: Produced by RedOne , Rami, and Carl Falk, with writing credits including Onika Maraj (Nicki Minaj) and Wayne Hector.
: Minaj references her real name ("My name is Onika, you can call me Nicki") and includes direct, profanity-laced lyrics about self-ownership ("Jump in my hoopty... I own that") and social dismissal ("But f*** who you want, and f*** who you like"). Artistic Controversy and Minaj’s Stance Nicki Minaj - Starships (Explicit)
Despite its massive success, Nicki Minaj has famously distanced herself from the song in recent years. : Produced by RedOne , Rami, and Carl
: Minaj has publicly called "Starships" a "stupid song," stating in 2020 and 2024 interviews that she "cringes" at the sound of it and simply doesn't like it anymore. It features Minaj as a pink-haired extraterrestrial who
The Official Music Video , directed by Anthony Mandler, was filmed in Oahu, Hawaii. It features Minaj as a pink-haired extraterrestrial who arrives on a beach, joining a vibrant, neon-colored party that reflects the song's "let's go to the beach" opening line.
: Built around the infectious refrain, "Starships were meant to fly / Hands up and touch the sky," which encourages a carefree, "high" state of mind.