Nicki Minaj‘s “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” is certified Platinum in the U.S. for selling 1 million units in streams and sales combined. The certification was issued by the Recoding Industry Association Of America on March 29, 2024.
The Caribbean dancehall infused song samples Lumidee’s “Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh)” which was certified Gold in the U.K. last year. Both songs use aspects of Stephen “Lenky” Marsden’s “Diwali Riddim.”
Minaj, Lenky, Lumidee, Go Grizzly, Cheeze Beatz, Tate Kobang, Kirsten Allyssa Spencer, Teddy Mendez, Josiah Nasir Muhammad, Irvin Winslow and Edwin Perez are credited as writers of Red Ruby Da Sleeze with production by Cheeze Beatz and Go Grizzly.
Within hours of the songs release on March 3, 2023, the Young Money Republic track swiftly soared to the top spot on the U.S. iTunes chart, extending her record as the rapper with the most number one songs on the platform.
“Red Ruby da Sleeze” is also certified Gold in Australia and achieved notable success on various charts. It peaked at number 5 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart, number 4 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, it reached the top 20 on the Global 200 chart and the top 10 on the US Rhythmic chart, while also securing positions on charts in Canada, Ireland, South Africa, and the UK. At year-end, the song maintained its presence, landing at number 49 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 25 on the US Rhythmic chart.
World Music Views reached out to Stephen “Lenky” Marsden but he offered no comment on the success of the riddim and the song at this time. In 2003 he told the New York Times that he strategically tinkered with the rhythm for different vocalists which led to a plethora of hit songs, culminating in the compilation album “Diwali,” released by Greenleeves Records hailed by the New York Times as the best reggae album of 2002. That album sold 25,000 units and peaked at No. 7 on the weekly Billboard Reggae Albums chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Year End Reggae Albums Chart.
The success of “Diwali” inspired imitators and further collaborations, underscoring the enduring influence of a great beat in shaping contemporary music trends but that didn’t move Marsden, he commented,”Some people lead the way, and some people follow.”
In total 37 songs are on different versions of the riddim spanning several projects.
