Trollz (song)
"Trollz" | ||||
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Single by 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj | ||||
from the album TattleTales | ||||
Released | June 12, 2020 | |||
Recorded | April–May 2020 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 3:22
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Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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6ix9ine singles chronology | ||||
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Nicki Minaj singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Trollz" on YouTube |
"Trollz" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper 6ix9ine and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released as the second single from 6ix9ine's second studio album, TattleTales (2020). It was postponed twice before being released on June 12, 2020, as the follow-up to "Gooba", released four weeks earlier. It was written by the artists, along with its producers Sadpony and Jahnei Clarke, the latter having also produced "Gooba". The song marked the third collaboration between the artists, following 2018's "Fefe" (with Murda Beatz) and "Mama" (with Kanye West). Lyrically, the song takes aim at internet trolls.
On June 16, 2020, a new version of the song was released, featuring a different verse from Minaj, a new verse by Hernandez, and an altered beat. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and became the first song to top the chart from an indie label since XXXTentacion's "Sad!" in 2018.[1]
Background and release
[edit]After having been released from prison early, in April 2020, Hernandez released his first single after his prison sentence on May 8, 2020, titled "Gooba".[2] Following his controversial accusations towards Billboard of rigging and chart manipulation, and towards pop singers Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber's management of buying "30,000 copies with six credit cards" for their song "Stuck with U", 6ix9ine posted a photo of himself holding up six credit cards, writing in the caption, "Don't worry we going #1 next time @billboard."[3] On May 17, 2020, he announced that he would take a short hiatus from social media and release a video the following Friday.[4] He also promised a new song set to be released on May 22 if "Gooba" got 10,000 downloads.[5] However, the scheduled release was subsequently postponed to May 29. On May 23, he asked his fans to come up with the song title of his upcoming single, which turned out to be "Trollz".[6][7] Shortly thereafter, Hernandez posted a video of himself confirming the title.[8][9] The rapper further revealed that the song features another artist.[10] On June 3, 6ix9ine announced the song was again delayed to June 12, stating it is "out of respect for" the ongoing George Floyd protests.[11]
Minaj reportedly visited 6ix9ine to film the music video in May 2020.[12] On June 10, 2020, it was confirmed that Minaj was the previously announced guest artist via the official merchandise bundled with the song on her website.[13]
Composition and lyrics
[edit]The song is driven by an electronic drum backing track and contains a laconic beat.[14][15] On the song, 6ix9ine employs his "usual" braggadocious delivery,[16] with Minaj's lyrics containing sex euphemisms.[17] Minaj explained that she recorded eleven different versions before the song was released in its final form.[18]
Alex Zidel of HotNewHipHop noted that Minaj's verse contains a possible dig at singer Usher, when she raps: "Somebody usher this nigga into a clinic/My flow's still sick, I ain't talkin' a pandemic". Shortly before the song's release, Usher had said Minaj "got her 'blueprint' from Lil Kim", and he previously faced herpes accusations.[19]
An alternate version of the song was also released, which opens with Minaj's original verse, as she raps in English with Spanish words ("He tryna put it in my culo, real fat gato / When he eat it, I tell him to squeeze it like a taco"). Prior to the song's release, Minaj tweeted the taco emoji, hinting at the song's lyrics.[20]
Critical reception
[edit]In a positive review, Jason Lipshutz of Billboard included the song among the most essential releases of the week, noting that 6ix9ine "punctuates his verse with a throat-clearing assault", while Minaj "radiates slick confidence through sex euphemisms and nods to her longevity".[17] In a negative review, "Trollz" was included on a list of the "Worst Songs of 2020" published by Variety.[21]
Commercial performance
[edit]The song debuted at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming 6ix9ine's first number-one single in the country, and Minaj's second and her first as lead artist. She also became the second female rapper to debut atop the Hot 100, following Lauryn Hill in 1998.[22] The following week, the song dropped to number 34, and broke the record for largest drop down the chart from number one in Hot 100 history;[23][24][25] Taylor Swift's "Willow" (2020) later broke the record.[26][27] "Trollz" spent a total of 4 weeks on the Hot 100, marking the second least amount of weeks for a Hot 100 number one song in history. Furthermore, it topped the Billboard Digital Songs chart selling 116,000 downloads, becoming 6ix9ine's first chart-topper and Minaj's sixth, as well. It marked the largest song sales week since Taylor Swift's "Me!" featuring Brendon Urie (2019) opened with 193,000 downloads sold, and the largest of 2020 at the time.[28]
Music video
[edit]The accompanying music video was released alongside the official single release on June 12, 2020.[29] It was shot in May 2020 and Minaj revealed that the video was shot in 6ix9ine's guest bedroom while the latter was still under home confinement.[30] After both artists claimed that the video broke the record for most views for a hip hop song in the first 24 hours,[31] YouTube denied this, stating that the video only received 32.5 million views, 6.4 million less than "Gooba".[32] A representative for the company said "paid advertising views on YouTube will no longer be considered when looking at a 24-hour record debut".[33] As of June 2024, the music video on YouTube has over 452 million views and 7.1 million likes.
