Ariana Grande yesterday (January 17, 2019) released the follow up to “thank u, next,” a single titled “7 rings.” The pink-tinted, Hannah Lux Davis-directed visual and lyrics are all about a flex with Grande boasting about the many things her success has provided her.
Written by 10 individuals, the song references the iconic “My Favorite Things” from the The Sound of Music and also interpolates The Notorious B.I.G.’s single “Gimme The Loot.”
Grande’s fans were happily celebrating the launch when a wrench was thrown in the wheel by Princess Nokia, who pointed out on Instagram that the “7 Rings” chorus sounded suspiciously like “Mine,” a single featured on her “1992” mixtape, which dropped in 2017.
On Instagram, Nokia played segments of the tracks back to back and commented, “Does that sound familiar to you? Ain’t that the lil’ song I made about brown women and their hair? Hmmm…sounds about white.”
As stated by Nokia, “‘Mine’ lyrics are about creating a safe space for the hair choices of women of color. In the outro she states, “Please do not ask me or any black or brown women if our hair is real or not. If it’s a wig, a weave, extensions, braids, don’t fuckin’ ask. It’s very rude, it’s extremely personal to be put on the spot like that. How we choose to wear our hair is our personal choice, ok?”
Commentors who viewed Nokia’s claim as a reach said Grande’s single sounded more like a sped up version of Soulja Boy’s 2010 single “Pretty Boy Swag.” Others heard a similarity to 2 Chainz “Spend It” single from 2011.
Check out the songs below and see what you think.
“7 rings”
Princess Nokia compares “rings” and “Mine.”
#7Rings is just ‘pretty boy swag’ sped up, stay woke. soulja boy influence at it again pic.twitter.com/XbVxUeltVM
— zoo wee papa (@beeskneesruiz) January 18, 2019
Soulja Boy’s
