As Nicki Minaj celebrates her 37th birthday, what better time than the present to salute the hit song responsible for turbo-charging the success of the prolific Rap Queen.
Today’s From The Vault pick is the ever-booming ‘Super Bass.’
Released in 2011, the tune was penned by Minaj alongside Ester Dean – who also sings its catchy chorus.
The Hip-Pop number helped shape the career of the rapper as a crossover artist.
‘Super Bass’ was Nicki’s first of many worldwide Top 10’s – peaking at #3 in the US, #8 in the UK and #6 in both Canada and Australia.
The track’s video was directed by Sanaa Hamri. A colorful affair, it saw Onika and her girls engaging in playful choreography and eyeing up muscled eye-candy. The glow-in-the-dark scene remains one of Minaj’s most memorable visuals moments to date.
‘Bass’ bagged an MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video during that year’s ceremony and as of today has been viewed over 800 million times on YouTube.
Following co-signs from Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, this song was inescapable to the masses and really put Ms Maraj on the map. While many have criticised its pop leanings, it undoubtedly elevated Nicki to a level not many (if any) femcees had reached before and was the beginning of a new era for the genre.
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No matter how it’s diced or sliced, Nicki’s influence on the music industry this decade has been undeniable. From her sound to her aesthetic, she has served a key player in the Pop cultural landscape and single handedly brought the female rap game back to life on mainstream scale.
Hopefully her current time off helps her recenter so she can go back to doing what she does best: crafting music’s most delicious bops akin to this.
Happy Birthday, Queen!