You Already Know
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox song
| name = You Already Know
| cover = You Already Know - Fergie.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Fergie featuring Nicki Minaj
| album = Double Dutchess
| released = August 25, 2017
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip house
| length = 4:08 (single version)
6:28 (album version)
| label = *Retrofuture
| writer = {{flat list|
}}
| producer = will.i.am
| chronology = Fergie
| prev_title = Life Goes On
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Save It Til Morning
| next_year = 2017
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Nicki Minaj
| type = single
| prev_title = You da Baddest
| prev_year = 2017
| title = You Already Know
| year = 2017
| next_title = MotorSport
| next_year = 2017
}}{{External music video|{{YouTube|-Ifnaxi2LQg|"You Already Know"}}}}
}}
"You Already Know" is a song recorded by American singer Fergie, featuring guest vocals from Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on August 25, 2017, alongside promotional single "Hungry"{{Cite news|url=http://ew.com/music/2017/08/25/fergie-rick-ross-hungry-nicki-minaj-you-already-know/|title=Fergie Drops Fiery Collabs With Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj: 'I'm Coming Out With Two Bosses'|work=EW.com|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=September 2, 2017}} as the third single from Fergie's second studio album, Double Dutchess (2017),{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/you-already-know-feat-nicki-minaj-single/id1273465037|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824174854/https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/you-already-know-feat-nicki-minaj-single/id1273465037|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2017|title=You Already Know (feat. Nicki Minaj) – Single by Fergie on Apple Music|website=iTunes|access-date=September 2, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-fergie-and-nicki-minajs-new-song-you-already-know/|title=Listen to Fergie and Nicki Minaj's New Song 'You Already Know'|website=Pitchfork|date=24 August 2017|access-date=September 2, 2017}} the same day the album was made available for pre-order.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7941966/fergie-new-album-double-dutchess-release-date-track-list-songs|title=Fergie Officially Announces Sophomore Album 'Double Dutchess,' Unveils First Two Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 2, 2017}} "You Already Know" impacted mainstream and rhythmic radio on September 12, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://a0.allaccess.com/assets/ads/728x90/F/Fergie/You_Already_Know.png?1503607287|title=Mainstream & Rhythmic Radio Announcement|publisher=All Access|access-date=September 2, 2017}} As of September 2017, "You Already Know" moved almost 56,600 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan.{{cite news|url=http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-9-28-17.pdf|title=Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 09/28/2017|publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002211120/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-9-28-17.pdf|archive-date=October 2, 2017}}
Background
"You Already Know" has been described as a song with 1990s house influences.{{Cite news|url=http://www.breatheheavy.com/fergie-officially-releases-you-already-know-featuring-nicki-minaj-and-hungry-featuring-rick-ross/|title=Fergie Officially Releases 'You Already Know' Featuring Nicki Minaj And 'Hungry' Featuring Rick Ross|work=BreatheHeavy|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=September 2, 2017}} It samples "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, which in turn samples the Lyn Collins 1972 song "Think (About It)".{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/fergie-you-already-know-feat-nicki-minaj-new-song.1975470.html|title=Fergie – You Already Know Feat. Nicki Minaj|work=HotNewHipHop|access-date=September 2, 2017}} Prior to the song's release, a lyric about Minaj's ex-boyfriend Meek Mill, was changed following their breakup in January 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/nicki-minajs-original-verse-fergies-you-already-know-meek-mill-reference/|title=Nicki Minaj's Original Verse on Fergie's New Song 'You Already Know' Included a Meek Mill Reference|website=XXL|date=27 August 2017 |access-date=September 2, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/nicki-minaj-changes-meek-mill-lyric-in-fergies-you-already-know-w499588|title=Nicki Minaj Changes Lyric About Ex Meek Mill in New Song|work=Us Weekly|access-date=September 2, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.44503/title.nicki-minaj-cuts-meek-mill-line-from-you-already-know#|title=Nicki Minaj Cuts Meek Mill Line From "You Already Know"|work=HipHopDX|access-date=September 2, 2017}} The single was written by Fergie and Minaj, with will.i.am handling the song's production.{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/77624284|title=Try the TIDAL Web Player}} Fergie first teased the collaboration in a radio interview in late 2014 while promoting "L.A. Love (La La)". The song was performed live for the first time on Rock in Rio Lisboa on May 20, 2016.
Fergie spoke about the song, saying:
{{Blockquote|text=This is about us standing together as #Girlbosses. We have both worked very hard for what we have, and still continue to do so. I'm a fighter! And so is she! We have the same goal. I'm all about women not being pitted against each other. I'm about, 'Let's stand strong'.|sign=Fergie|source=Entertainment Weekly}}
Critical reception
Jordan Miller of Breathe Heavy reacted positively towards the song, calling it "fresh to death". In particular he praised Minaj's verse. Stereogum placed the song as the third best track of the week, with the senior editor Tom Breihan calling it a monster: "It's a big, shameless endorphin-rush pop megablast, a riot of synth-bloop hooks and James Brown drum-breaks and house pianos and ecstatic diva-wails.". Breihan also shows surprise with Fergie's rap skills.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1960562/the-5-best-songs-of-the-week-207/franchises/the-5-best-songs-of-the-week/|title=The 5 Best Songs Of The Week|work=Stereogum|date=September 2017|access-date=September 3, 2017}} It was considered the fortieth best song of 2017 by Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2017-w512456/kamasi-washington-truth-w512502|title=50 Best Songs Of 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=29 November 2017|access-date=November 29, 2017}}
Personnel
- Fergie – vocals, performer, songwriter
- Nicki Minaj – vocals, featured artist, performer, songwriter
- will.i.am – producer
- Joel Metzler – vocal producer
- Aubrey Delaine – vocal producer
- Johannes Raasina – mixing engineer
- Padraic Kerin – engineer
- Joe Peluso – engineer
Charts
Release history
| class="wikitable"
! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col" colspan="2"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
|August 25, 2017 |Dutchess Music |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
|rowspan="2"|September 12, 2017 |rowspan="2"|BMG |
| Rhythmic contemporary |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Fergie}}
{{Nicki Minaj songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Fergie (singer) songs
Category:Songs written by Fergie (singer)
Category:Songs written by Nicki Minaj
Category:Songs written by James Brown
Category:Song recordings produced by will.i.am
Category:Songs written by will.i.am