Lookin Ass
Lookin Ass is a hip hop song by Nicki Minaj featuring Young Money. It was released on February 14, 2014 as the third single from the Young Money compilation album Rise of an Empire. The track was produced by Detail and Choppa Boi, and the music video came out the same day.
The song is a hard-edged rap track where Nicki raps about men she calls “lookin’ ass niggas,” criticizing behavior like objectifying women, bragging about money, and links to street life. The beat starts with a piano groove and Auto-Tuned vocals, and many listeners see it as a bold return to pure rap for Minaj.
Lookin Ass helped tease Nicki’s then-upcoming third album, which would focus more on rap. Its release and promotion happened amid talk of The Pinkprint, with the song premiering in February 2014.
The single’s cover art caused controversy. An unofficial image paired Malcolm X with the word “nigga,” which drew criticism before Nicki explained it wasn’t the official artwork. She apologized and removed the image, noting the discussion was not meant to undermine Malcolm X’s legacy.
In the U.S., the song was sent to urban and rhythmic radio stations in March 2014 as Rise of an Empire’s third official single. Critics generally received it positively, praising Minaj’s fierce flow and fiery delivery, and some lists named it among notable rap songs of 2014.
The accompanying music video, directed by Nabil Elderkin, is black-and-white and filmed in a desolate outdoor location. It features Nicki striking poses and holding an assault rifle, with close-ups of men watching her before she shoots at them at the end.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:03 (CET).