Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” has joined the Spotify Billions Club. The rapper’s breakout hit was the fifth single off her 2010 studio debut, Pink Friday. Ester Dean (Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” and Katy Perry’s “Firework”) and producer Kane Beatz (Young Money’s “BedRock,” Trey Songz’s “Bottoms Up”) were among the team that wrote the song alongside Minaj.
The bubblegum pop track features an extremely catchy chorus: “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?” “‘Super Bass’ is about the boy that you are crushing over,” Minaj told MTV News while on the set of the colorful music video. “And you kind of want to get your mack on, but you’re taking the playful approach.”
“Super Bass” peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. The accomplishment made it the highest-charting rap hit by a solo female artist since Missy Elliott’s “Work It” in 2002. The track was certified Diamond in 2021.
“Super Bass” became something of an early viral hit after Taylor Swift played the then-deep cut during a radio interview with Nashville’s 107.5 in February 2011. Selena Gomez soon shared her cover on YouTube and Minaj joined Swift onstage during her Speak Now tour’s Los Angeles stop. Most memorably, cousin duo Sophia Grace and Rosie’s viral cover caught Ellen DeGeneres’ attention, who invited the British mini-stars on her daytime talk show. Minaj later surprised the girls on the show and they performed the song together.
Last year, Minaj celebrated the 10th anniversary of her 2014 album The Pinkprint with a special, expanded edition with four new songs: “Turn Yo Cap Back (feat. Swae Lee),” “If It’s Okay (feat. David Guetta & Davido),” “Arctic Tundra (feat. Juice WRLD),” and “Remember Me (feat. Parker Ighile).”
Buy Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday on vinyl now.
