Nicki Minaj stands tall as one of the most influential female rappers of contemporary times, leaving an indelible mark on the music scene since her debut mixtape in the late 2000s. She hails from Queens, paved the way for artists like Cardi B and Doja Cat with her magnetic wordplay and bold personality, drawing inspiration from icons of the 1990s such as Foxy Brown and Lil Kim.
Her journey into the spotlight started with the release of her debut album, “Pink Friday,” in 2010. This album merged the raw lyrical prowess displayed in her earlier mixtapes like “Playtime Is Over” (2007) and “Beam Me Up Scotty” (2009) effortlessly with innovative and infectious production. Featuring singles such as the uplifting “Moment 4 Life” with collaborator Drake, the anthemic “Fly” alongside Rihanna, and the confident swagger of “Did It On ‘Em,” “Pink Friday” showcased Minaj’s gift for crafting effortlessly catchy pop-rap hits. Although, it was the track “Super Bass,” which happens to be her fifth single, that emerged as the most essential moment in Minaj’s career.
Compared to majority of the songs on Pink Friday, “Super Bass” is a catchy, bubblegum pop tune. Little wonder, given that it was co-written by Grammy-nominated songwriter Ester Dean (known for hits like Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” and Katy Perry’s “Firework”) and produced by Kane Beatz (who worked on tracks like Young Money’s “BedRock” and Trey Songz’s “Bottoms Up”).
The song features a mix of innocent sing-along choruses and catchy rap verses, with Nicki Minaj confessing her deep infatuation: “Boy, you got my heartbeat running away/Beating like a drum and it’s coming your way/Can’t you hear that boom-ba-doom-boom, boom-ba-doom-boom bass?”
Speaking on the set of the music video, Nicki Minaj explained that “Super Bass” is all about having a crush on someone and wanting to flirt with them in a playful way. The video perfectly captures this playful vibe she described with Minaj and her crew of dancers wearing matching outfits (complete with Minaj’s signature Barbie-pink hair) as they playfully interact with muscular men in the music video.
Listen to SUPER BASS here: https://youtu.be/4JipHEz53sU
“Super Bass” soared reaching the impressive position of No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, marking it as Nicki Minaj’s biggest single at the time. This achievement was notable as it became the highest-charting rap hit by a solo female artist since Missy Elliott’s “Work It” in 2002.
Adding to her accolades, Minaj’s album “Pink Friday” went triple platinum and secured the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making her only the fourth female rapper to achieve this milestone.
A significant catalyst for the success of “Super Bass” was the buzz generated by Taylor Swift three months prior to its release. During a radio interview with Nashville’s 107.5 in February 2011, Swift showcased her admiration for Minaj by rapping along to a relatively unknown track from “Pink Friday.” This unexpected endorsement sparked a viral trend, with many girls attempting to replicate Swift’s feat by rapping the entire verse of the song and from there, the snowball effect began.
Following “Super Bass,” Minaj has continued to dominate both the rap and pop worlds. She has also expanded into other business ventures (endorsement deals with MAC Cosmetics, her Queen Radio Beats 1 radio show amongst so many others) and she became a first-time mother in late 2020.
English