8 best Nicki Minaj songs that showcase her rap royalty

Nicki Minaj has sported many names in her career, Harajuku Barbie, Nicki the Ninja, Nicki the Boss, each one showing a different side of her colorful personality. But behind these aliases stands an artist whose success on the charts has made her one of the most important rappers of her time. Nicki Minaj was born in Trinidad and brought up in Queens.

Nicki Minaj started her rise in 2009 when Lil Wayne signed her as the first woman to his Young Money label. This kicked off a journey that would soon change hip-hop, with her explosive first album, Pink Friday (2010), proving she was both a pop culture icon and a skilled lyricist. Over time, she's earned many awards, including ten No. 1 hits on the Hot Rap Songs chart and over a hundred songs on the Billboard Hot 100, a record no woman had set before her.

Yet, it took until 2020 for her to get her first No. 1 on the Hot 100, thanks to her remix of Doja Cat's popular song Say So. Her first solo chart-topper came in 2022 with Super Freaky Girl, a bold anthem using a Rick James sample that showed off her unique mix of bold appeal and clever wordplay.

While big success at the top of the charts came later in her career, Nicki Minaj had long been a regular on the charts, her music full of daring hits, fierce comebacks, and inspiring anthems. From her pink wigs to her platinum records, her reign isn't just about numbers, but about how much she's changed the game.

Nicki Minaj's big hit on the charts is on par with how she changed the game. She changed the role of women in rap when the field saw them as one-hit acts or just for show. Her skill, quick flow, many alter egos, changing accents, and deep word use made a new mark, making the style see her as more than just her look. She mixed pop acts with tough rap fights.

Her presence in the 2010s also created space for a new generation of women in hip-hop, artists like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Doja Cat, who navigated success without having to compromise identity or ambition.

Though her legacy is often debated in terms of accolades, her imprint is visible in the sonic, visual, and cultural shifts that followed her breakout. The industry didn’t evolve around Nicki Minaj, it was forced to respond to her.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. The reader's discretion is advised!

Here are the top 8 best Nicki Minaj songs that showcase her rap royalty

Here are the top 8 songs by Nicki Minaj that show she's rap royalty, songs that not only show her smart wordplay, but also how she grew to rule in hip-hop. From big verses that left others trying to catch up, to big hits that showed her bold style to the world, these tracks make it clear why Nicki Minaj is not just talked about, she is the mark to meet.

Each song shows a different part of her craft: her big show-like roles, her sharp words, her easy moves between music types, and the bold way she holds herself that's become her mark. These are not just loved by fans or top chart songs; they are times that changed the scene and reminded everyone why Nicki stays on top.

1) Come On a Cone (2012)

Dropped in 2012 as part of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Come on a Cone stands out as one of Nicki Minaj's wildest and most dramatic shows of power. This song blends crazy humor, dream-like wordplay, and raw confidence into an explosive mix. Instead of following the usual rap diss playbook, Nicki Minaj turns unpredictability into her weapon.

Nicki Minaj jumps between fancy brand names, over-the-top comparisons, and quick-changing flows that make it hard to tell if she's joking or just showing off. At its heart, the track isn't so much about well-planned insults as it is about putting on a show.

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Nicki Minaj throws out bold statements with a cartoon-like flair and fearless attitude. One line stands out, both crude and playful: "If you wasn't so ugly, I'd put my dick in yo' face!" This shows how she can switch from funny exaggeration to biting insults in a single breath. While she doesn't point fingers, this jab has to do with her long-running beef with Lil Kim, adding a touch of dramatic rivalry to an already off-the-wall track.

2) Your Love (2010)

Before she hit big as a pop-rap star, Nicki Minaj was known for great guest spots and sharp lines, but Your Love in 2010 was a key turn. It was her first own song to hit the charts. It showed a soft side under her tough act.

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The song used a deep bit of Annie Lennox’s No More I Love You's. Here, Nicki Minaj dropped her hard edge for a soft, love-filled tune that mixed true love feels with odd bits, from Die Hard to holy words. It was a mix of rap song and deep heart words, and no one saw it coming. The one she sang about must have moved her a lot to even touch one of rap's bold new voices.

3) Marilyn Monroe (2012)

Nicki Minaj's Marilyn Monroe, which came out in 2012, shows a side of her that her big rap persona often hides. People who review music often make fun of her singing, saying she's just a rapper trying to be a pop singer. But this song proves she uses Auto-Tune as a way to create style, not as something to lean on. It adds to the song's fake but emotional feel. Instead of trying to sing, Nicki Minaj chooses to sound more open and tuneful.

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This fits with what the song is about: not feeling sure of yourself, not being perfect, and feeling fragile. The words she sings sound like she's telling secrets. They make her seem like someone dealing with how hard it is to be famous and have everyone watching you. She compares herself to Marilyn Monroe, another woman who lived in the spotlight but had a lot of inner struggles.

