I'm the Best

Nicki Minaj Pink Friday
Released	November 19, 2010
Format	Digital download
Genre	Pop,Rap,R&B
Length	3:36
Label	Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown
Writer	Onika Maraj Daniel Johnson
Producer	Kane Beatz

Pink Friday track listing
"I'm the Best" is track number 1.
Previous track —	Next track "Roman's Revenge"

"I'm the Best" is a song by Nicki Minaj from her debut studio album Pink Friday. The song is the opening track for the album. It was written by Minaj and Daniel Johnson. It was released on November 19, 2010, with the whole album.

Background

In Nicki Minaj's iTunes Ping, Nicki began a "Pink Friday Diaries" initiative wherein she gave her own insight on the conception, development, and meaning of a selection of songs on her upcoming album; her entry on "I'm the Best" is as follows:

"I'm the best" is the intro to my album. It chronicles my journey from underground rapper to border-line mainstream artist. It speaks about the doubters in my life and it speaks about overcoming every challenge I was ever faced with. It's a toast to the girls who've gone hard. Who've been told they'd never make it. It's also the only song where I speak about my family and childhood. Though hard to speak about at times, it's necessary for my healing process. #ItsPinkFridayHoe ;)

—Nicki Minaj, iTunes Ping "Pink Friday Diaries," November 10, 2010

On December 19, 2014, Minaj revealed during a CRWN interview with Elliot Willson that she "kinda hates" the song.

Composition

"I'm the Best" is in the key of D Major and follows the chord progression, "D, B-minor, G, A". The instrumentation features synths, a real violin during the bridge and rapid digital drumming.

Lyrically, the song is about Minaj's rise to fame, her new superstar life and that she doesn't care if male hip-hop heads don't give her some esteem because she is poised for something bigger.

Critical reception

I'm the Best received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Marc Hogan from Spin gave the song a very positive review calling it "triumphant" and appreciate Kane Beatz production saying that "it's at once origin myth and glass ceiling." Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stones called the song a "standout opener", noticing that "she's already rapping about the superstar life."

Bradley Stern from MuuMuse.com gave the song a poisitve review, stating that the song is one of the "exceptions" of the album: “If she wasn’t about to dwell on the matter for the duration of the album in a ceaseless flood of songs about making it big, the track would shine brightly." PrettyMuchAmazing.com reviewed that the song "while not devoid of rough patches, live up to that expectation."

Kathy Iandoli from HipHop DX gave the song a mixed review saying that "is geared for the mainstream" but compliment about Nicki's lyrics that "don’t falter, despite being clogged with a syrup drenched MPC."

Lyrics

"I'm The Best"

[Intro: Nicki Minaj] Uh, yo, yo [Verse 1: Nicki Minaj] It was back in '07, did a couple of tapes Did a couple DVDs, made a couple mistakes Didn't know what I was doing, but I put on a cape Now it's, "Which world tour should I go on today?" See, you told me I would lose, but I won I might cop a million Jimmy Choos just for fun 'Cause bitches couldn't take what was in me, Australia, Sydney Might run up in Disney, out in LA with Lindsay Got the eye of the tiger, the Lion of Judah Now it's me and my time, it's just me in my prime Everything I tried to teach 'em, they gon' see it in time Tell 'em bitches get a stick, I'm done leadin' the blind Got two shows tonight, that's Brooklyn and Dallas Then a private party at the Buckingham Palace Which means I gotta fly like a movie, no commercial That's Young Money, Cash Money, yeah, I'm Universal [Chorus: Nicki Minaj] I hear they comin' for me Because the top is lonely What the fuck they gon' say? What the fuck they gon' say? I'm the best bitch doing it, doing it I'm the best bitch doing it, doing it I'm the best, best, best, best I'm the best, best, best, best, I'm the best [Verse 2: Nicki Minaj] I remember when I couldn't buy my mother a couch Now I'm sitting at the closing, bought my mother a house You could never understand why I grind like I do Micaiah and Jelani why I grind like I do 'Cause even when my daddy was on crack, I was crack Now the whole album crack, you ain't gotta skip a track I ain't gotta get a plaque, I ain't gotta get awards I just walk up out the door, all the girls will applaud All the girls will commend as long as they understand That I'm fighting for the girls that never thought they could win 'Cause before they could begin, you told 'em it was the end But I am here to reverse the curse that they live in Got two bones to pick, I'ma only choose one You might get addressed on the second album Which means you can breathe 'til I motherfucking say so To all my bad bitches, I could see your halo [Chorus: Nicki Minaj] I hear they comin' for me Because the top is lonely What the fuck they gon' say? What the fuck they gon' say? I'm the best bitch doing it, doing it I'm the best bitch doing it, doing it I'm the best, best, best, best I'm the best, best, best, best, I'm the best [Bridge: Nicki Minaj] It's okay, it's okay Long as you know, long as you know Long as you motherfuckers know I'm the best, best, best, best, best, best [Chorus: Nicki Minaj] I hear they comin' for me (I hope they comin' for me) Because the top is lonely ('Cause the top is lonely) What the fuck they gon' say? (What they gon' say?) What the fuck they gon' say? (What they gon' say?) I'm the best bitch doing it, doing it I'm the best bitch doing it, doing it I'm the best, best, best, best (I'm the best) I'm the best, best, best, best (I'm the best) I'm the best

Credits

Recording:

• Recorded at: Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA
• Mixed at Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA & Daddy’s House Studios, NYC.

Personnel:

• Writers: O. Maraj, D. Johnson
• Producers: Kane Beats
• Recorded by: Ariel Chobaz
• Recording Assistant: Lyttleton “Cartwheel” Carter
• Mixed by: Ariel Chobaz
• Mix Assistant: Lyttleton “Cartwheel” Carter

The credits for "I'm the Best" are adapted from the liner notes of Pink Friday.