Long Live the Queen: Remembering Some of Nicki Minaj’s best works
Rap legend Nicki Minaj tweeted on September 5th, 2019 that she was retiring from Rap to start a family with her new man, Kenneth Petty. Twitter reacted accordingly, pure and total uproar followed upon the daunting announcement. Some rejoiced at the claims but those who acknowledge and respect Minaj’s contributions to music were upset by the news. Minaj may very well be in an emotional state and tweeting off-the-cuff, but just incase she isn’t, let us take a trip down memory lane to remember some of her flyest rhymes.
I Am Your Leader ft. (Rick Ross & Cam’ron)
Track 3 on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is the lyrically endowed “I Am Your Leader.” Produced by Hit-Boy and Fernando Garibay, the beat is phenomenal as it is unique yet simplistic in sound. Non-aggressive but repetitive synth hooks support Nicki, Ross, and Cam’ron’s surgically smooth demolition of this track. Nicki proclaims leadership over her Rap inferiors in the most braggadocious way possible while Ross details his luxurious lifestyle and Cam’ron expresses how unfazed he is. "I Am Your Leader” is a cocky but calm song to subtly flex to.
2. Itty Bitty Piggy
Ever think of borrowing a beat to rap over? First, refer to Lil Wayne, the undisputed king of killing someone else’s beat. Second, refer to his prodigy Nicki Minaj. A popular piece that put Minaj on the map, “Itty Bitty Piggy” is a product of Minaj’s third mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty. The female-rap classic borrows the beat to Soulja Boy’s “Donk.” Nicki cleverly demeans other rappers who think they can serve as her competition by referring to them all as small swine she’d rather let Oscar Meyer turn into pork products. The Jamaica, Queens rapper spits playful but sharp verses from start to finish to “single-handedly annihilate, you known, every rap b*tch in the building.”
3. Roman Reloaded
Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded also holds hit, “Roman Reloaded”, under its belt. This track is an unofficial sequel to “Roman’s Revenge”, from Nicki’s debut album Pink Friday. In the fashion of “Roman’s Revenge”, “Roman Reloaded” features a Top 5 male rapper and both tracks display more verbally abrasive lyrics from Minaj. The beat is bass packed and chaotic. The violent and repetitive chorus, “Bang, My sh*t bang, it bang bang” illustrates the instrumental perfectly. I imagine Rico Beats’s creation as a just-kicked hornet’s nest. The bass is heavy and hard-knocking with a busy background that sounds like the roar of violently buzzing bees. In this scenario however, Minaj is the retaliating queen of an interrupted hive. Her painful stings filled with aggression, vengeance, and most deadly of all, facts.
4. Lookin’ Ass
“Lookin’ Ass” is featured on Young Money Entertainment compilation album Young Money: Rise of An Empire. The song’s unofficial single cover received some backlash but the artistry was praised, and for good reason. “Lookin’ Ass” is a frustrated and once again, fed-up Nicki Minaj. Nicki lifts the skirts of her male counterparts so nonchalantly she may as well have made them spread their cheeks and cough. One by one, Minaj calls out all of the debauchery and façades she’s witnessed men partake in and exposes them to her listeners as real life lames. On “Lookin’ Ass”, the curtains are pulled back and the jig is up; so if you happened to be in the club sharing bottles and trying to run a credit card scam this song might not be for you.
5. Barbie Tingz
The GOAT’s return after a long hiatus from music, “Barbie Tingz”, is the first solo-single released from Nicki Minaj in 2018. Minaj came back with something to prove after music industry drama and bad press. “Barbie Tingz” addresses some of the slander and simultaneously reminds you why she’s the “female Weezy.” On this track she isn’t as worked up as she was on “Roman Reloaded.” Her energy here is confident, self-assured, and unbothered. The line, “I’m in my prime”, is believable as Nicki floats on the beat effortlessly. She’s a baseball player with sunflower seeds when it comes to her quick-witted verses. With a catchy beat and a classic Nicki flow, “Barbie Tingz” still manages to live up to its hype with each and every play.
