Nicki Minaj and fellow New Yorker Fivio Foreign teamed up for her latest single “We Go Up” released on March 25th. Before its release, Minaj stated the song was scrapped from her much anticipated upcoming fifth album, yet within the first hour the song went #1 on the US iTunes chart. The song was simply a surprise for the fans as she explained on Instagram, “not a Republic Records single, no bag on it, just a surprise for the fans.”
This is Foreign’s first time collaborating with Minaj and based on the impact the song has had thus far, hopefully it won’t be the last. Foreign gained notability after releasing “Big Drip” in 2019 but it wasn’t until recently that his career took a turn after working with Kayne West on Donda. Many believe Foreign is the best bet to keep the momentum going for Brooklyn drill as Ryan Brace states:
“Pop Smoke’s death was a major fulcrum point in the young history of Brooklyn drill. Without its most talented and marketable superstar, would the genre simply retreat back into the underground, or would the remaining players in the scene, many of whom were engaged in gang-related feuds with each other, be able to retrieve it? In order to rebound, Brooklyn drill needed its second son to step up. Enter Fivio Foreign.”
Brace, Ryan. “For Now, Fivio Foreign holds the Brooklyn drill Baton .” The Michigan Daily, 15 Apr. 2022.
“We Go Up” definitely sparked any momentum that New York drill needed as both Minaj and Foreign delivered undauntedly. Foreign sets the tone reminding everyone, “there’s only one king, there’s only one queen,” and throughout the track they deliver aggressive bars while also shouting each other out. We have Minaj’s mentionable:
“Im ‘bout to make you regret you chose me as an enemy, bitch.
Southside Jamaica, we mobbing them bricks, so pull up with them blicks.
Some of the best shooters out of New York, they don’t play with the Knicks.
That ain’t Fivio Foreign, that’s Barbie new foreign bitch.”
Nicki Minaj, ‘We Go Up’
Alongside Foreign’s:
“The bulletproof is like a guarded truck.
Ain’t no blicky with me, I got Nicki with me and she Barbied up.
If we see ‘em, we shooting the party up.
We ain’t squashing so don’t try to sorry us.”
Fivio Foreign, ‘We Go Up’
The music video was released on April 19th and surpassed 1 million views within 12 hours. Both Rappers are seen paying homage to their hometown, and it’s safe to say the video is as New York as it gets. Minaj serves eye catching looks throughout the video as she of course shows off her Ferrari and Lambo rides which she mentions in the opening of the track.
Nicki then took to Twitter stating, “going once, going twice, are there any “rappers” that would like a verse on the WGU remix? The instrumental is on iTunes. Fuck it up & send it to me.” The challenge was accepted by many female rappers and they quickly took to social media, some played it safe while others added their own impressive twist.
13. Erica Banks
Banks displayed flow but definitely could have been more aggressive in her delivery along with stepping up some of her bars, and the auto tune was not fitting for this drill track.
“If bitches wanna have a real problem,
Bitches gotta bring the real bag,
Never worry about who I be f*cking,
Cause you don’t even know your real dad.”
Erica Banks, ‘We Go Up’ Remix Challenge
12. Maliibu Miitch
Miitch definitely played it safe but still gave you bars worth mentioning:
“Bitch losing her mind, like her head is gone,
When they really be bums and they pussy got milage,
Rest in peace to the bums say a moment of silence,
Don’t be chattin for free ‘cause I’m with all the violence,
‘Cause these bullets gon moonwalk and look like they gliding.”
Maliibu Miitch, ‘We Go Up’ Remix Challenge
11. Lyrica Anderson
Anderson- known for her vocals and songwriting, surprised many with her rap skills:
“Ten racks katana.
All exotic sushi pirana.
Just started rapping bitches done-da-da.
You ain’t the future just the designer.”
Lyrica Anderson, ‘We Go Up’ Remix Challenge
10. Dreezy
Although sticking to the same flow, Dreezy still delivered her bars fiercely throughout her verse:
“Instead of fighting me you need to punch clocks.
Every bitch with me a baddie.
I get more snacks in me than a lunch box.”
Dreexy, ‘We Go Up’ Remix Challenge
9. Chelsea Pastel
Pastel’s verse definitely has charisma to it and allows you to get a sense of her personality while showcasing her bars.
“Smoked a little bit so denounced,
Graveyard, this a haunted house,
Full of dead rappers-air em out,
Y’all all actors-paramount.”
Chelsea Pastel, ‘We Go Up’ Remix challenge
8. Big Jade
Jade brought a flow and sound that stands out along with her fast delivery.
“You ain’t get a feature,
You don’t go hard tell me why the fuck Nicki ever gotta explain that,
If I don’t get a feature,
When shit drop, shit go hard? I’ma still bang that.”
Big Jade, ‘We Go Up’ Remix Challenge
7. Brittney Taylor
Taylor definitely stuck to her New York roots in demonstrating her aggression and bars.
“Heard Nicki’s back now Brittney’s back,
Real rappers been in a drought,
I had to hop on this beat so I could clear this shit out,
My respect what this about, fuck the net and the clout.”
Brittney Taylor, ‘We Go Up’ Remix challenge
6. Queen Key
Key left quite the impression as her voice and flow aligned perfectly with the beat while also switching up the flow.
“These hoes only crazy online when they see me they chest ring.
Put a hole in a bitch like a breast ring.
Ain’t Lauren but I watch out for that thing.
Fly high on these hoes like jet wings.”
Queen Key, ‘We Go Up’ Remix Challenge
5. Savannah Hannah
Hannah’s energy has the potential to add a whole new element to the track while she also switches up voices giving you variety.
“The Queen even knew I go Megatron,
Ain’t no other chick that they bettin on,
Hoe said she can rap, then the bet is on.”
Savannah Hannah, ‘We Go Up’ Remix
4. Cupcakke
Cupcakke added a new level of hype to the song as she managed to switch up flows and deliver aggressive bars.
“Never miss when I beat the hoe upside the head I play connect 4.
Hope and pray she got a back door.
All these hoes be so damn broke walk down on ‘em I say “on go”
Think she sweet I’ll split her teeth now I got more rooms than the exit row.”
Cupcakke, ‘We Go Up’ Remix
3. Omeretta The Great
Omeretta gave you energy and bars in her verse that are definitely hard to compete with leaving her in the top 3.
“You said you the hardest out?
Baby please, ain’t nobody noticed it,
I be the leader, the teacher, the goddess, the preacher,
We ballin for real while you cry on the bleacher.”
Omeretta The Great, ‘We Go Up’ Remix
2. London Hill
Hill goes hard as she brings her own authentic sound while even switching it up to Patois bringing her in as a close second.
“Calling me a pole dancer,
Seeing more green than a gold ankle,
Putting holes in ya body like old hampers,
Even my pussy is harder to get than an old sample.”
London Hill, ‘We Go Up’ Remix
1. Akbar V
Akbar comes in first as her flow is undeniable and her sound blends perfectly on the track.
“I done pulled up in a foreign with a n- Fivio,
About to pull up on the hoes Pop Smoke on the audio,
Lost all that weight didn’t need Jenny Craig for a body though,
Running laps around all ya, bitch where the fuck is my cardio?”
Akbar V, ‘We Go Up’ Remix
This challenge has brought more attention to this significant collaboration for New York drill, while also allowing many of the rap girls with followings big and small to display their talent and potential.
Nicki setting out this challenge is just one of the many ways she inspires other female rappers to push their pen, now it’s just a matter of time to see if any of them will end up with a spot on the official remix.
