I Ain't Thru

"I Ain't Thru" is a song by American singer Keyshia Cole. It features Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj rapping the second verse of the song. Written by Cole, Minaj and Russell Gonzalez, the up-tempo hip hop/R&B song is the lead single taken from Cole's fourth studio album Calling All Hearts (2010). The song's lyrics revolve around Cole trying to do her own thing well while maintaining ignorance toward people who are against her. It was produced by The ARE and Ron Fair as Cole's 'statement record'.

"I Ain't Thru"
Single by Keyshia Cole featuring Nicki Minaj
from the album Calling All Hearts
ReleasedDecember 7, 2010
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Keyshia Cole
  • Russell Gonzalez
  • Onika Maraj
Producer(s)
Keyshia Cole singles chronology
"Trust"
(2009)		 "I Ain't Thru"
(2010)		 "Long Way Down"
(2011)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Monster"
(2010)		 "I Ain't Thru"
(2010)		 "Raining Men"
(2010)

It was released for digital download in the United States on December 7, 2010. "I Ain't Thru" was described by critics as the most grit-flecked Cole has ever sounded. It was moderately successful across the airplay formats as it debuted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 78 on November 18, 2010. In subsequent weeks, the single peaked at number 54. An accompanying music video for "I Ain't Thru", directed by Benny Boom, was premiered on November 12, 2010 alongside the music video for follow-up single "Long Way Down".

Background and meaning

Cole described "I Ain't Thru" as a "statement single".[1] During an interview with Associated Press, Cole admitted that she should not have released 'I Ain't Thru' as the lead single. She stated, “The label didn’t really want to drop the record because they knew … that people wanted a more intense, soulful record from me about love and I really should have followed (their) direction,” she said. “But I wanted that to be a statement record. It’s like saying, ‘I’m doing me, you know. I don’t have no regrets for nothing that I’m doing.’”[2] Some speculate that Minaj's verse in the song is a diss at Lil' Kim, with lines like "I took the spot, She's Gone. Poof!" being subliminal and direct at the rapper.

Music video

The video premiered on November 12, 2010. The production of the video was shot in Los Angeles. The visual was overseen by Benny Boom.

Track listing and formats
US standard digital download
  1. "I Ain't Thru" (Featuring Nicki Minaj) (Clean or Explicit) - 3:59
US and Canadian Mega-Deluxe EP
  1. "I Ain't Thru" (Explicit Version featuring Nicki Minaj) - 3:59
  2. "I Ain't Thru" (Clean Version featuring Nicki Minaj) - 3:59
  3. "I Ain't Thru" (Explicit Leak Mix featuring Nicki Minaj) - 4:04
  4. "I Ain't Thru" (Clean Leak Mix featuring Nicki Minaj) - 4:04
  5. "I Ain't Thru" (Video) - 4:08

Charts
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Canada Urban Airplay (Nielsen BDS)[3] 35
Netherlands (Urban Top 100)[4] 28
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 19
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[6] 54

Release history
List of release dates, record label and format details
Country Date Format Label
United States[7] December 7, 2010 Digital download Geffen

References
  1. Mesfin Fekadu (December 22, 2010). "'I Ain't Thru': Keyshia Cole's statement song". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  2. Keyshia Cole Admits The First Single Ft. Nicki Minaj Wasn’t The Best Look But She Wanted To Make A Statement… “I Ain’t Thru”!
  3. "Canada Urban National Airplay". Radio and Records / Nielsen BDS. 2011-01-11. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  4. "Official Urban Chart Top 100 - Reflex FM - Amsterdam, Netherlands". urbantop100.nl.
  5. "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  6. "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  7. "I Ain't Thru:Amazon:MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
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