This is why Nicki Minaj refused to perform her 2012 hit song ‘Starships’ at New Year’s Eve show

During a New Year’s Eve performance at E11EVEN in Miami, Nicki Minaj trashed her 2012 hit single “Starships,” cutting the song short.

After just a few lines of Starships, Minaj waves her hand, signaling the backing track to stop, saying, “Hold on. Psych, psych, psych, psych.” “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 says as seen in a TikTok video. She begins to sing “Super Bass,” once again reinvigorating the crowd.

According to Hiphopdx, the 9 times platinum “Starships” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a huge hit for Minaj, but it became a huge point of contention between her and Hot 97 personality Peter Rosenberg months after its release.

While addressing the crowd at the 2012 Summer Jam, the radio host called the track “one of the most sellout songs in hip-hop history,” which led to Minaj canceling her scheduled performance at the annual festival that day. After that, the two fell out for a while before reconciling when Minaj returned to Hot 97 the following year.

Minaj told Pollstar Live in 2020, “I hate ‘Starships,’ I mean ew, ‘Starships?’ I’m like, ‘Why did I do that?’ I really think that every time I hear it.” She also told the outlet she wishes she had never recorded “Anaconda,” and “Your Love.”

Pink Friday 2, Minaj’s sequel to her 2010 debut album, is currently the highest-charting album of her career at the Billboard Hot 100. According to HNHH, this was her first new record in five years, following 2018’s Queen, and was a major endeavor for her. 

With 22 tracks, the album has a duration of approximately 70 minutes. Many well-known celebrities, including Drake, Future, Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi Vert, J. Cole, and others, are featured on several of the tracks.

The rapper-actress also co-hosted the MTV VMAs for the second time, worked with Ice Spice on the Barbie soundtrack’s “Barbie World” (which received two Grammy nominations), made guest appearances on Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert’s albums, and released a new fragrance to coincide with the release of her album.

Her international Pink Friday 2 World Tour is scheduled to visit 37 locations from March to June.