Why Does Nicki Minaj Keep Going Viral on TikTok?

“Beez in the Trap” x “What’s Up?” Mashup Trend

A mashup of 4 Non Blondes’ 1993 hit “What’s Up?” with Nicki Minaj’s “Beez in the Trap” somehow found perfect harmony, blending Linda Perry’s raw ‘90s angst with Minaj’s deadpan bravado. In the videos, Perry sings, “I wake up in the morning and I step outside,” before Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 single comes in as she raps, “Bitches ain’t shit, and they ain’t sayin’ nothing."

Sabrina Carpenter, PinkPantheress, and Jennifer Lopez have all jumped on the trend. Linda Perry herself joined in after years away from the spotlight, admitting to Rolling Stone that the mashup was so “ridiculous in all the best ways” it made her hop on TikTok for the first time. She joined artist Sophia Treadway in a lip-sync video using the song.

“She convinced me, and then after we released the version of me doing  ‘What’s Up’ and her doing ‘Beez,’ her followers were like ‘FLIP IT’ and honestly, I don’t know what that means,” Perry explained. “I mean, it’s pretty awesome, I must say. It’s out of control.”

Nicki, meanwhile, capitalized instantly. She posted a carousel using the sound, instructing her Barbz to “show love to the ppl doing the trend.” Perry wants to do the trend with Minaj herself. 

“I think everyone is trying to get Nicki and me to do one together,” she said. “It would be fun, and the best part is? I love Nicki Minaj!”

The “Beez in the Trap” Hip Whine

Some trends just need your hips. Another “Beez in the Trap” revival has people recording themselves swaying from side to side to the song’s hypnotic beat. It’s a silly, sultry challenge that feels quintessentially Nicki. The sound has racked up millions of views as users lean into its simplicity. It’s not even really about choreography or even timing, but more so embodying a certain Minaj-ian confidence. 

The “High School” Pose Challenge

Earlier this summer, users rediscovered an old shot of Nicki from her “High School” music video — sitting in a way only Nicki Minaj could: low to the ground, poised, and direct. Within days, high schoolers, influencers, athletes, singers, and so forth were posting videos attempting to recreate her exact pose on top of whatever they could: gym weights, a car, milk crates. Now TikTok warns users this trend is dangerous. LOL. It’s absurd just how simply as simple as they way Nicki sits can launch a meme. 

The August Meme 

Every August, the same joke resurfaces: “It’s Nicki month.” The dates to Nicki’s collaboration with August Alsina on “No Love (Remix).” TikTok users resurrect the sound every year, posting videos about things like responding to a comment about them going on a diet, to which they reply “August!” the way Nicki says his name. SO unserious and deeply online. 

“Super Freaky Girl” and the Dance That Wouldn’t Die

“Super Freaky Girl” was alreaaady catchy enough, but the accompanying trend turned it into a force. Everyone from creators to random teenagers choreographed their own versions from lip-syncing, twirling, to grinding through Minaj’s most quotable bars. Minaj reposted creators, joked in comments, and fueled the algorithm herself, and the song went No. 1.

“Are You a Nicki Fan?”

This viral sound might be Nicki Minaj’s most unintentionally funny moment, mostly because she’s technically not in it. The clip, misquoting her lyrics (“Are you a Nicki fan?” “Am I a Nicki fan? Pull up in the Sri Lanka!”), actually comes from The Wendy Williams Show, where Real Housewives of Potomac’s Wendy Osefo botched the line. 

Now, creators use the sound to expose moments of fake expertise.  When someone pretends to know about something that they clearly know nothing about, they use this soundbite. It’s campy, ironic, and totally in line with Minaj’s own humor. 

The “New Body” Verse That Never Dropped

How do unreleased Nicki Minaj verses go viral? Her verse on Kanye West’s scrapped “New Body” is something of a cult classic after snippets leaked. Despite never being officially released, the sound exploded on TikTok. People lip-synced to it, used it for makeup transitions, and quoted it like scripture. That kind of staying power for a song that doesn’t even “exist”—at least not officially—is crazy. While Nicki has moved on and confirmed she will never clear it for official release, fans keep the verse alive online.

The “Barbie World” Renaissance

When Nicki teamed up with Ice Spice for “Barbie World,” TikTok damn near turned pink overnight. Everyone from Hailey Bieber to Lori Harvey joined the trend, showing off their best “Barbiecore” looks to the track’s irresistible bounce. The sound was everywhere, with outfit reveals, friendship montages, makeup transitions, and hot girl walk edits. We’re still kind of fatigued two summers and a fall later.