"Chun-Li" is a 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[1], before eventually peaking at number 10.[2] 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. [3]
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.
Behind the scenes
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Ayo, look like I'm goin' for a swim
Dunk 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, get 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]
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]
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]
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
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]
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]
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]
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
Gimme the password to the fuckin' wifi
Charts and certifications
Charts
|
Certifications
|
Credits
Personnel:[4]
- 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
 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||