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Lookin ass
Nicki Minaj
Rise of an Empire
Released February 12, 2014
Format Digital download
Genre Hip-hop
Length 2:40
Label Young Money, Cash Money
Writer Onika Maraj
Producer Detail
Single information
Single release February 12, 2014 (buzz)
March 11, 2014 (official)
Video release February 12, 2014
←Last single
"My N***a (Remix)"
Next single→
"Senile"

"Lookin Ass" (formerly known as "Lookin Ass N***a") is a song by Nicki Minaj from the Young Money collaborative album Rise of an Empire with the label mates group Young Money. Detail has uncredited vocals singing the hook. It was written by Minaj, and produced by Detail. A music video was released for the song on February 12, 2014, and served as the main release for the song. It premiered on radio the same day at DJ E-Man's segment on Power 106 radio station and was available for digital download on February 27. Originally being served as a buzz single, it officially became the third single from Rise of an Empire impacting Urban radio on March 11, and Rhythmic radio on March 18.

Background[]

On January 10, 2014, Minaj posted a picture on her Instagram account where she appeared covering a part of a whiteboard that only showed the word "NICKI" in big letters and below it "Lookin Azz Ni."[1] Minaj released a remix song called "Danny Glover" on January 28, 2014,[2] and, at the beginning of the song, she rapped "I got somethin' for you lookin'-ass n****s / Week and a half, I'mma be in that ass."[3]

Minaj shared pictures of a music video shoot she was doing on February 10, but it was unknown for what exactly the video was.[4][5] The cover artwork was released on February 12,[6] revealing the name of the song, and, shortly after, Minaj debuted the video at WorldStarHipHop.[7] Music website You Heard That New leaked the song's audio on the same day.[8] DJ E-Man premiered the song on radio, at radio station Power 106.[9]It impacted Urban radio on March 11, 2014 being the #1 most added song. It impacted Rhythmic radio on March 18.[10]

Artwork[]

Lookin Ass Fanmade Lookin ass
The popular but controversial fanmade original (left) was followed by a more sanitary cover issued by the label (right).

Minaj released the cover artwork for the song the same day of its music video release, on February 12, 2014.[6] The picture, which was originally published in the Ebony magazine in 1964, displays human rights activist Malcolm X holding an M1 carbine and looking out the window with the title of the song and Minaj's name as the text. Soon after its release, the cover was highly criticized as offensive and disrespectful for using Malcolm X on it.[11] A day after, on February 13, Minaj wrote an apology message for the use of Malcolm in the cover artwork. She explained that in no way she wanted to "undermine his efforts and legacy," and she used the picture because she believed it related to the song; it is about "the same thing for what he believed in." She also clarified that the cover artwork is not official, neither the song is an official single for the album.[12]

Legacy[]

Although Minaj intended to include the song on her third studio album The Pinkprint, her label would not allow her to include it because the track list was already very crowded and the song had been released for months. This upset Minaj deeply, as she viewed the song as being "iconic".[13]

Music video[]

Music Video Information
Nicki_Minaj_-_Lookin_Ass_(Explicit) Premiere February 12, 2014
Filmed January 31, 2014
Director Nabil
Producer
Production co
Exec. producer
Editor
Choreographer
Length 2:49
Source

The music video for the song was shoot on January 31, 2014, at Twentynine Palms, California by Nabil, and it was code named "Back to Red."[14][15] On February 6 and 10, Minaj posted various behind the scenes pictures on her Instagram account.[4][5]. It debuted on February 12 on WorldStarHipHop.[7] On February 14, the song premiered at Minaj's official VEVO channel.[16]

Behind the scenes[]

On February 6 and 10, Minaj uploaded photos of the shoot on her Instagram account.[4][5]

Charts[]

Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard) 4
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 28
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard) 16

Lyrics[]

[]

References[]

  1. nickiminaj: [1] Instagram. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  2. Rap-Up.com: New Music: Young Thug f/ Nicki Minaj – ‘Danny Glover (Remix)’ Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  3. Rap Genius: Young Thug – Danny Glover (Remix) Lyrics Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Rap-Up.com: Nicki Minaj Debuts Sexy New Look Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Rap-Up.com: Nicki Minaj Rocks Pasties and Ponytail for New Video Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 nickiminaj: 👀 Instagram Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Video: Nicki Minaj - Lookin Ass N***a World Star Hip Hop Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  8. Nicki Minaj – Lookin Ass N*gga (Prod. By Detail) CDQ Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  9. Twitter: 2day @power106la @yesiortiz @djfellifel have the world premiere of @nickminaj NEW SONG on the #NEWAT2! Don't miss it! http://bit.ly/1kn9QZk Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  10. Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover > Future Releases AllAccess.com Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  11. Rap-Up.com: Nicki Minaj Apologizes for Controversial Malcolm X Cover Art Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  12. nickiminaj: Message Instagram. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  13. Davis, Justin. "Nicki Minaj Gets Emotional During Interview with Angie Martinez on "Power 105"." Complex. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  14. Twitter: Shootin Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  15. Casting African American Male Models For Nicki Minaj Music Video (Twentynine Palms , California) Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  16. Nicki Minaj - Lookin Ass (Explicit) - YouTube. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  17. Nicki Minaj - Lookin' A** Hitta (Clean) YouTube Retrieved March 11, 2014.
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