Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (née Maraj; born December 8, 1982), known professio… Read Full Bio ↴Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (née Maraj; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj (/ˈnɪki mɪˈnɑːʒ/ NIK-ee min-AHZH), is a Trinidadian-born[a] rapper, singer, and songwriter. Often referred to as the "Queen of Rap", she is known for her musical versatility, animated rap flow, and various alter egos. She first gained recognition after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009. Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday (2010), topped the US Billboard 200 chart; its single "Super Bass" reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was later certified diamond by the RIAA. Its follow-up, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), explored dance-pop and topped the Billboard 200, spawning the hit single “Starships”. Her next album, The Pinkprint (2014), marked a return to her hip hop roots. Its single "Anaconda" peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and became the first music video by a solo female rapper to reach one billion views on YouTube. Her 2019 collaboration with Karol G, "Tusa", became the longest-running number-one single on the Argentina Hot 100 chart. She achieved her first two US number-one singles in 2020 with the collaborations "Say So (Remix)" with Doja Cat and "Trollz" with 6ix9ine. In 2022, she earned her first solo number one on the Hot 100 with "Super Freaky Girl", the lead single from her fifth album, Pink Friday 2 (2023), which also debuted atop the Billboard 200.

Minaj is one of the best-selling music artists with 100 million records sold worldwide.[7] Billboard ranked her as the top-selling female rapper of the 2010s and one of the greatest rappers of all time.[8][9] She is the only female rapper to have 3 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart.

I’m The Best
Nicki Minaj Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was back in '07 did a couple of tapes
Did a couple DVD's made a couple mistakes
Didn't know what I was doing, but I put on a cape
Now it's which World Tour should I go on and take
See you told me I would lose but I won
I might cop a million Jimmy Choo's just for fun
'Cause bitches couldn't take what was in me
Australia, Sydney

Might run up in Disney, out in L.A. with Lindsey
Got the eye of the tiger, the lion of Judah
Now it's me in my time, it's just me in my prime
Everything I tried to teach 'em, they gon' see it in time
Tell them bitches get a stick, I'm done leadin' the blind
Got two shows tonight, that's Brooklyn and Dallas (Dallas)
Then a private party at the Buckingham palace (palace)
Which means I gotta fly like a movie no commercial
That's Young Money, Cash Money, yeah, I'm Universal

I hear they comin' for me
Because the top is lonely
What the fuck they gon' say?
What the fuck they gon' say?
I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it
I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it
I'm the best, best, best, best
I'm the best, best, best, best
I'm the best

I remember when I couldn't buy my mother a couch
Now I'm sittin' at the closin' bought my mother a house
You could never understand why I grind like I do
Mikiyah and Gulani why I grind like I do
'C-c-cause even when my daddy was on crack, I was cracked
Now the whole album crack you ain't gotta skip a track
I ain't gotta get a plaque, I ain't gotta get awards
I just walk up out the door, all the girls will applaud
All the girls will commend, as long as they understand
That I'm fighting for the girls, that never thought they could win
'Cause before they could begin you told 'em it was the end
But I am here to reverse the curse that they live in
Got two bones to pick, I'ma only choose one (one)
You might get addressed on the second album
Which means you can breath, tell that motherfucker say so
To all my bad bitches, I can see your halo

I hear they comin' for me
Because the top is lonely
What the fuck they gon' say?
What the fuck they gon' say?
I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it
I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it
I'm the best, best, best, best
I'm the best, best, best, best
I'm the best

Ah, it's okay
It's okay, long as you know
Long as you know
Long as you motherfuckers know
I'm the best, best, best, best

I hear they comin' for me (I hope they're comin' for me)
Because the top is lonely ('cause the top is lonely)
What the fuck they gon' say? (What they gon' say?)
What the fuck they gon' say? (What they gon' say?)
I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it
I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it
I'm the best, best, best, best (I'm the best)

I'm the best, best, best, best (I'm the best)
I'm the best

Overall Meaning

In "I'm The Best," Nicki Minaj reflects on her rise to fame and success as a rapper. She acknowledges her early mistakes but asserts that she always knew she was destined for greatness. The opening lines, "It was back in '07 did a couple of tapes/Did a couple DVD's made a couple mistakes/Didn't know what I was doing, but I put on a cape," are a testament to her determination to overcome the obstacles she faced and to continue to push herself to achieve more. She also speaks to the criticisms she received from others, particularly other female rappers who may have been threatened by her talent and ambition. However, she remains confident in her abilities and asserts that she is the best at her craft.

