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"Champion" is a song by Nicki Minaj featuring Nas, Drake, and Young Jeezy. It serves as the seventh track on her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, released on April 2, 2012. A music video was planned for the song, however, it was never shot.

Background[]

On May 24, 2012, Nicki posted a poll to her official official website, asking the fans to choose her next singles. The poll is divided into three categories. The second category asks the fans to choose between "Champion", "HOV Lane", and "I Am Your Leader". "Champion" had the most votes and won the poll,[1] the second being "HOV Lane" and third being "I Am Your Leader".

On June 6, 2012, Minaj confirmed that "Champion" is the next urban single from the album and will be released along with "Pound the Alarm".[2] However, she didn't release another urban single and instead released a video for "I Am Your Leader".[3]

Minaj confirmed that a music video for "Champion" will be filmed with "Pound the Alarm."[4] On June 27, Minaj said that the video for Champion will be filmed the next week (the first week of July) in a "very 'special' 'sacred' place".[5] Since Nicki didn't have time to film Champion because she has to head back over seas, the video shoot was delayed and later canceled. Minaj released a video for "I Am Your Leader" instead of "Champion."

Minaj talks about her childhood and personal life in this song. She talks about her old childhood friends, Tee-Tee, Tweety, Viola, Sharica, Candace, Thembi, Lauren, and Aisha. She also pays tribute to her late cousin, Nicholas Telemaque, who was shot dead in 2011.

Critical reception[]

"Champion" garnered mostly positive reviews from music critics, with many calling it an album highlight.[6][7][8] Andrew Hampp of Billboard gave the track a positive review, stating Minaj "Sheds light in her journey from struggle to success."[9] While reviewing the album, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone declared the song "beamingly triumphant".[10] Global Grind reviewer Brittany Lewis gave the song a very positive review, saying "This retrospective track explores Nicki's more serious side and details the trials and tribulations of Nicki's now solidified success" and went on later to say that "This relatable track will definitely make you evaluate your own life." Both the reviewer from The Washington Post and Mesfin Fekadu of The San Francisco Chronicle called the song "top-notch".[6][8]

Live performances[]

Minaj performed Champion for the first time on 106 & Park on April 3, 2012, along with "Roman Reloaded", "HOV Lane", "I Am Your Leader", "Beez in the Trap", "Right by My Side" and "Fire Burns". She also performed Champion alongside "Beez in the Trap" with 2 Chainz on the 2012 BET Awards. The song was on the set list of her Pink Friday Tour, on all dates.

Credits[]

  • Recorded by: Ariel Chobaz, Noah “40” Shebib & Stuart White
  • Recording Assistant: Jon Sher & Noel Cadastre
  • Mixed by: Ariel Chobaz
  • Mix Assistant: Jon Sher

The credits for "Champion" are adapted from the liner notes of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.[11]

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1: Nicki Minaj]
This a celebration, this is levitation
Look at how you winning now, this took dedication
This is meditation, higher education
This the official, competitor elimination
I was taking trips, with Web to move weight
Came back to Queens, to hit up a new state
Bitches don't know the half like they flunked at math
Bitches ain't have cut up, crack up in the stash
50 Cent Italian, icy flow
This is that: run and get a dollar for the ice-cream cone
'Cause they killed my little cousin Nicholas
But my memory's only happy images
This is for the hood, this is for the kids
This is for the single mothers, n*ggas doing bids
This one is for Tee-Tee, Tweety, Viola, Sharica
Candace, Thembi, Lauren, Aisha

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
It's a celebration (Put one in the air for the ghetto, ooh)
It's times like these (Ooh, ooh)
They know who we are by now (They know who we are)
Champion, the champions (Champion, champion)

[Verse 2: Drake]
Yeah, okay, we made it to America
I remember when I used to stay with Erykah
Label transferred 20 million to Comerica
It's fucking terrible, it's got me acting out of character
Young T.O. n*gga, either riding range
Or Ferrari top down, screaming, "Money ain't a thang!"
Tell me when I change, girl, but only when I change
'Cause I live this shit for real, n*ggas know me in the game, they know
Making hits in three acre cribs
Cooking up tryna eat n*ggas, steak and ribs
I made a couple stars outta basic chicks
Nowadays blow the candles out, don't even make a wish
Having good times, making good money
Lot of bad bitches, but they good to me
I make them do the splits for a rack
Wish you n*ggas good luck, tryna get where I'm at, straight like that