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What makes this comparison work well isn't just that it's clever. It's how Nicki Minaj weaves it into her own story. She doesn't just talk about Monroe to seem glamorous or to make people think of the past. She uses her like a mirror, hinting at how much it costs to keep up the image people want to see. By doing this, Nicki Minaj changes what people expect.

She shows that even when her music sounds most like pop, she's still telling a deep story about who she is, being vulnerable, and making it through tough times.

4) Va Va Voom (2012)

Va Va Voom was planned to be the track that kicked off the Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded era, but instead, the more aggressive version of it was released, but not everyone liked that choice at first. Because of that call, Va Va Voom had to wait about six months before it was released, and people were maybe getting impatient, but the wait was proven to be worth it.

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In contrast to Starships, which goes all in with party energy and speed, Va Va Voom brings a gentler feel. The song is about glamour, bold feelings, and shameless longing. The chorus, with shiny, sweet-packed sounds, is held together by a smooth production, with Nicki Minaj singing in a way that easily flips from being shy and suggestive to strong and full of attitude.

Forbidden romance is what the words in this song dance with, a theme Nicki Minaj brings up in this track, because it is what helps the song keep its place. Va Va Voom can really be called one of Nicki Minaj's strongest and most catchy pop songs, looking back. In the end, the delay actually worked.

It could stand on its own and not just be part of Nicki Minaj's signature sound, and she showed again that she makes hits for the radio that stick in your head. Nicki Minaj's ability to move from party music to pop-flirt tracks is not something all artists can do.

5) Bed of Lies (2014)

Bed of Lies came out with The Pinkprint in 2014. It's a big turn for Nicki Minaj, showing a side of her that’s more open, different from her past songs. This song moves away from the bold, bright images she used to show off. Instead, it digs into the pain after a love ends, and people think this is about her break-up with Safaree Samuels. Skylar Grey's soft hook makes the mood sad, giving Nicki Minaj room to talk about hurt, hard feelings, and being open in a sharp way.

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As she goes on, her talk gets firm, and by the next part, her anger starts to show, but not in a way that hurts her sharp words. In her work, known for big shows and strong lines, Bed of Lies shines as a very real and calm point. It's one of Nicki Minaj's deepest and most packed moments.

6) Did It On 'Em (2010)

Among the most daring tracks on Nicki Minaj's first album, Pink Friday, Did It On 'Em stands out as a wild, funny, and in-your-face anthem that shows the real, unfiltered Nicki from her early days. Instead of playing it safe with radio-friendly lyrics, she goes all out with outrageous lines, saying things so crude they become legendary.

With a simple stuttering beat in the background, Nicki Minaj drops an unforgettable line that walks the line between tough talk and humor, challenging listeners to either back away or cheer her on.

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But there's more to it than just shock value: it's a celebration of her unique style. The hook is just as weird, and it shows how Minaj breaks free from what people expect of women, cleanliness, and proper behavior in hip hop. It's rough, bold, and 100% her, proving that Minaj saw embracing the shocking as a way to show her strength and personality when she first started.

7) Moment 4 Life (2010)

In Pink Friday, the song Moment 4 Life stands out. It shows two sides of Nicki Minaj’s early work: joy and open feelings. With Drake from Young Money, the song plays out over big strings and strong music, as they both enjoy their new fame.

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Yet, under all the wins, there's a soft, weak spot. Minaj's hook, "I wish that I could have this moment for life," is not just a cheer for good times; it tells us that every high will fade. By seeing how brief success can be, Minaj makes the song deep and lasting, more than just another win, but a very own and timeless piece.

8) The Boys (2012)

Minaj dropped The Boys in 2012 featuring Cassie. This song didn't make big waves on the charts, but it's one of Nicki's more out-there pop tunes. Instead of going for an easy radio hit, she mixed up folk, pop, and dancehall in a weird and fun way.

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Cassie's dreamy voice holds down the chorus, sounding cool and distant. The lyrics flip the script on guys who show off their money, making fun of men who use wealth to cover up their lack of personality. Nicki spits her lines with sharp humor, throwing in random pop culture bits, even mentioning the '90s TV show Blossom, which shows off her knack for odd jokes.

While The Boys didn't climb the charts, it's still a hidden treasure in her catalog, a bold move that might not have brought in big numbers but proved she's not afraid to take chances.

Nicki Minaj's songs show her growth with bold new tries, sharp words, and mixing many music types. From her first mixtapes to big albums, she's always tried new things, mixing rap with pop, R&B, dancehall, and even rock, to make her own spot in music.

She can switch from tough lines to fun tunes with ease, making her a key voice of her time. More than just hits, Minaj's music shows her skills in many ways, her way of telling stories, and her big effect on culture, making sure her mark as one of the top women rappers today stays strong.