Plain Jane (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Plain Jane

| cover = A$APFergPlainJane.jpeg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = ASAP Ferg

| album = Still Striving

| released = June 13, 2017

| recorded = 2017

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hip hop

| length = 2:54

| label = RCA

| writer = {{hlist|Darold Ferguson, Jr.|Kirlan Labarrie|Paul Beauregard|Jordan Houston}}

| producer = Kirk Knight

| prev_title = Look at Us Now

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = Nasty (Who Dat)

| next_year = 2017

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|meXPbvp3ldg|"Plain Jane"}}}}

{{Extra album cover

| header = Remix

| type = single

| cover = ASAP Ferg - Plain Jane Remix feat. Nicki Minaj.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| caption = Cover art of the official remix featuring Nicki Minaj.

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Nicki Minaj

| type = single

| prev_title = The Way Life Goes (Remix)

| prev_year = 2017

| title = Plain Jane (Remix)

| year = 2017

| next_title = Barbie Tingz

| next_year = 2018

}}

"Plain Jane" is a song by American rapper ASAP Ferg. The song was released on June 13, 2017, as the lead single from his third studio album, Still Striving (2017). It was produced by Kirk Knight, and it is a hip hop song. The official remix featuring fellow New York City-based rapper Nicki Minaj was released on December 15, 2017. This version peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his second highest-charting single until "Move Ya Hips" in 2020—which also featured Minaj.{{Cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/aap-ferg/chart-history/hsi/|title=A$AP Ferg Chart History — Billboard|magazine=Billboard }}{{cite web|last=Mench|first=Chris|date=November 9, 2017|title=Tracking The Slow & Steady Rise Of A$AP Ferg's "Plain Jane"|url=https://genius.com/a/tracking-the-slow-steady-rise-of-asap-ferg-s-plain-jane|access-date=10 November 2017|website=Genius}}

Background and composition

"Plain Jane" is one of four tracks released by A$AP Ferg on June 13, 2017, via SoundCloud for TrapLord Tuesdays. Produced by Pro Era's own Kirk Knight, the track's flow and instrumental are heavily influenced by the 1999 song "Slob on My Knob" by Tear Da Club Up Thugs.{{Cite web|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=2017-06-13|title=ASAP Ferg shares four new songs "Nia Long", "Aw Yea", "Furious Ferg", and "Plain Jane" -- listen|url=https://consequence.net/2017/06/asap-ferg-shares-booming-new-song-nia-long-listen/|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Cirisano|first=Tatiana|date=November 14, 2017|title=A$AP Ferg on Reworking Three 6 Mafia's 'Slob On My Knob' for 'Plain Jane': 'That Song Meant So Much To Me'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8031447/asap-ferg-plain-jane-hot-100-interview/|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} Ferg reflects his childhood growing up and pays homage to ASAP Yams ("Yamborghini chain, rest in peace to my superior").{{Cite web|last=Goddard|first=Kevin|date=June 14, 2017|title=A$AP Ferg - Plain Jane|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/asap-ferg-plain-jane-new-song.1974569.html|website=HotNewHipHop|language=en}} He also raps about "eating Rihanna like a panini" ("Please believe me, I see RiRi, I'mma eat it like panini") and suggests having a foursome with his girlfriend, Kendall Jenner, Bella and Gigi Hadid.{{Cite magazine|last=Maher|first=Natalie|date=January 31, 2018|title=Here Are the Lyrics to A$AP Ferg's 'Plain Jane'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/8097526/asap-ferg-plain-jane-lyrics|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}

Music video

The official music video of the song was released on October 11, 2017. Directed by Bronx director Hidji, it opens with ASAP Ferg standing in an apartment hallway tying his do-rag, with a clip of Juicy J's verse on an unreleased remix of the song playing in the background. It then follows Ferg surrounded by a crew of BMX bike riders, as they ride through Harlem before going to a night club.{{Cite web|last=Mojica|first=Nick|date=October 11, 2017|title=ASAP Ferg Drops 'Plain Jane' Video With a New Verse From Juicy J - XXL|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/asap-ferg-plain-jane-video-juicy-j/|website=XXL|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Montgomery|first=Sarah Jasmine|date=October 11, 2017|title=Watch A$AP Ferg ride around NYC in his new video for "Plain Jane"|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/11/asap-ferg-ride-video-plain-jane|website=The FADER|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Espinoza|first=Joshua|date=October 11, 2017|title=Watch ASAP Ferg's Trippy Video for "Plain Jane"|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2017/10/watch-asap-ferg-plain-jane-music-video|website=Complex|language=en}} The video features cameos from cyclists Nigel Sylvester and RRDBlocks, who join Ferg and do tricks, as well as from DRAM and Rihanna.{{Cite web|last=McKinney|first=Jessica|date=2017-11-15|title=A$AP Ferg Gets Loose In "Plain Jane" Music Video|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/asap-ferg-plain-jane-music-video-watch-549442/|website=Vibe|language=en-US}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 6:18

| title1 = Plain Jane

| writer1 = {{hlist|Darold Brown|Kirlan Labarrie|Paul Beauregard|Jordan Houston}}

| extra1 = Kirk Knight

| length1 = 2:54

| title2 = Plain Jane

| note2 = Remix) (featuring Nicki Minaj

| writer2 = {{hlist|Darold Brown|Kirlan Labarrie|Paul Beauregard|Jordan Houston|Onika Maraj}}

| extra2 = Kirk Knight

| length2 = 3:24

}}

Remix

A remix to the single was released on December 15, 2017, with a guest appearance from fellow Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj.{{Citation|last=asapfergVEVO|title=A$AP Ferg - Plain Jane REMIX (Audio) ft. Nicki Minaj|date=2017-12-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDMGmtpvBjs|access-date=2017-12-19}} The remix was originally meant to be included on Lil Wayne's Dedication 6 mixtape, but after playing it for Ferg, Minaj agreed to make it the official remix instead. Minaj's verse includes references to Tidal, The Notorious B.I.G., Catherine Zeta Jones, and Lupita Nyong'o. Phemza The Kween also freestyled the song. There is an unreleased remix version of the song featuring Juicy J, who shared his verse in May 2018.{{Cite magazine|last=Penrose|first=Nerisha|date=May 15, 2018|title=Juicy J Shares an Unreleased Verse From A$AP Ferg's 'Plain Jane (Remix)': Listen|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8456226/juicy-j-plain-jane-remix|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}

