Nicki Minaj has been feeling playful of late. Following up the lewd, lavish "Rich Sex," Minaj has come through with her second single this week, the Ariana Grande assisted "Bed." Though Minaj has been practicing abstinence of late, and Ariana Grande has been swept up in a whirlwind, Vegas-worthy puppy-love romance, both women have managed to find common ground.
Employing a minimalist, tropical-infused instrumental, Minaj conjures up a fantasy of sorts, spitting evocative images of herself decked in "strawberry lingerie." Should you be one to infuse your bedroom play with original music, worry not, for Nicki keeps Tha Carter III on repeat. It is as of yet unclear what her reaction would be upon requesting Tha Carter II. As far as production, the beat is notably more pop-friendly than her recent singles, with a subdued take on afrobeat's minimalist grooves. In that regard"Bed" feels like a breezy addition to Queen, an obligatory radio effort, tailor made for summer play.
Clearly, Nicki will be attempting to appeal to a wider audience with Queen, which may very well shape up to be her most definitive effort thus far. It bodes well that her most obvious "pop single" is far from the candy-coated grandiosity of "Super Bass," even with a feature from the recently lovesick Ariana Grande on deck. All things considered, "Bed" serves as intimate companion piece to "Rich Sex," and will no doubt appeal to a different set of ears.
Quotable Lyrics
Thousand on the sheets
Waiting for you and some thousand other sheets
I got Tha Carter III on repeat
Back shots to the beat of "a milli" on you
Got me acting like you got a milli' on you