Nicki Minaj Abruptly Stops "Starships" Performance: "I Don't Perform That Song No More"

BY Ben OkazawaPublished Jan 2, 2024

Starships may have been meant to fly, but Nicki Minaj's "Starships" seems to have been permanently docked. The rapper was performing at a New Year's Eve event in Miami this weekend when the instrumental to her 2012 hit kicked in and was promptly shut down. 

"Psych, psych, psych, psych!" she exclaimed as the beat shut off to a chorus of boos and complaints. "I don't perform that song no more, y'all. I don't like it! What do y'all want me to do?" 

Despite their disappointment in missing out on "Starships," the crowd quickly quieted as Minaj launched into her diamond-certified track "Super Bass."  

Whether the 2013 copyright infringement lawsuit filed by underground electronic artist Clive Tanaka that alleged "Starships" was a ripoff spoiled the track for Minaj, or she just got tired of it over time, it's safe to assume that, regardless, fans will hound her to perform the mega-hit on her upcoming world tour, which is due to stop in Montreal and Toronto in April. 

Watch the moment Minaj stopped her performance of "Starships" below. 
 
 

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