The Impact of Nicki Minaj on Soca Music
In recent years, Nicki Minaj has become a powerful advocate for Soca music, leveraging her global platform to introduce the genre to new audiences worldwide.
Born Onika Tanya Maraj in St. James, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, and raised in Queens, New York, Minaj has always held her Trinbagonian heritage close. Her recent efforts to spotlight Soca music have been a thrilling development for those eager to see the genre reach new heights on the global stage. With one of the most influential fanbases globally, Minaj’s reach extends far beyond the Caribbean, offering Soca exposure to audiences who might not have typically encountered the genre.
In the age of digital connectivity, Minaj’s social media presence is unmatched. In June 2024, Billboard honored her with the top spot on their list of the “10 Hottest Female Rappers Right Now,” acknowledging that “Nicki remains the genre’s centrifugal female force.”
Her online following is vast—nearly 850 million followers on Twitter, 45 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and over 226 million Instagram followers. This positions her to introduce Soca to hip-hop audiences in areas where the genre may be less familiar. In these spaces, she offers a unique platform for Soca music—to reach new ears, providing exposure that few can match, all driven by her deep connection to her Trinbagonian roots.
2025 kicked off at full pace, just as Trinbagonians would expect. In February, Minaj amplified Soca’s visibility, sharing videos across her social platforms—singing along to Soca and engaging with artists.
On February 24, Minaj released a remix of Trinidad Killa’s “Eskimo,” produced by Pronto, on YouTube. She opens the track with the lyrics: “Trini’ where?, Trini- Trini- Trini’ where?, Trini’ nose, Trini’ eyes, Trini’ hair (Uh), I’z the only muddacunt Trini’ here (Ayo)…heard the Killa want the queen, I should knight him now (Brr),” before Trinidad Killa begins his verse: “Alive, Good morning, We nice, Yuh know this.”
Through her Instagram post, Minaj urged her fans—“watch the video on YouTube right now & leave a comment if you want this song on streaming. Love you.” YouTube, particularly in the Caribbean, serves as a key gateway for music discovery, allowing the song to gain substantial momentum before it reached wider distribution. This direct call to action spurred immediate traction, pushing the track toward streaming platforms like Apple Music, iTunes, and Spotify.
The results were impressive: the remix on YouTube has already garnered over 567,000 views and nearly 9,000 comments in less than 2 weeks, highlighting Minaj’s ability to drive fan engagement, which quickly translates into commercial success.
By March 1, as Trinidad Carnival reached its peak, the “Eskimo” remix debuted on major streaming platforms. It quickly soared to #1 on iTunes (All Genres) in Paraguay, and Namibia—marking Trinidad Killa’s first appearance on the charts in these countries.
The remix topped iTunes (World) charts in 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. Minaj’s influence was particularly evident in Chile, where both the Remix and Radio Edit of “Eskimo” reached #1 on the iTunes (World) chart.
In total, the remix charted in 63 countries on Apple Music & iTunes, with 28 marking Trinidad Killa’s debut on the charts—an achievement that speaks volumes about Minaj’s power to spotlight emerging Soca talents like Trinidad Killa and producer Pronto in markets where they’ve never been seen before.
On Spotify, the remix has already accumulated nearly 400,000 streams in less than two weeks, surpassing the original “Eskimo,” which currently has 315,000 Spotify streams. The remix has already become Trinidad Killa’s second-most-streamed song on Spotify and is expected to surpass his hit “Gun Man in Yuh Hole” as his top song on Spotify in the coming months. The impact is undeniable.
On March 3, Trinidad Carnival Monday, a remix of Bunji Garlin’s ‘Carry It’—produced by Stemz, featuring Nicki Minaj, and remixed by Madman Johann—debuted. Once again, Minaj demonstrated her commitment to Trinidad & Tobago, rapping on the track, “Bunji, chea,” and continuing, “…God-given talent, never had to fake it, So much power in the music, But power, don’t abuse it, African and Indian we blend it and we fuse it,” as Bunji Garlin delivers his commanding lyrical presence.
She then shared her message with the Barbz, posting about Carry It: “@bunjiGarlin ft Nicki Minaj Carry it is on YouTube!!!!! Barbz go leave a comment right now & ima reply!!!! & @fayann thank you for everything Queen – TRINIDAD I LOVE YOU!!!!!!” This direct and heartfelt message was not only aimed at her Barbz community but also to Bunji, his manager and wife Fay-Ann, and the people of Trinidad & Tobago. It has already garnered over 87,000 YouTube views and more than 2,500 comments within just ten days, underscoring both her influence and her respect for her Trinbagonian roots.
These collaborations appear to be part of a broader effort by Minaj to elevate Soca and Trinidadian culture, highlighting her enduring connection to her homeland since her rise to global prominence.
Going back to her 2012 hit “Pound the Alarm,” filmed in Trinidad, Minaj introduced her primarily hip-hop audience to the island’s vibrant culture, further showcasing her connection to her roots.
In 2020, she returned to Trinidad for Carnival, offering her Barbz community a personal perspective on the country’s vibrant energy and rich heritage, giving them a closer look at the experience through her own lens. At the time, Minaj, beaming atop a Carnival truck, expressed, “I just want to say I love you guys and I’m so happy to be here… this is my first Carnival ever! God bless you and have a good night. Thank you, Machel, for having me.” These moments of visibility have proven invaluable for Trinidad & Tobago, amplifying the country’s culture and by extension, Soca on a global scale.
After the pandemic, Minaj resumed her efforts to support Soca, championing its artistry. In October 2022, she released a remix of “Likkle Miss (The Fine Nine Remix)” with Skeng, featuring Caribbean Soca icons Destra Garcia and Patrice Roberts. The track has since garnered over 7.5 million Spotify streams, making it the second-most-streamed song for both Destra and Patrice on the platform. This collaboration exemplifies Minaj’s ability to drive commercial success for Soca artists.
In 2023, Minaj returned to Trinidad for Carnival and released a remix of “Shake the Place” with Machel Montano and Destra, produced by Michael “Tano” Montano, Mical Teja, Travis World & Machel Montano.
The song reached #1 on iTunes (All Genres) in Trinidad & Tobago and received significant airplay across international radio stations in the USA, UK, Jamaica, and Nigeria. Minaj’s involvement not only bolstered Soca’s presence in these markets but also exposed the genre to a broader hip-hop audience, offering fresh opportunities for listeners to connect with Soca in ways they hadn’t before.
During the same Trinidad Carnival, Minaj shared this video with Destra, Patrice Roberts, and Machel Montano, captioning, “LEGENDARY FOOTAGE WITH THE GREATS OF MY COUNTRY…I COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD IF I TRIED. I’M REPPIN DAT RED DAT WHITE DAT BLACK I’M REPPIN MY REAL FLAG….”
In September 2024, Minaj invited Machel Montano to perform his legendary song “It’s Carnival” (a collaboration with Destra) at Madison Square Garden for Gag City Reloaded, furthering her efforts to elevate Soca music and its artists while presenting it to her massive fanbase.
Over the past 3 years, it as if Nicki Minaj has included ‘elevate Soca’ in her annual goals and action plan. Her reach and influence, paired with her genuine love for her heritage, make her an invaluable asset to Soca’s future. For fans and artists alike, Nicki Minaj’s platform offers more than just a spotlight—it offers a chance for Soca to be heard, recognized, and celebrated worldwide. Through her unwavering support, Nicki Minaj is helping to showcase Soca on the world stage—one song at a time.