The chorus, "I hear they coming for me/Because the top is lonely/What the fuck they gon' say?/I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it," is a reminder that with success comes envy and jealousy from those who may not have been as successful or who simply don't want to see someone else surpass them. Nicki Minaj acknowledges this reality but does not let it deter her from her goals.

The final verse is a personal one for Nicki, as she reflects on her upbringing in difficult circumstances and her determination to succeed despite the challenges she faced. However, she also recognizes that her success is not just for herself, but for all the girls and women who may have been told that they couldn't win. She sees herself as a role model and a fighter for those who have been underestimated or overlooked in their pursuits.

Overall, "I'm The Best" is a self-affirming anthem for Nicki Minaj and for all those who aspire to greatness, despite the obstacles they may face.

Line by Line Meaning

It was back in '07 did a couple of tapes
I started creating music in 2007 with a few tapes

Did a couple DVD's made a couple mistakes
I also made a few DVDs, but I admit that I made some mistakes in the process

Didn't know what I was doing, but I put on a cape
Even though I was unsure of what I was doing, I acted with confidence and determination

Now it's which World Tour should I go on and take
Years later, I have such success that I am trying to choose which world tour to go on

See you told me I would lose but I won
People doubted me in the past, but I ended up winning

I might cop a million Jimmy Choo's just for fun
I'm so successful that I could afford to spend lots of money on luxury shoes for pure enjoyment

'Cause bitches couldn't take what was in me
Other women tried to bring me down, but they couldn't handle my inner strength and talent

Australia, Sydney Might run up in Disney, out in L.A. with Lindsey
I travel the world, performing concerts and spending time with important people like Lindsey Lohan

Got the eye of the tiger, the lion of Judah
I am confident and powerful like a tiger and lion

Now it's me in my time, it's just me in my prime
This is my time to shine and I am at my absolute best

Everything I tried to teach 'em, they gon' see it in time
Others will eventually understand and appreciate the lessons I tried to teach them

Tell them bitches get a stick, I'm done leadin' the blind
I'm tired of leading people who are too stubborn or ignorant to see the truth, they need to figure it out on their own

Got two shows tonight, that's Brooklyn and Dallas (Dallas) Then a private party at the Buckingham palace (palace) Which means I gotta fly like a movie no commercial That's Young Money, Cash Money, yeah, I'm Universal
I have a busy schedule and must quickly travel to different locations because of my record label, Young Money Cash Money, and my Universal distribution

I remember when I couldn't buy my mother a couch Now I'm sittin' at the closin' bought my mother a house
I used to struggle financially and couldn't afford basic things for my family, but now I can buy them a whole house

You could never understand why I grind like I do Mikiyah and Gulani why I grind like I do
My children are my motivation to work hard and succeed

'C-c-cause even when my daddy was on crack, I was cracked Now the whole album crack you ain't gotta skip a track
Even with the struggles of my personal life, I still created great music that doesn't have any weak songs

I ain't gotta get a plaque, I ain't gotta get awards I just walk up out the door, all the girls will applaud All the girls will commend, as long as they understand That I'm fighting for the girls, that never thought they could win
I don't need validation from awards or plaques, my audience appreciates my music and I'm proud to empower other women who didn't think they could be successful

'Cause before they could begin you told 'em it was the end But I am here to reverse the curse that they live in
Society has told women that they can't succeed, but I am here to change that mindset and show other women that they can be successful too

Got two bones to pick, I'ma only choose one (one) You might get addressed on the second album
I have a problem with someone, but I will only address it in one of my future albums

Which means you can breathe, tell that motherfucker say so To all my bad bitches, I can see your halo
The person who has a problem with me can relax, as I am not focused on them, and I'm able to appreciate all of the women who support me

Ah, it's okay It's okay, long as you know Long as you know Long as you motherfuckers know I'm the best, best, best, best
It's okay if people doubt my talent, as long as I know that I am the best at what I do

I hear they comin' for me (I hope they're comin' for me) Because the top is lonely ('cause the top is lonely) What the fuck they gon' say? (What they gon' say?) What the fuck they gon' say? (What they gon' say?) I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it I'm the best bitch doin' it, doin' it I'm the best, best, best, best (I'm the best) I'm the best, best, best, best (I'm the best) I'm the best
People may try to take me down because being at the top can be lonely, but I know that I am the best at what I do

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Johnson, Onika Tanya Maraj, Ashanti Floyd

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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