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.

Ponytail
Nicki Minaj Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Nicki Minaj:]
Damn right a B*tch Qualified
I should work for Homicide
Kill these guys, Put em on forensic files
Uh... M-M-Man down when I bring da Lamb round
He say nicki u da best Hands down
Flyer than a Airlift
Pull it with no hairclips

Ponytail, no Scrunchie
Parrachute, No bungy
Peggy and Al Bundy
Ballin like Van Gundy
Alligator Heels on
Crocodile Dundy...

[Mya:]
Let me get that,
Slick back, put my hair in a ponytail, (ponytail),
And if you get that

Pull that
From da back, baby can you make me wet, (make me wet)

O oh oh...
That's fine
Oh oh oh
All night... If you Qualify

Just let me get that,
Slick back, put my hair in a ponytail, (ponytail),

Pull it, Pull it
Pull it, Pull it

Pull it Pull it
[x2]

Overall Meaning

In Nicki Minaj's song Ponytail, she talks about how qualified she is to do things that seem almost impossible, referencing working for homicide and putting guys on forensic files. She exudes complete confidence in her abilities and even goes on to talk about how she's unafraid of going against the norm with the lines "Ponytail, no Scrunchie, Parrachute, No bungy." She's daring and unconventional and revels in it. The lyrics consistently highlight her sense of superiority, both in terms of her impressive abilities and her fashion choices, as she compares herself to Peggy and Al Bundy, and wears alligator and crocodile heels.

In contrast, Mya's contribution to the song is far more sexualized. She sings about wanting to feel wet, and asks her partner to pull her hair, being turned on by being submissive. The hair in a ponytail seems to allude to this sense of submission, as this is a common hairstyle associated with BDSM. It is worth mentioning that the chorus of the song borrows from Olivia Newton-John's 1981 song "(Let's Get) Physical" with the repeating phrase "Let me get that" and the pull it chant.

This song is an interesting collaboration between two talented female artists, with contrasting styles but a shared focus on empowerment and owning one's sexuality. Overall, the lyrics reflect an unapologetic and confident attitude, highlighting the power that comes from embracing who you are and what you can do.

Line by Line Meaning

Damn right a B*tch Qualified
I am highly capable and deserving of success.

I should work for Homicide
I have the skills to investigate and solve crimes.

Kill these guys, Put em on forensic files
I am so powerful that I could bring men down and leave them as crime investigations.

Uh... M-M-Man down when I bring da Lamb round
I am so alluring that a man's downfall will happen when I'm around.

He say nicki u da best Hands down
People acknowledge me as one of the greatest (if not the greatest) in my field or craft.

Flyer than a Airlift
I am more stylish and fashionable than a cargo or passenger aircraft.

Pull it with no hairclips
I can achieve a hairstyle or look without any styling tool or accessory.

Ponytail, no Scrunchie
I can rock a ponytail hairstyle without needing any hair accessories.

Parrachute, No bungy
Just like a parachute can support a person's freefall, I can support myself without the help of anyone.

Peggy and Al Bundy
I'm making a reference to the TV series 'Married...With Children' whose main characters are Peggy and Al Bundy. I am living a luxurious and high-quality life similar to that of the show's creator.

Ballin like Van Gundy
I'm living a luxurious lifestyle similar to Jeff Van Gundy, a famous basketball coach and commentator.

Alligator Heels on
I'm wearing high-heeled shoes made of alligator leather.

Crocodile Dundy...
I am living a luxurious life similar to that of 'Crocodile' Dundee, a famous movie character.

Let me get that, Slick back, put my hair in a ponytail, (ponytail),
I want to put my hair in a sleek ponytail.

And if you get that Pull that From da back, baby can you make me wet, (make me wet)
If you know how I like my hair pulled back, can you also make me feel excited sexually?

That's fine Oh oh oh All night... If you Qualify
I'm willing to stay with you all night if you are good enough for me.

Pull it, Pull it Pull it, Pull it Pull it Pull it [x2]
Continue pulling my hair in a sexual manner.

Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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