"Truffle Butter"
Background and release[edit]
During an interview with Capital Xtra on June 23, 2013, Minaj revealed that her then-upcoming album The Pinkprint would "definitely" include a collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake: "We're supposed to meet up this week to get some stuff crack-a-ling in the studio. I think there'll be another feature on the album that will blow people away. I'm super excited about that too, but it's obviously a secret!"[4]
In September 2014, a song titled "Whatcha Say" by Mally Mall, Tyga and Drake leaked online.[5] The song featured the same instrumental and Drake verse which would end up on Truffle Butter. Minaj later explained Tyga got the song after Drake added his verse and added his own, along with a chorus from Mally Mall. Minaj had told him not to release it as she was planning to use both artists for the final version, but an unknown rapper got the file, added his own verse, and leaked it online.[6] This would lead to a minor, since ended feud between Minaj and Tyga.[7]
In December 2014, Minaj released the track list for The Pinkprint, which included two songs featuring Drake and Lil Wayne: "Only" appears on the standard release, while "Truffle Butter" is included on the iTunes deluxe edition.[8]
Republic Records initially announced that "The Night Is Still Young" would be the next single from The Pinkprint following "Bed of Lies"; however, the label later confirmed "Truffle Butter" as the follow-up single, with it being released to US radio on March 3, 2015.[9]
An accompanying lyric video, directed and animated by Zi9mortius, premiered on YouTube on March 10, 2015.[10]
Composition[edit]
"Truffle Butter" samples Maya Jane Coles' "What They Say" (2010). Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne all begin their verses in the song with the phrase "Thinkin' out loud", which was described by Alex Macpherson of The Guardian as a "relaxed, spontaneous mode."[11] According to Spin's Brennan Carley, the track is "a complex, subwoofer-ready song".[12] Other critics denoted the track as "beat-heavy" and of the house genre.[2][13]
Critical reception[edit]
Meaghan Garvey from Pitchfork said the song was "a lay-up of a radio hit", calling it "instantly 100 times more likeable than 'Only'," and was baffled by its bonus track placement.[14] Anupa Mistry of Complex called the song a "brilliant moment" on The Pinkprint.[15] Brennan Carley of Spin said the track was "a surefire hit", and felt it was "a lyrically complex and more subwoofer-ready collaboration with Drake and Lil Wayne than the much-buzzed 'Only'".[12] Writing for Slate, Dee Lockett compared its potential appeal to Minaj's previous single "Super Bass" and also felt "Truffle Butter" was better than "Only".[16]
Stereogum's Tom Breihan called the song "tastefully glimmering" and "about 80 bazillion times slicker and more confident than 'Only'".[17] Breihan felt "Truffle Butter" was "the catchiest song without a chorus" since Bobby Shmurda's "Hot Nigga" (2014), and concluded, "someone at Cash Money is crazy if they don't make it a single".[17] Alex Macpherson of The Guardian also preferred it over the "Only", and explained, "in relaxed, spontaneous mode all three [rappers] are so much less tiresome than on their official triple collaboration".[11]
Chart performance[edit]
"Truffle Butter" debuted at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song's debut made Minaj the 15th artist to accumulate 60 chart entries on the Hot 100. It also extended her lead as the female artist with the third most entries on the chart, below Aretha Franklin (73) and Taylor Swift (66). "Truffle Butter" marked Drake's 74th Hot 100 appearance; this tied him with Ray Charles for sixth most appearances on the chart.[18] As of May 2015, "Truffle Butter" has sold 815,000 copies in the United States.[19]
Cover versions[edit]
On January 29, 2015, rapper Ludacris released a short remix of the song as part of his weekly LudaVerses series.[20] Rapper Ace Hood also did a short remix of the song called the "Beast Mix"; released on February 18, 2015.[21] On March 27, 2015, Remy Ma uploaded a two-minute remix of the song on YouTube. American rapper T.I. released a remix of the song featuring DJ Whoo Kid and DJ MLK on February 24, 2015.[22] MMG rapper Fat Trel released a freestyle of the track on May 6, 2015.
Live performances[edit]
On February 25, 2015, Drake performed "Truffle Butter" on his Would You Like a Tour? tour in Australia. On May 30, 2015, Minaj performed the song during the iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party 2015 in Las Vegas.[23] She has also performed the track on The Pinkprint Tour.[24]