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
It's a celebration (Put one in the air for the ghetto, ooh)
It's times like these (Ooh, ooh)
They know who we are by now (They know who we are)
Champion, the champions (Champion, champion)

[Verse 3: Jeezy]
Straight balling in this bitch, Jeremy Lin; 'Melo
Tell me one thing you won't do: settle
Give me one word for your chain: yellow
Pocket full of money, black cars; ghetto
Critics say I ain't in the game, A.I
Jeezy, how you deal with the fame? Stay high
Stay putting on for the town, may I?
What you call a crib in the sky? Play-high
Over a mil in three weeks, yeah, I did it like a champ
Momma taught me pride, yeah, she did it with the stamps
Wait a minute, everybody pause for the photo
Somebody tell these local hating n*ggas, I'm global
Tell me what I gotta do to get this champagne going
What I gotta do to get this coconut flowing?
Don’t let me hit up Shawn Carter], hundred bottles of the Ace
Let me hit up Sean Combs, hundred cases to my place, let's celebrate

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj & Nas]
It's a celebration (Put one in the air for the ghetto, ooh)
It's times like these (Ooh, ooh)
They know who we are by now (They know who we are)
Champion, the champions (Champion, champion) (What up, Nicki? It's Nasty, yeah)
          
[Verse 4: Nas]
I saw my first two million dollars, I was 23
I'm barely a man, yet, I had some killers under me
This ain't rated PG, this rated PJ
'Cause that's where a n*gga from; murder on replay
My 24th b-day, I'm sailing to Bermy, you can see me on a yacht
Blasting Pac, little knot, I ain't greedy
I'm back to thugging, bitches, back to making them kiss other bitches
My man sister like me, I don't fuck my brother sister
I just aspire your desire to be different
My ten year old plan is just one year to finish
My list looks like this, first thing that you'll discover
The difference in pussy: white, black, Latin and other
Here's a man who clearly isn't basic
Waiting list, just to hear me or witness the greatness
Loud laughter, while writing my next chapter: Fast Cash Life
Happily ever after, champions

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
It's a celebration (Put one in the air for the ghetto, ooh)
It's times like these (Ooh, ooh)
They know who we are by now (They know who we are)
Champion, the champions (Champion, champion)


Trivia[]

  • The song interpolates part of the lyrics of her older release, "Click Clack", stating "Bitches don't know the half like they flunked at math."

References[]

  1. MyPinkFriday.com Take the Poll & Pick Nicki's Next Single! Retrieved August, 26, 2012.
  2. Yes. Champion is next urban single > RT @DestinyAdams54: @nickiminaj Will you do a video for champion and Roman Holiday? Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  3. HipHop-N-More Nicki Minaj Picks New Urban Single From ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  4. Nicki Minaj confirms video plans for 'Whip It', 'Champion' Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  5. Twitter:Shooting "Champion" next week in a very "special" "sacred" place. :) Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Press, Associated (April 4, 2012). "Music Review: On sophomore album, Nicki Minaj feeds all fans with rap, R&B and pop sounds". The Washington Post. Washington Post Inc. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/music-review-on-sophomore-album-nicki-minaj-feeds-all-fans-with-rap-randb-and-pop-sounds/2012/04/04/gIQA8gj8uS_story.html. Retrieved April 7, 2012. 
  7. Ewing, Tom (April 5, 2012). "Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – review". The Guardian (UK). Guardian News and Media Limited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/05/nicki-minaj-pink-friday-review?newsfeed=true. Retrieved April 7, 2012. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Fekadu, Mesfin (April 4, 2012). "Review: Nicki Minaj feeds all fans with 2nd album". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/04/national/a070025D50.DTL. Retrieved April 7, 2012. 
  9. Hampp, Andrew (March 29, 2012). "Nicki Minaj, 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Rovi. http://www.billboard.com/#/column/the-juice/nicki-minaj-pink-friday-roman-reloaded-track-1006612752.story. Retrieved April 7, 2012. 
  10. Rosen, Jody (April 6, 2012). "Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday Roman Reloaded". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pink-friday-roman-reloaded-20120406. Retrieved April 7, 2012. 
  11. Digital booklet of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded


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