R&B stars Monica and Keyshia Cole have teamed with rap icon Nicki Minaj on her new song “Love Me Enough.”
The Murda Beatz-produced tune appears on the extended version of Minaj’s fifth album, Pink Friday 2 (Gag City Deluxe). The song was first made available exclusively on the Pink Friday 2 (D2C Version 2) edition on Minaj’s website.
“Love Me Enough” is a self-love anthem that celebrates an exit from a toxic relationship.
“I used to think love had to hurt / So I do sh*t to make it worse / Got off on the toxic words / I used to think love had to hurt / But lately, I’ve been thinking maybe / No one needs to save ’cause I love me enough for all of y’all,” Cole and Monica over the sunny acoustic production.
Rumors about their collaboration started swirling after Minaj went on Instagram Live earlier this month (Dec. 2). She was joined by Monica and Cole, who were in the same room with her.
On the day of her Pink Friday 2 album release (Dec. 8), and her birthday, Minaj hinted that the collaboration was indeed coming. She also described it as “a very important song.”
“#GagCity welcomes a new edition every day beginning Monday or Tuesday. Every day until Friday, you’ll get an add’l song that completes my fave body of work to date. 4 more songs. Two of the names on a very important song rhyme with Schmechia Schmole & Schmonica,” Minaj wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Next week#GagCity welcomes a new edition every day beginning Monday or Tuesday. Every day until Friday, you’ll get an add’l song that completes my fave body of work to date. 4 more songs.
Two of the names on a very important song rhyme with
Schmechia Schmole
& Schmonica… pic.twitter.com/tAQi0uWp2S— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) December 8, 2023
“Love Me Enough” is the second bonus track shared from Minaj’s Pink Friday 2. On Monday (Dec. 11), she released her “Beep Beep (Remix)” featuring 50 Cent. Murda Beatz produced the track as well. It’s also featured on Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 (Gag City Deluxe).
“Love Me Enough” marks Monica and Minaj’s first collaboration, and Cole and Minaj’s second time working together. Minaj previously appeared on Cole’s single “I Ain’t Thru” from her 2010 album, Calling All Hearts.
Cole previously collaborated with Monica on her 2008 single “Trust” from her third album, A Different Me. Produced by Toxic and Ron Fair, “Trust” peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Minaj’s new song with Cole and Monica follows the announcement of her Pink Friday World Tour dates.
On a separate note, Monica released her latest single, “Letters,” in June. She co-wrote the song with Ciara, Alicia Renee Williams, Killah B and Tasha Catour. It debuted and peaked at No. 11 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart.
The official video for “Letters” co-starred rapper The Game, who portrays Monica’s love interest in the film.
“Letters” is the follow-up to Monica’s 2022 single “Friends” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. Both songs are expected to appear on Monica’s oft-delayed album, Trenches.
The album will also include the title track, which features rapper Lil Baby. The song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart. It also reached No. 17 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Trenches will mark Monica’s first album on her independent label MonDeenise Music. The upcoming album, which doesn’t have a release date yet, will follow Monica’s 2015 album, Code Red, her final album on RCA Records.
As for Cole, she released a heartfelt song titled “Forever Is a Thing.” The standalone track arrived in June and was first heard in the end credits of her biopic Keyshia Cole: My Story, which premiered June 24 on Lifetime.
“Forever Is a Thing” was released in tribute to Cole’s late mother Frankie Lons, who passed away in 2021.
In February 2021, Cole released her single “I Don’t Wanna Be in Love.” The song, co-written by Cole and Brian Bates, was announced as the lead single from Cole’s eighth album.
Cole’s next album, which doesn’t have a release date or title, will follow 2017’s 11:11 Reset.
As fans anticipate Cole’s next project, the singer will be heading on The Love Hard Tour in 2024 with K. Michelle, Trey Songz and Jaheim.
Stream Nicki Minaj’s new song “Love Me Enough” featuring Monica and Keyshia Cole.