The Queen's Retaliation: Ranking Nicki Minaj's 5 Most Savage Diss Tracks And Their Targets

The landscape of hip-hop is a battlefield, and few artists have commanded the lyrical warzone with the ferocity and precision of Nicki Minaj. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the Queen of Rap continues to dominate headlines, not just with chart-topping albums like Pink Friday 2, but with a renewed commitment to the art of the diss track, proving her pen is still the sharpest in the game.

The release of her explosive 2024 single, "Big Foot," reignited one of the decade's most talked-about feuds, reminding the music world that when Nicki Minaj feels slighted, she doesn't just respond—she retaliates with a cultural moment. This deep dive explores the history and impact of her most savage lyrical attacks, from career-defining battles to the latest exchanges that are still shaking the industry.

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty: The Profile of a Rap Icon

Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj, has solidified her status as one of the most influential and successful female rappers of all time. Her career is marked by groundbreaking commercial success, a distinctive flow, and a willingness to engage in high-stakes lyrical warfare.

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• Full Name: Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty
• Born: December 8, 1982
• Birthplace: Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
• Raised In: Queens, New York City (moved at age five)
• Education: LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
• Key Albums: Pink Friday (2010), Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), The Pinkprint (2014), Queen (2018), Pink Friday 2 (2023)
• Record Label: Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Republic Records
• Notable Feuds: Remy Ma, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Lil' Kim, Mariah Carey

The Most Vicious Nicki Minaj Diss Tracks, Ranked by Impact

A diss track is a strategic weapon in hip-hop, and Nicki Minaj has mastered its deployment. Her tracks often combine cutting personal attacks with complex rhyme schemes, leaving little doubt about her target or her intent to end the conversation. Here are the most significant diss records that have defined her career.

1. "Big Foot" (2024) - Target: Megan Thee Stallion

This is the most recent and arguably one of the most controversial tracks of her career. Released on January 29, 2024, "Big Foot" was a direct, unfiltered response to Megan Thee Stallion's single, "HISS," which had seemingly taken aim at Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty, and her personal life.

The track’s title and lyrics were a heavy-handed personal attack, escalating the long-simmering tension between the two artists into a full-blown public feud that dominated social media and the charts in early 2024. "Big Foot" became a crucial entity in the ongoing narrative of the female rap landscape, demonstrating Minaj's readiness to engage in a modern, high-profile lyrical battle.

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2. "No Frauds" (2017) - Target: Remy Ma

The feud between Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma is legendary, a classic rap battle that pitted two of the genre's most skilled lyricists against each other. Remy Ma launched a scathing attack with the track "shETHER," which was nearly seven minutes of unfiltered jabs.

Minaj’s response came in the form of "No Frauds," featuring her Young Money colleagues Drake and Lil Wayne. The song was a commercial power move that broke diss track tradition by prioritizing chart success. It was a strategic, three-pronged attack that dismissed Remy Ma's claims while asserting Minaj's global dominance. The line, "You wanna see a dead body," became an instant, chilling quote in rap history.

3. "Roman's Revenge" (feat. Eminem) (2010) - Target: Lil' Kim

While not a dedicated diss track, "Roman's Revenge" from her debut album, Pink Friday, was one of the first major instances of Minaj using her Roman Zolanski alter-ego to deliver a fierce, aggressive response to perceived slights. It was widely interpreted as an answer to comments made by veteran rapper Lil' Kim, who felt Minaj had not paid her proper homage.

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The track is a whirlwind of chaotic energy and aggressive bars, setting the tone for Minaj's unwillingness to back down from the Queen Bee. It was a statement of arrival, establishing her as a force unafraid to challenge rap royalty right at the beginning of her mainstream career.

4. "Dirty Money" (2007) - Target: Remy Ma (Early Stages)

The beef with Remy Ma didn't begin in 2017; it has roots stretching back a decade. On her 2007 EP, Minaj released "Dirty Money," which contained a line that many believe was the original subliminal shot fired at the Terror Squad rapper. The lyric suggested that a rival was using "dirty money" for cosmetic enhancements, which was perceived as a jab at Ma.

This early track demonstrates that Minaj has always been aware of her position and willing to use her lyrics to address rivals, even before she achieved global stardom. It is a crucial piece of the historical puzzle, showing the longevity of the feud.

5. "Itty Bitty Piggy" (Mixtape Track) (2009) - Target: Subliminal Shots

Before her major label debut, Minaj was a mixtape powerhouse. "Itty Bitty Piggy" is a fan-favorite for its relentless flow and quotable lines. While not aimed at a single person, the track is a masterclass in subliminal disses, where Minaj flexes her lyrical muscle and warns any potential competitors about stepping to her.

The song is a foundational text in her dissography, showcasing the raw, hungry talent that would eventually make her the global superstar she is today. It’s a track full of the venom and confidence that would later be weaponized in her more targeted records.

The Cultural Impact of Nicki Minaj's Lyrical Battles

The diss track is more than just a song in hip-hop; it is a cultural event, and Nicki Minaj’s entries into the genre have consistently shaken the industry. Her feuds, particularly the recent one with Megan Thee Stallion, have led to intense chart races, with both "HISS" and "Big Foot" achieving major commercial success and streaming numbers.

This competitive energy fuels the genre, pushing artists to deliver their best, most cutting-edge work. Entities like Young Money, Cash Money, and the Billboard Hot 100 become central to the narrative, as success in a lyrical war is often measured by commercial and critical victory. Minaj’s ability to draw in major collaborators like Drake and Lil Wayne for a battle track like "No Frauds" turns a personal feud into a label-backed, industry-wide statement of power.

Furthermore, her willingness to address controversial topics and personal history in her lyrics, as seen in the "Big Foot" response, keeps the conversation about female rap at the forefront of the music world. Whether you are a Barb (her dedicated fanbase) or a detractor, her diss tracks are undeniable moments in hip-hop history that continue to define her legacy as a fearless, top-tier lyricist.