The queen of rap has finally released her long-awaited single, "Super Freaky Girl," which brilliantly samples the ‘80s hit “Super Freak” by Rick James. 

Before officially releasing the song on Aug. 12, Minaj posted a teaser on July 12, which quickly went viral on social media. The clip revealed an unforgettable intro, provocative lyrics and an iconic ‘80s sample all over a captivating video of Minaj herself, leaving both the Barbz and general public thirsty for the full song. 

Nicki treads on the recognizable beat while still remaining true to herself with assertive lyrics: “He want a F-R-E-A-K.”

The most charismatic parts of the song are during the verses, where Minaj spits out sharp and refreshing punchlines. “One thing about me I’m the baddest alive / I got a princess face, a killer body, samurai mind / They can’t be Nicki, they so stupid, I just laugh when they try.” Ego-boosting, sassy lyrics are emblems of Minaj’s music and characterize the song as a cute, quirky and fun summer hit.

There is no doubt that the song is a success and will go down as a highlight in Minaj’s discography, but even so, the track doesn’t serve anything revolutionary or earth-shattering; the song is playful and sexy, but customary to Minaj’s usual delivery.

We’ve already seen Minaj use the same formula of revamping a nostalgic ‘80s/’90s hit when she released “Anaconda” eight years ago. But while “Anaconda” influenced a total shift in pop culture and modern feminism, "Super Freaky Girl" doesn’t do the same. The song is almost a reprise, but with less intensity and appetite than earlier Minaj releases.

Let me be clear: Minaj is a woman with an exceptional and almost unfathomable amount of talent, and "Super Freaky Girl" is surely proof of that talent. For old fans of Minaj’s music like myself, there’s an itch of something missing.

Compared to Minaj’s single “We Go Up,” released in March, "Super Freaky Girl" isn’t on the same level. “We Go Up”’s hard-hitting drill beats and vulgar lyrics showcased her aggressiveness and ruthless writing, something I wish "Super Freaky Girl" had. However, the raunchy songs do historically make chart-toppers, so I can see the business decision behind zealously pushing "Super Freaky Girl." 

Admittedly, my critique on "Super Freaky Girl" probably emerges from my own personal preference in Minaj’s music. As a long-time Minaj fan, I have an affinity to her more arrogant and less sexual work, including “Want Some More,” “Come On A Cone,” “I Endorse These Strippers,” “Champion” and “Roman’s Revenge.” It’s unfortunate that empowering songs like these are more common in her discography but still less heard of.

Nonetheless, "Super Freaky Girl" does nothing to desolidify Minaj’s spot as a living hip-hop legend, and the song itself is one of the best — if not the best — releases in female hip-hop this year. The track is a confidence booster and baddie anthem, and like most of Minaj’s singles, her striking style and creativity gush through all two minutes and 50 seconds of the song. But as Minaj rolls out the rest of the songs for her album, I hope to see songs that fully display her lyrical genius in new, innovative ways.