A salute to the 'Queen': Nicki Minaj's 15 best songs

It’s always a risk when labels choose to put two of the hottest artists on the same song. However, Nicki’s collaboration with Rihanna on “Fly” is all about winning and beating the odds. Riri’s vocals help push the song with more pop tones and became a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Any track with Nicki Minaj and Drake is the perfect sugar-and-spice combination. Both rappers can spit insane verses while also singing sweet melodies on a hook. Drake gives a few bars on “Moment 4 Life” while fans have the pleasure of hearing Nicki rap and sing.

The eccentric and quirky personalities between Nicki and Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am mesh perfectly on “Check It Out.” Their styles shine brightly in the music video, and the song became an instant club hit.

Nicki kept the pop melodic sound on her second single “Right Thru Me.” The video features the rapper and a love interest going through the ups and downs in a relationship. Her image in the video gave fans a chance to see her in a more natural light, instead of the costumes and colorful wigs she loves to adorn herself in.

Fans can always count on Nicki for releasing catchy songs, but the hook on “Super Bass” is one of her most memorable ones to date. Thanks to co-writer Ester Dean, who is known for cranking out hits for artists like Rihanna, Katy Perry and Beyonce, “Super Bass” is a fan favorite.

Nicki has the type of personality that can go from one wavelength to the next between rapid-fire verses and smoother bars. “Your Love,” heavily shows a softer side to her tone, melodies and visuals.

The sound on “Starships” was a different sound for Nicki with its heavy EDM production. It’s on the far end of the spectrum from her cypher days on the mixtape scene; however it was an essential move for broadening her fan base.

“Right By My Side” was the second single released from her sophomore album, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.” She teamed up with production duo Pop & Oak and recruited Chris Brown on additional vocals. While it's mostly a pop love ballad, a Nicki rap verse doesn’t show up until near the end of the song. 

Nicki went back to her hardcore and grimy rap on “Beez in the Trap.” It was only right that she recruited Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz to lend a verse as well. 

It’s a Young Money reunion as Nicki recruits Drake and Lil Wayne on “Only,” with Chris Brown singing the hook. Whenever the Young Money crew gets together, it’s sure to be a fire song.

Her third album, “The Pinkprint,” spawned a number of chart-topping songs, but her highest charting single to date is “Anaconda.” The song samples Sir Mix-a-Lot’s 1992 hit track “Baby Got Back,” and Nicki is all about flaunting her vivacious curves, making the song and video the perfect fit.

The Young Money team continues to rise on the charts with hit collaborations. On “Truffle Butter,” Nicki teamed up with Drake and Lil Wayne again for another fan favorite. Producer Nineteen85 handled the work behind the boards. He’s known for producing massive hits such as Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home.”

The queens are in formation! Nicki called on the queen Beyonce for her boastful single “Feeling Myself.” In the video, fans get to see Bey and Nicki be comfortable and confident in their own skins. Like Nicki so effortlessly says on the song, “Pretty on fleek!”

Although it wasn’t an official single, Nicki decided to put her own twist to Rae Sremmurd’s hit song, “Black Beatles.” Naturally, she had to use it as an homage to her fan base by properly titling it “Black Barbies.”

Hip-hop wouldn’t be the same without a little rap beef. In 2017, fellow rapper Remy Ma dropped a diss track aimed toward Nicki titled “Shether.” Nicki decided to call on Drake and Lil Wayne in response on "No Frauds," and the song became a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.