Nicki Minaj made a surprising announcement during her New Year’s Eve performance in Miami, officially retiring her 2012 hit “Starships.” In a fan-recorded video posted on social media, she began singing the song before abruptly stopping and expressing her dislike for it.
Addressing the audience, the 41-year-old rapper stated, “I don’t perform that song no more, y’all. I don’t like it; what y’all want me to do? Stupid song.”
Minaj has been vocal about her disdain for “Starships” and some of her other hits, mentioning in a 2020 interview that she regrets recording “Anaconda” and dislikes her first solo Billboard song, “Your Love.”
The history of Minaj’s dissatisfaction with “Starships” dates back to 2012 when a dispute with Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg at the station’s Summer Jam festival led to her cancelling her performance. This incident may have contributed to her tumultuous relationship with the song.
Despite this, Nicki Minaj’s highly anticipated album, “Pink Friday 2,” a sequel to her debut album, was released early last month on her birthday. Initially slated for an October 20, 2023 release, the album faced delays, pushing the date to November 17 and finally settling on December 8. The album, which includes 22 tracks and collaborations with artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, J. Cole, Future, and Lil Uzi Vert, has been well-received by fans.
Minaj had hinted at the album on social media in 2020 before officially announcing it in June 2023.