Thought I Knew You
by Nicki Minaj (featuring The Weeknd)

Album: Queen (2018)
Charted: 98
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Nicki Minaj and The Weeknd trading moody vocals over a trap beat. Both artists are addressing exes and love and The Weeknd's verses are thought to be directed at Selena Gomez.

    Tell me why you let me come inside for real
    Nevermind, you were never mine for real


    The Weeknd started dating Selena Gomez in January before splitting nine months later. Just weeks after the split, Gomez reunited with her ex Justin Bieber, with whom she'd had an on-and-off relationship.
  • This is the second studio collaboration between Minaj and The Weeknd. Their first collaboration was back in 2015 when Minaj added a raunchy verse to a remix of The Weeknd's hit single, "The Hills."
  • The song originally featured an unnamed rapper before Minaj removed that verse. "Once I took the rapper off the song, I loved it even more; it felt like more of an easy listen," she said.
  • Minaj's recording engineer, Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine, told Rolling Stone he made sure the song's vibe fitted in with its lyrical content. "On 'Thought I Knew You,' it had to be smooth, something that changed your mood and put you in another place when you listen to it," he said. "The sonics have to match the mood that is being sung or rapped about."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.