Nicki Minaj has broken the Billboard chart records after “Super Freaky Girl” became the first hip-hop single by a female performer to debut at Number 1 since Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998.
Nicki Minaj’s new song debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 after being streamed 21.1 million times, receiving 4.6 million audience impressions via radio play, and selling 89,000 digital copies in its first week.
Since Ms. Lauryn Hill, only a small number of female rappers, like Megan Thee Stallion, Iggy Azalea, and Cardi B, have reached the Billboard Hot 100’s top spot.
Cardi B has the most No. 1 singles overall in the group with five. “Bodak Yellow” and “Up,” two of her number-one songs, were performed solo, but they did not start at the top of the charts.
The three other number-one singles by the rapper, “I Like It,” “Girls Like You,” and “WAP,” were all joint efforts.
Nicki Minaj has achieved three No. 1 singles with “Super Freaky Girl,” “Say So” (with Doja Cat), and “Trollz” (with 6ix9ine). Malibu Babie, Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, and Vaughn Oliver all contributed to the song’s co-production.
“Say So” was also produced by Dr. Luke, who is still engaged in legal proceedings with Kesha.