Jesy Nelson’s solo era is coming soon. The former Little Mix member took to Instagram on Friday (Oct. 1) to reveal that her first single as a solo artist — “Boyz,” featuring Nicki Minaj — will arrive on all music streaming platforms Oct. 8.
The 30-year-old artist shared the news by dropping the single’s cover art, which features both her and Minaj in black-and-white ensembles — the singer in a black bralette, white basketball shorts, Bathing Ape low top sneakers and Chanel necklaces; the “Chun-Li” rapper in a white sherpa vest, black sherpa booties, bauble rings and a Chanel bangle.
The ex-girl group member first announced the collaboration between her and Minaj on Sept. 28, by teasing fans with a behind-the-scenes snippet of her filming the “Boyz” music video. “Do you think they’re ready for this? @nickiminaj #Boyz,” she captioned her post. Minaj reposted the snippet to her own Instagram account, telling her Barbz that it was “almost time” for the song to come out. “We about to goooo,” Nelson replied, which Minaj responded to in the comments section by referencing her recent spat with Piers Morgan. “I’m so mad I didn’t call myself the rudest little madame on the song tho,” she joked about what the British TV host had called her. “The barbz just reminded me chile. Love you JESYYYYYYYYY.”
“Boyz” marks Nelson’s first solo effort since leaving Little Mix. In December 2020, the artist announced that she would be stepping back because the “band has really taken a toll on my mental health,” she wrote in a statement about her departure. “I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.”
Nelson teased her comeback in a video posted to her Instagram on Aug. 12, in which she said: “For me, this is the music that I’ve always wanted to make. I don’t think that anyone is going to expect this. This is a new chapter for me.”
See the cover art for “Boyz” below.
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