BAPS (song)

"BAPS" (a backronym for Bad Ass Pretty Sagittarius)[1] is a song by American rappers Trina and Nicki Minaj,[2] released as a single from Trina's sixth studio album, The One (2019).

"BAPS"
Single by Trina and Nicki Minaj
from the album The One
Released	June 19, 2019
Genre	Hip hop
Songwriter(s)	Katrina Taylor Onika Maraj Brian Willams B.G. (Baby Gangsta) Mannie Fresh Terius Gray Lil Wayne
Trina and Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"On His Face" (2019) "BAPS" (2019) "I Just Wanna" (2019)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Wobble Up" (2019) "BAPS" (2019) "Megatron" (2019)

Background

BAPS is a song from Trina's sixth studio album, The One (2019). It was released on June 19, 2019, as a surprise release two days before Trina's full album came out.[3] The song marks the fourth time Trina and Minaj have collaborated on a track.[4] It was released for digital download and streaming in June 2019.[5][6][7]

Trina discussed its release on the thirteenth episode of Queen Radio and asked Minaj to film a music video with her because they were originally supposed to, but The Nicki Wrld Tour got in the way.[8]

Music and lyrics

"BAPS" was co-written by Trina, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, B.G. (Baby Gangsta), Mannie Fresh, Juvenile and Lil Wayne with additional production by Audio Jones and co-production by Trina herself.[9] Lyrically, the song samples "Project Bitch" by Cash Money Millionaires.[10][11]

"BAPS" is a backronym for "Bad Ass Pretty Sagittarius".[1] The lyrics of the song reference famous people previously associated with Trina such as French Montana, Tory Lanez, and James Harden.[12]

Controversy

The song become the subject of a public dispute when Reginald Saunders, the head of A&R at Trina's record label Rockstarr Music Group, released a statement regarding Minaj. In a post on his Instagram account, he accused Minaj of being uncooperative and called her a "deceiver and manipulator".[13]

The post also referenced there being no music video produced to promote the record. Two days later, Trina filmed a video discussing the alleged problems. She defended Minaj and blamed herself for the lack of visual for the project.[14] She explained: "I had a 45-minute conversation on the phone with Nicki Minaj about business, about my record, about my song, about everything, It's not about a video, it's bigger than a video. The video is just a portion of what's happening. This is more about making sure the business is right."[14]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. A Rap-Up reporter stated that "it's the Barbie and Da Baddest" and called the track a "boss bitch anthem".[15] Rania Aniftos from Billboard said "Trina and Nicki Minaj have no time for unworthy men in their newest girl gang anthem." They also branded it a "boss gal anthem".[16] Madeleine Marr from the Miami Herald said that the pair "have created a thing of beauty" in recording "BAPS". She noted "The piano-heavy tune references various fellow celebrities from her [Trina's] dating past."[1] A journalist from Vibe said that Trina "enlisted one of the boldest voices in the game" for "BAPS".[17]

Hannah Frishberg of the New York Post said that the song appeared to pay homage to the 1997 film B.A.P.S. She noted that both the film's promotional poster and Trina's single artwork both feature a crown motif above the wording of "BAPS". She added that the background music sounded like "a Pac-Man-like dot-crunching background beat."[18]

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19]	63
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20]	50

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref
United States	June 19, 2019	Digital download streaming	Clean Explicit	Fast Life Entertainment Rockstarr Music Group	[5][21]
United Kingdom			Explicit		[22]

References

1. Marr, Madeleine (June 21, 2019). "'Two queens on one track': Trina and Nicki Minaj work it on 'BAPS'". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
2. "Trina (Ft. Nicki Minaj) – BAPS". Genius. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
3. Daly, Rhian (June 20, 2019). "Listen to Nicki Minaj and Trina's new song, 'BAPS'". NME. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
4. Shaffer, Claire (June 19, 2019). "Nicki Minaj, Trina Team Up Over New Orleans Beat on New Song 'BAPS'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
5. "BAPS (feat. Nicki Minaj) - Single by Trina". iTunes Store. Apple Music Inc. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
6. "BAPS [Explicit]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
7. "BAPS". Spotify. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5BIPUsYtxA
9. SMF (24 June 2019). ""BAPS" by Trina (ft. Nicki Minaj)". songmeaningsandfacts.com.
10. "Trina and Nicki Minaj Flip a Cash Money Classic for "Baps"". Complex. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
11. "Trina & Nicki Minaj Sample A Big Tymers Classic On New Single "BAPS"". Genius. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
12. Burks, Tosten (June 19, 2019). "Trina – "BAPS" (ft. Nicki Minaj)". Spin. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
13. Mahjouri, Shakiel (August 12, 2019). "Trina's Head A&R Takes Aim At 'Manipulator' Nicki Minaj: 'I Can't Get Over How Fake People Can Be'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
14. "Trina Clears The Air On "BAPS" Video And Rumored Rift With Nicki Minaj". Vibe. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
15. "New music: Trina feat. Nicki Minaj – 'BAPS'". Rap-Up. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
16. Aniftos, Rania (June 19, 2019). "Trina & Nicki Minaj Are the Baddest in New Collab, 'BAPS': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
17. "Trina And Nicki Minaj Team Up For New Single 'BAPS'". Vibe 8k. June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
18. Frishberg, Hannah (June 20, 2019). "Nicki Minaj and Trina's 'BAPS' pays homage to Halle Berry's cult classic". New York Post. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
19. "Trina Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
20. "Trina Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.
21. "BAPS [Clean] Trina feat. Nicki Minaj". Amazon Music. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
22. "BAPS [Explicit] Trina feat. Nicki Minaj". Amazon (UK Store). Retrieved June 19, 2019.