You Already Know

For other uses, see You Already Know (disambiguation).

"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"^[1] as the fourth single from Fergie's second studio album, Double Dutchess (2017),^[2][3] the same day the album was made available for pre-order.^[4] "You Already Know" impacted mainstream and rhythmic radio on September 12, 2017.^[5] As of September 2017, "You Already Know" moved almost 56,600 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan.^[6]

"You Already Know"
Single by Fergie featuring Nicki Minaj
from the album Double Dutchess
Released	August 25, 2017
Genre	Hip house
Length	4:08 (single version) 6:28 (album version)
Label	Retrofuture BMG
Songwriter(s)	Fergie Duhamel William Adams Onika Tanya Maraj James Brown Antonio Hardy
Producer(s)	will.i.am
Fergie singles chronology
"Life Goes On" (2016) "You Already Know" (2017) "Save It Til Morning" (2017)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"You da Baddest" (2017) "You Already Know" (2017) "MotorSport" (2017)
Music video
"You Already Know" on YouTube

Background

"You Already Know" has been described as a song with 1990s house influences.^[7] 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)".^[8] Prior to the song's release, a lyric about Minaj's ex-boyfriend Meek Mill, was changed following their breakup in January 2017.^[9][10][11] The single was written by Fergie and Minaj, with will.i.am handling the song's production.^[12] 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:

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'.

— Fergie, Entertainment Weekly^[1]

Critical reception

Jordan Miller of Breathe Heavy reacted positively towards the song, calling it "fresh to death". In particular he praised Minaj's verse.^[7] 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.^[13] It was considered the fortieth best song of 2017 by Rolling Stone.^[14]

Personnel

Taken from Tidal.^[12]

• 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

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[15]	95
Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[16]	9
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[17]	96
UK Indie (OCC)[18]	19
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19]	27

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	August 25, 2017	Digital download	Dutchess Music	[2]
United States	September 12, 2017	Contemporary hit radio	BMG	[20]	[5]
		Rhythmic contemporary		[21]

References

1. "Fergie Drops Fiery Collabs With Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj: 'I'm Coming Out With Two Bosses'". EW.com. August 25, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
2. "You Already Know (feat. Nicki Minaj) – Single by Fergie on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
3. "Listen to Fergie and Nicki Minaj's New Song 'You Already Know'". Pitchfork. 24 August 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
4. "Fergie Officially Announces Sophomore Album 'Double Dutchess,' Unveils First Two Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
5. "Mainstream & Rhythmic Radio Announcement". All Access. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
6. "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 09/28/2017" (PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
7. "Fergie Officially Releases 'You Already Know' Featuring Nicki Minaj And 'Hungry' Featuring Rick Ross". BreatheHeavy. August 25, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
8. "Fergie – You Already Know Feat. Nicki Minaj". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
9. "Nicki Minaj's Original Verse on Fergie's New Song 'You Already Know' Included a Meek Mill Reference". XXL. 27 August 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
10. "Nicki Minaj Changes Lyric About Ex Meek Mill in New Song". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
11. "Nicki Minaj Cuts Meek Mill Line From "You Already Know"". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
12. "Try the TIDAL Web Player".
13. "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. September 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
14. "50 Best Songs Of 2017". Rolling Stone. 29 November 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
15. "ARIA Chart Watch #436". auspOp. September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
16. "Chart search – Fergie". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
17. "you-already-know | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
18. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
19. "Fergie chart history". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
20. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
21. "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.