Minaj's remix received critical acclaim. Billboard said "Nicki Minaj brought back that hard rap we've been missing from her for years, paying homage to her New York roots and local legend Notorious B.I.G."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8070769/asap-ferg-nicki-minaj-plain-jane-remix-twitter|title=A$AP Ferg Drops 'Plain Jane' Remix with Nicki Minaj and Twitter Goes Insane|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-01-20}} XXL writes "the female MC delivers some hardcore rhymes and punchlines on the catchy tracks,"{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2017/12/nicki-minaj-asap-ferg-plain-jane-remix/|title=Nicki Minaj Hops on ASAP Ferg's Plain Jane Remix - XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=15 December 2017 |access-date=2018-01-20}} and Complex noted that, due to Minaj, "one of the best loved songs of the year is about to get even more love".{{Cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2017/12/asap-ferg-nicki-minaj-plain-jane-remix|title=Nicki Minaj Shouts Out Biggie on ASAP Ferg's "Plain Jane" Remix|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2018-01-20}}

Chart performance

Following months of hovering around the top 40, "Plain Jane" was propelled by its remix to its peak at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, Ferg's second highest entry on the chart. The song has also charted in Canada, at number 30.

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2017–2018) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue1450.pdf\|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20171213043757/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20171212-0000/Issue1450.pdf\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=2017-12-13\|title=ARIA report – Issue 1450\|publisher=National Library of Australia\|date=December 11, 2017\|access-date=March 25, 2024}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} \| 74
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|4\|artist=A$AP Ferg\|song=Plain Jane\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 7, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia Tip\|4\|artist=A$AP Ferg\|song=Plain Jane\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 7, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|30\|artist=AAP Ferg\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 5, 2017}}
scope="row"\| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web\|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_el.html\|title=Greece Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart: Feb 5, 2018\|work=IFPI Charts\|access-date=March 24, 2018}} \| 73
{{single chart\|Hungarysingle\|35\|year=2018\|week=7\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 22, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Latvia (DigiTop100){{cite web \|date=December 11, 2017 \|title=Singles chart for the Week 48, 2017 {{ndash}} Ending November 30, 2017 \|url=https://tv3cdn.lv/2017/12/kad-atskaidrosies-piekap-par-kadu-muziku-maksa-latvijas-iedzivotaji-5a325a5f5f909.xlsx \|access-date=April 8, 2025 \|publisher={{Ill\|TV3.lv\|lv\|tv3.lv\|lt=Skaties.lv}} \|language=en}} \| 35
scope="row"\| Netherlands (Single Tip){{cite web\|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?cat=st&year=2018&date=20180113\|title=Dutchcharts.nl – Dutch Single Tip – 13/01/2018\|language=nl\|publisher=MegaCharts\|access-date=February 24, 2018}} \| 5
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|38\|artist=A$AP Ferg\|song=Plain Jane\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 12, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Portugal\|82\|artist=A$AP Ferg\|song=Plain Jane\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 22, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Slovakdigital2\|81\|year=2017\|week=47\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 28, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|92\|artist=A$AP Ferg\|song=Plain Jane\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 2, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|92\|artist=A$AP Ferg\|song=Plain Jane\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 27, 2017}}
{{single chart\|UK\|79\|date=20180112\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 13, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|26\|artist=AAP Ferg\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 27, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|13\|artist=AAP Ferg\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 28, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|12\|artist=AAP Ferg\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 6, 2018}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/canadian-hot-100|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 12, 2019}}

| 77

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2018}}

| 74

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 23, 2019}}

| 39

scope="row"| US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 23, 2019}}

| 38

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2017|certyear=2020|access-date=March 13, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=A$AP Ferg|title=Plain Jane|award=Platinum|number=5|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2020|access-date=September 30, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Platinum|id=11219|relyear=2017|certyear=2022|access-date=April 19, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=A$AP Ferg|title=Plain Jane|relyear=2017|certyear=2021|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=October 20, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=A$AP Ferg|title=Plain Jane|relyear=2017|certyear=2022|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=December 21, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=A$AP Ferg|title=Plain Jane|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|type=single|award=Gold|id=7193|access-date=October 14, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=A$AP Ferg|title=Plain Jane|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2017|id=2018-01-26|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relmonth=6}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=A$AP Ferg feat. Nicki Minaj|title=Plain Jane|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=September 6, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=A$AP Ferg|title=Plain Jane|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2022|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Asap Ferg|title=Plain Jane|relyear=2017|certyear=2021|type=single|award=Gold|id=15233-4781-1|access-date=September 22, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|title=Plain Jane|artist=A$AP Ferg|type=single|award=Platinum|number=5|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true | noshipments=true}}

References

Category:2017 singles

Category:2017 songs

Category:ASAP Ferg songs

Category:Nicki Minaj songs

Category:Songs written by Nicki Minaj

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Songs written by ASAP Ferg

Category:Songs written by DJ Paul

Category:Songs written by Juicy J

Category:Remix singles