft Plates say Chun-Li, drop the Benz off [Outro: Nicki Minaj] I come alive, I I'm always sky high Designer thigh highs it's my lifestyle I come alive, I I'm always sky high Designer thigh highs it's my lifestyle I need a Mai Tai So fuckin' sci-fi Give me the password To the fuckin' wifi

Charts and certifications

Charts Chart (2018) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 54 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 18 France (SNEP) 30 Ireland (IRMA) 65 New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ) 2 Portugal (AFP) 100 Scotland (Official Charts Company) 23 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) 9 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 99 UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 26 US Billboard Hot 100 10 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 6 US Rhythmic (Billboard) 7

Certifications Country Certifications Units Canada (MC) Gold 40,000 United States Platinum 1,000,000 United Kingdom Silver 200,000  Credits Personnel: Composer: Onika Maraj, Jeremy Reid Producers: Jeremy Reid, Onika Maraj Mixer/Recording Engineer: Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine Assistant Mixer: Laura Bates Assistant Recording Engineer: Iván Jiménez, Laura Bates Studio Personnel: Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine, Laura Bates, Iván Jiménez References  Singles | Tour | Discography "Ganja Burn" "Majesty" "Barbie Dreams" "Rich Sex" "Hard White" "Bed" "Thought I Knew You" "Run & Hide" "Chun Swae" "Chun-Li" "LLC" "Good Form" "Nip Tuck" "2 Lit 2 Late Interlude" "Come See About Me" "Sir" "Miami" "Coco Chanel" "Inspirations Outro" "Bonus tracks: "FEFE" "Good Form" (Remix) "Barbie Tingz" "Regular Degular"