During an interview with Capital Xtra on June 23, 2013, Minaj revealed that her then-upcoming album The Pinkprint would "definitely" include a collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake: "We're supposed to meet up this week to get some stuff crack-a-ling in the studio.
Minaj had told him not to release it as she was planning to use both artists for the final version, but an unknown rapper got the file, added his own verse, and leaked it online.
Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne all begin their verses in the song with the phrase "Thinkin' out loud", which was described by Alex Macpherson of The Guardian as a "relaxed, spontaneous mode.
[2][13] Meaghan Garvey from Pitchfork said the song was "a lay-up of a radio hit", calling it "instantly 100 times more likeable than 'Only'," and was baffled by its bonus track placement.
[15] Brennan Carley of Spin said the track was "a surefire hit", and felt it was "a lyrically complex and more subwoofer-ready collaboration with Drake and Lil Wayne than the much-buzzed 'Only'".
[12] Writing for Slate, Dee Lockett compared its potential appeal to Minaj's previous single "Super Bass" and also felt "Truffle Butter" was better than "Only".
[17] Breihan felt "Truffle Butter" was "the catchiest song without a chorus" since Bobby Shmurda's "Hot Nigga" (2014), and concluded, "someone at Cash Money is crazy if they don't make it a single".
[17] Alex Macpherson of The Guardian also preferred it over the "Only", and explained, "in relaxed, spontaneous mode all three [rappers] are so much less tiresome than on their official triple collaboration".
[citation needed] On May 30, 2015, Minaj performed the song during the iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party 2015 in Las Vegas.