Nicki Minaj shuts down NYE ‘Starships’ performance — ‘I don’t like it’

“I don’t perform that song no more, y’all,” the rapper said at a performance in Miami.

Nicki Minaj won’t be going to the beach or getting a wave anytime soon.

The rapper began performing her 2012 hit single “Starships” at a New Year’s Eve performance at E11EVEN in Miami before abruptly stopping the song.

In a video posted to TikTok, Minaj gets a few lines into the opening verse of the song from Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, but seems somewhat unenthusiastic from the start, allowing the crowd to sing the majority of the lyrics for her. After just a few lines, Minaj waves her hand, signaling for the backing track to stop.

“Hold on. Psych, psych, psych, psych,” the rapper says. “I don’t perform that song no more, y’all. I don’t like it, what y’all want me to do? Stupid song.” She then appears to launch into “Super Bass,” reinvigorating the crowd.

Minaj has expressed her distaste for the track in the past. “I hate ‘Starships,’ I mean ew, ‘Starships?’” she told Pollstar Live in 2020. I’m like, ‘Why did I do that?’ I really think that every time I hear it.”

n the same interview, she also disparaged some of her other hits. “I wish I never recorded ‘Anaconda.’ I like the video but ugh,” she said. “My first ever solo song on Billboard was ‘Your Love.’ To this day I like the video but I hate the song. I could go on and on.”

Minaj had a busy year in 2023, releasing her fifth studio album Pink Friday 2 — a sequel to her 2010 debut record — in December. She also hosted the MTV VMAs for the second time, collaborated with Ice Spice on “Barbie World” (which is nominated for two Grammys) for the Barbie soundtrack, guested on albums by Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert, and launched a new fragrance in tandem with her album. She’s set to bring her international Pink Friday 2 World Tour to 37 cities between March and June.

By Wesley Stenzel 

Photo: Getty