Superstar rapper Nicki Minaj has attributed the inspiration for her new song, “Just the Memories,” to Dancehall legend Beenie Man. The track serves as the outro for her latest album, “Pink Friday 2,” which made a stunning debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, amassing 228,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during the week ending December 14, according to Luminate.
“Just the Memories” is a reflective piece that delves into the highs and lows of Minaj’s life and career. Central to the song are interpolated lyrics from Beenie Man’s 1995 hit “Memories (Stop Live In A De Pass),” which itself references American soul singer Jerry Butler’s 1973 single “Memories Don’t Leave Like People Do.”
During a Twitch session with streamer Kai Cenat, Minaj revealed that Beenie Man’s song was a significant influence while she was crafting “Just the Memories” in 2020. “Shout out to Beenie Man; obviously that was the inspo for saying, ‘Memories don’t live like people do’,” she explained. Minaj noted that she was pregnant at the time and that the initial recording was spontaneous and raw. The unpolished, authentic vibe led her to retain much of that first take in the final version of the track.
“You hear how muffly it sounds and it’s like I’m not even really singing? Because I liked the vibe of when I first did it, so, I kept it. I changed other stuff but I kept that first line,” she elaborated. Expressing her admiration, she added, “Shout out to Beenie Man, the King Beenie, because that was, you know, one of my favorites for a long time – still is to this day – and he’s the inspiration behind (Just the) Memories.”
Since its release, “Just the Memories” has garnered significant attention, amassing over two million streams on Spotify and surpassing half a million views on YouTube. Beenie Man’s “Stop Live In A De Pass” was previously sampled by Kanye West in his 2013 track “Send It Up,” highlighting its enduring influence.
Minaj’s fans, known as the “Barbz,” got a hint of the new track when she tweeted “Memories” in June 2020, followed by another tweet with the abbreviation “PF2,” teasing her upcoming album. Minaj has long expressed her respect for Beenie Man, with their collaboration dating back to “Gun Shot” on her 2012 album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” which also debuted at No. 1.
In various livestreams and award shows, including her acceptance speech at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards where she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Minaj has consistently paid homage to Beenie Man and Jamaican culture. “All my Caribbean people, but Beenie Man, thank you for everything and all of Jamaica,” she said in part during her speech.
“Pink Friday 2” further showcases Minaj’s appreciation for dancehall and Jamaican music, featuring tracks like “Forward From Trini” with Skillibeng and Skeng, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” built on Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden’s iconic Diwali riddim, “Needle” featuring Drake, and “Beep Beep.”
Minaj’s reverence for Beenie Man and her seamless blend of dancehall elements into her music underscore her dedication to honoring her musical influences while continuing to evolve as an artist.
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