: Minaj references her real name ("My name is Onika, you can call me Nicki") and includes direct, profanity-laced lyrics about self-ownership ("Jump in my hoopty... I own that") and social dismissal ("But f*** who you want, and f*** who you like"). Artistic Controversy and Minaj’s Stance
: Built around the infectious refrain, "Starships were meant to fly / Hands up and touch the sky," which encourages a carefree, "high" state of mind. Nicki Minaj - Starships (Explicit)
: It has amassed over 1.5 billion streams on Spotify and debuted in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Lyrical Content (Explicit Version) : Minaj references her real name ("My name
: Produced by RedOne , Rami, and Carl Falk, with writing credits including Onika Maraj (Nicki Minaj) and Wayne Hector. : It has amassed over 1
"Starships" is a landmark dance-pop and Europop track by Nicki Minaj, released on February 14, 2012, as the lead single from her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded . While it became one of the best-selling singles of all time, it remains one of the most polarizing songs in Minaj's career—both for critics and the artist herself. Key Facts and Production
The Official Music Video , directed by Anthony Mandler, was filmed in Oahu, Hawaii. It features Minaj as a pink-haired extraterrestrial who arrives on a beach, joining a vibrant, neon-colored party that reflects the song's "let's go to the beach" opening line.