Synopsis
[edit]Similar to the "Gooba" video, "Trollz" has a colorful, rainbow-themed visual. The video starts off with the rappers eating cotton candy. This is followed by a transition where Minaj is seen with multicolored hair, twerking in a red Jacuzzi. She is seen topless with star pasties covering her breasts, wearing blonde and pastel-colored hair, and dressed in a fur bikini and a red, sheer bodysuit. 6ix9ine performs his verse and the hook in red, then blonde and rainbow cornrows. The video also cuts to him holding over $200,000 in cash and, as in the "Gooba" video, shows off his GPS ankle monitor.[16]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal, BMI and YouTube.[34][35][36]
- 6ix9ine – lead artist, songwriting
- Nicki Minaj – lead artist, songwriting
- Jeremiah Raisen – arrangement, songwriting, production
- Jahnei Clarke – arrangement, additional production,[37] mixing
- Aaron Clarke – songwriting
- Wizard Lee - mixing, mastering
- Big Juice - mixing
- Alex Solis - art direction, design
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[64] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | June 12, 2020 |
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[65] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Curto, Justin (2020-06-22). "Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj Troll the Charts With a No. 1 Debut". Vulture. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Shares "GOOBA," First New Song Since Prison Release". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "Rapper 6ix9ine Cries Foul on Ariana Grande, Singer Claps Back as Chart Drama Escalates". Variety. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- ^ S, Lynn (May 17, 2020). "6ix9ine Announces Release Date For New Music Video Before Taking IG Hiatus". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (May 23, 2020). "6ix9ine Dropping New Music Video This Week". XXL. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ S, Lynn (May 23, 2020). "6ix9ine Letting Fans Determine Name Of New Song". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ Walters, Mike (May 23, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Naming His New Song After His Ongoing Beef With Snoop Dogg?!". The Blast. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "THIS FRIDAY ⭐️TROLLZ🌸 ANOTHER ONE🍭🌈🌈🍭💦💦💦 ‼️‼️‼️‼️ THEY WISH THIS WAS A NIGHTMARE ‼️‼️ IT CANT BE TRUE 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂‼️😂😂😂BITCH I AM THE INTERNET". Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved May 24, 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (May 24, 2020). "6ix9ine Called on Fans to Choose the Title of His Next Song". Complex. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "THE WINNER GETS TO COME TO MY HOUSE". Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved May 24, 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ Johnson, Zoe (June 3, 2020). "6ix9ine Delays Release of New Song in Response to George Floyd Protests". XXL. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Blakemore, Peyton (May 29, 2020). "Nicki Minaj Reportedly Visited 6ix9ine's Secret Location To Film New Video". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
- ^ "6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj: "Trollz"". nickiminajqueen.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 12, 2020). "Nicki Minaj, Tekashi 6ix9ine Lick The Lollipop, Twerk in the Tub in Candy-Colored 'Trollz' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ Wallis, Adam (June 14, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj drop 'Trollz', proceeds going to Bail Project". Global News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ a b Woods, Aleia (June 12, 2020). "6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj Release New Song Trollz": Listen". XXL. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (June 12, 2020). "First Stream: New Music From Lil Baby, 6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj, Chloe x Halle & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 17, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj Share Alternate Version of 'Trollz' With New Verse". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ Zidel, Alex (June 12, 2020). "Nicki Minaj Fans React To Hilarious LisaRaye & Usher Herpes Bars In 6ix9ine Song". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Releases Alternate 'TROLLZ's Version with 6ix9ine". Rap Up. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ Willman, Chris (January 2, 2021). "Year in Review: The Best Songs of 2020". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ Wetmore, Brendan (June 22, 2020). "Nicki Minaj Reacts to Going Number One in 2020 — Again". Paper. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ "NME - 6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj Track 'Trollz' Suffers Historic Fall From No. 1". NME. 29 June 2020.
- ^ "iHeartRadio - Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj's 'Trollz' suffers biggest chart fall ever for a song debuting at Number One".
- ^ "XXL - 6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj's "Trollz" Suffers One-Week Chart Fall". July 2020.
- ^ Trust, Gary (June 22, 2020). "6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj's 'Trollz' Launches at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Lil Baby's 'The Bigger Picture' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ "Mariah Carey's 'Christmas' Back Atop Hot 100, As Dean Martin, Wham! & Chuck Berry Hit Top 10". Billboard.
- ^ Trust, Gary (June 22, 2020). "6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj's 'Trollz' Launches at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Lil Baby's 'The Bigger Picture' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj on IG". Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved June 11, 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ "I might have been able to pull off 1 or 2... we shot in his guest bedroom chile... 🙄". Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj & 6ix9ine's "Trollz" Breaks Record With 46 Million Views: Report". HotNewHipHop. 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "YouTube Confirms 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj's "Trollz" Didn't Break Hip-Hop". XXL. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ A., Aron (June 15, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj's "TROLLZ" Did Not Break YouTube Record". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine / TROLLZ (with Nicki Minaj) / Credits". Tidal. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". BMI. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ Tekashi 6ix9ine (May 8, 2020). "TROLLZ - 6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Trollz - Nicki Minaj, 6ix9ine | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-08-07
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