With the success of Ice Spice‘s “Princess Diana (Remix),” collaborator Nicki Minaj landed her 10th No. 1 record on Billboard‘s Hot Rap Songs Chart. This is not to be confused with the Billboard Hot 100 Chart or their Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, even as the Queens, New York native has contributed smashes to all three throughout her career.
To commemorate Minaj becoming the first woman to reach double-digits on the chart, VIBE is ranking the MCs No. 1 entries, from her first rap “hit” to her latest, and every one in-between.
For clarity’s sake, this is not a list of Minaj’s best verses (“Monster”, “Lookin’ A**”, etc.) nor a countdown of her overall best songs (“Good Form”, “We Go Up,” etc.), but a ranking of the hits that spoke to rap fans via Billboard’s top bullet.
Check out Nicki Minaj’s Top 10 No. 1s below.
"TROLLZ" 6ix9ine Ft. Nicki Minaj
6ix9ine’s second single following his brief prison stint, “TROLLZ” found the controversial Brooklyn kid tapping back in with The Queen following their first collab, 2018’s “Fefe.”
While Nicki does her job with the bars, the track overall is forgettable, likely ascending to the top of the chart thanks to the legal drama surrounding the song’s lead artist at the time. Its fleeting appeal was proven soon after the song went No. 1, as it dropped to No. 34 on the Hot 100 chart the following week, one of the worst declines in chart history.
That said, proceeds from the song were donated to The Bail Project Inc., which provides free bail assistance to low-income individuals. So that’s something.
"Anaconda"
“Anaconda” is one of Minaj’s most divisive tracks, with even some of her die-hard Barbs calling attention to the gimmicky nature of the Sir-Mix-A-Lot-sampled song.
That said, Minaj’s consistently impressive habit of switching up her flow to dictate the energy of the track is on full display within the smash as she waxes poetic over her curves, encouraging women who “got much back” to stand confident in their figures at a time when the body positive movement was just catching wind.
“F**k those skinny b*tches at the club” indeed.
"Super Freaky Girl"
Another Minaj track leaning heavily on an old school sample, 2022’s “Super Freaky Girl” was met with similar critique as “Anaconda,” in many ways feeling like an extension of the 2014 hit.
While the beat is undoubtedly pop-leaning, she still proves herself to be a wordsmith, which explains Minaj’s confusion at discussion surrounding the song potentially being placed in a pop category at the GRAMMYs rather than a rap one.
Unfortunately, the Recording Academy continues to do sis dirty, as the undeniable smash ended up being ignored altogether.
"Make Me Proud" Drake Ft. Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj has a habit of murdering artists on their own sh*t, and treated her Young Money brethren Drake no differently when she hopped on his 2011 track “Make Me Proud.”
Both MCs hold their own on the Take Care favorite, but Minaj’s stuttered intro onto the track awakens passive listeners with its dominating presence, proven by producers Nikhil Seetharam and T-Minus’ decision to drop the beat as she begins to spit.
Personifying the baddie Drizzy describes in the first verse, Minaj cascades over the track while bragging on Malibu mansions, several business deals, her sex game, and more, hopping in and out of her “Roman” persona throughout. Her varied vocal inflections also keep things interesting, even when questionable bars (“I’m a star, sheriff badge”) are dropped. Still, Minaj’s presence makes the track a standout on an album many still consider to be Drake’s best body of work.
"Do We Have A Problem?" Ft. Lil Baby
As her first single in years following 2018’s Queen, Minaj’s loyal following pounced on the opportunity to support the Head Barb In Charge when she finally dropped “Do We Have A Problem?” in 2022, sending it to No. 1 via massive support from fans who missed the (at the time) elusive spitter.
Minaj was the first to admit that Lil Baby may have out-rapped her on “Do We Have A Problem?,” but she definitely more than held her own on the track, clearly pushing her pen in part due to having a sparring partner who wouldn’t let up.
The no-nonsense tone of the record was meant to reiterate her boss status while its hook highlights her gift for melody. The Heavy On It exec also dropped a fire video to coincide with the release and used the single to set up future bangers like “Bussin'” and “We Go Up.”
Her next body of work is still highly anticipated, and the Barbz will surely go back to this banger until she officially blesses the masses, and we have no problem with that.
