Wikia

	Nicki Minaj; Pink Friday
Released	November 19, 2010
Format	Digital download
Genre	Hip hop, R&B, pop
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 the debut studio album Pink Friday. The song is the first track on the album. It was written by Onika Maraj, and Daniel Johnson, and it was produced by Kane Beatz. It was released on November 19, 2012, with the whole album.

BackgroundEdit

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:^[1]

"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

CompositionEdit

"I'm the Best" features synths and snapping drum programming.^[2]

Lyrically, the song is about Minaj rise to the fame, her new superstar life^[3] and that she don't care if male hip-hop heads don't give her some esteem because she is poised for something bigger: the pop realm.^[2]

Critical receptionEdit

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."^[2] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stones called the song a "standout opener", noticing that "she's already rapping about the superstar life."^[3]

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."^[4] PrettyMuchAmazing.com reviewed that the song "while not devoid of rough patches, live up to that expectation."^[5]

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."^[6]

CreditsEdit

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.^[7]

LyricsEdit

"I'm the Best" (Nicki Minaj) ^[8]

Uh, yo. Yo.
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 whats in me
Australia, Sydney
Might run up in Disney
Out in LA with Lindsey.
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 them bitches get a stick, I'm done leading 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.

I hear they coming 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,
I'm the best bitch doing it.
I'm the best best best best
I'm the best best best best

Yo, yo, 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.
Miciah and Jelani why I grind like I do.
Cause even when my daddy was on crack, I was crack
Now the whole album's 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 them it was the end
But I am here to reverse the curse that they live in.
Got two bones to pick, I'm a only choose one,
You might get addressed on the second album
Which means you can breathe until I mothafucking say so.
To all my bad bitches I can see your halo.

I hear they coming 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,
I'm the best bitch doing it.
I'm the be be best.
I am the Best!

Eh, Eh, it's okay.
It's okay.
Long as you know,
Long as you know,
Long as you mothafuckin know, I am the best best best best. I'm the best best best best...

I hear they coming 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!

ReferencesEdit

↑ Pink Friday Diaries on Nicki Miaj's Facebook page Retrieved June 18, 2012.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Pink Friday Review by Marc Hogan, Spin.com Retrieved June 18, 2012.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Pink Friday - Album Review - Rolling Stones Retrieved June 18, 2012.
↑ Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday (Album Review) by Bradley Stern Retrieved June 18, 2012
↑ ALBUM REVIEW: Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday Retrieved June 18, 2012.
↑ Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday by Kathy Iandoli Retrieved June 18, 2012.
↑ Digital booklet of Pink Friday
↑ AZ Lyrics: NICKI MINAJ LYRICS - I'm the Best at AZlyrics Retrieved June 27, 2012.

Start a Discussion Discussions about I'm the Best

You can find discussions about everything related to this wiki on Nicki Minaj Wiki Forum!

[0] Pink Friday Diaries on Nicki Miaj's Facebook page Retrieved June 18, 2012.

[spin-1] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Pink Friday Review by Marc Hogan, Spin.com Retrieved June 18, 2012.

[roll-2] 3.0 ^3.1 Pink Friday - Album Review - Rolling Stones Retrieved June 18, 2012.

[3] Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday (Album Review) by Bradley Stern Retrieved June 18, 2012

[4] ALBUM REVIEW: Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday Retrieved June 18, 2012.

[5] Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday by Kathy Iandoli Retrieved June 18, 2012.

[6] Digital booklet of Pink Friday

[7] AZ Lyrics: NICKI MINAJ LYRICS - I'm the Best at AZlyrics Retrieved June 27, 2012.

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

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I'm the Best

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