Beyoncé’s defiant, exuberant “Formation” is made up of one memorable lyric after another. They are rallying cries. (See: “Okay, ladies, now let’s get in formation.”) They look good on t-shirts. (See: “I slay all day.”) Now we have the story behind one of the cheekiest phrases in the song: “When he fuck me good, I take his ass to Red Lobster.” In an interview with Red Bull Music Academy—coming to us via Pitchfork—producer Mike WiLL Made-It explained that Slim Jxmmi came up with the initial concept for a line about taking a person’s ass somewhere when he fuck good. However, Jxmmi originally suggested Margiela. Red Lobster came later, after Mike WiLL gave the material to Beyoncé.
According to Mike WiLL, the germ for the song sprouted from an idea hashed out between him, Jxmmi, and Swae Lee. Beyoncé however turned in into an anthem of cultural significance, he said.