"Princess Diana" Ice Spice Ft. Nicki Minaj
Minaj’s 10th No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, the Queens chick skates on Ice Spice‘s latest single, with catchy lines to accompany the original track’s already earworm status.
While picking up Spice’s cadence for her own verse is child’s play, the MC still manages to impress with her own witty lines that simultaneously set her apart as a lyricist while sustaining her relevance among new girls like Spice, Doja and the like. Linking up with the Bronx artist also display’s Nicki’s eye for talent, crowning the “Munch” artist the “People’s Princess” as she partners up with Minaj’s Heavy On It Records.
In addition to being Minaj’s 10th No. 1, the track is also Ice Spice’s first, setting the tone for a potentially iconic career.
“Red Ruby Da Sleeze”
Minaj has always taken pride in her pen, often critiquing rappers who employ ghostwriters and dismissing them as faux versions of the bar gods she grew to love as a child of Hip-Hop culture. With 2023’s “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” Minaj crafted one of her most bar-heavy joints, even as the Lumidee “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” sample distracts from the lines themselves in favor of setting a party vibe for the gangstas within earshot.
The opening bar itself is literally a quintuple entendre, and she only gets better from there. Even when sending subliminal shots at her peers, she keeps it clever and interesting. The aforementioned sample also provides some welcome nostalgia and falls in line with several of today’s hits within pop, R&B and Hip-Hop.
“Red Ruby Da Sleaze” also just gave Minaj her latest Gold plaque, and definitely has the legs to carry it to platinum status.
"Your Love"
The first official single from her debut studio album Pink Friday, “Your Love” stands as Minaj’s first No. 1 record on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
The vulnerable showing was a departure from the slick talking, New York baddie that mixtape fans fell in love with, showcasing a softer side usually reserved for fans of her more emotional album cuts. That tenderness went a long way in introducing the artist as more than a one-trick, bad bi**h pony, because as we know now, she’s so much more.
A generation of young fans have an emotional attachment to the track, as it scored many a teenage love affair when it dropped in 2010, while true music heads couldn’t help but crack a smile at that sample of Annie Lennox’s 1995 version of “No More I Love You’s.”Mass appeal was built into “Your Love,” and it went on to undoubtedly be thee Minaj record that turned the girl from Southside into a household name.
"Only" Ft. Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown
“Only” gave Minaj back-to-back No. 1s as the third single from 2014’s The Pinkprint, following the aforementioned “Anaconda.”
With “Only,” the rapstress gave those complaining of “Anaconda” and it’s massive mainstream appeal a reason to pay attention again, grabbing Hip-Hop fans’ ears with co*cky rhymes matched by her YM fam, Drake and Lil Wayne. While it’s Nicki’s enigmatic persona that draws in listeners, both Drizzy and Wayne have stand-out moments as well, a rarity on tracks featuring multiple artists. The Big 3 have set several tracks ablaze over the years, and this is one of the most memorable, showcasing an undeniable chemistry between the trio of titans.
The lazy flow implemented is drenched in attitude and confidence while their provocative lyrics and name dropping keeps listeners at attention until Breezy hits the hook.
It also received a nomination forBest Rap/Sung Collaborationat the58th Grammy Awards and is still considered one of the best collabs of Nicki’s career almost a decade later, which speaks volumes to the power of Young Money when on their A-game.
"Moment 4 Life" Ft. Drake
Minaj was blessed with her second Hot Rap Songs Chart topper with “Moment 4 Life,” which should’ve come as no surprise. Production from T-Minus perfectly walked the line between Hip-Hop and pop, laying the foundation for Nicki to masterfully conquer multiple genres, even within a single song.
As diverse as her fanbase is, no one feels slighted with “Moment 4 Life.” Rap fans can’t deny Nicki as she spits of her glow up while Drizzy drops zingers highlighting the good life. Others bask in the whimsy of the song’s heartfelt hook and revel in hearing Minaj bust out those vocals, not to mention the accompanying video giving Cinderella a swaggy update.
Similarly to “Your Love,” there’s a level of nostalgia baked into the record, as it begs the listener to cherish the moment, cementing memories formed when first hearing the reflective tune, and the best music — of any genre — is the kind that will stick with you. Travel with you. Score some of the best times of your life, and “Moment 4 Life” does just that.
