Nicki Minaj and Drake Spark Steamy Chemistry in Sultry Collaboration 'Needle'

Nicki Minaj and Drake WireImage (2)

Nicki Minaj and Drake collaboration, long-teased by fans, is finally here thanks to her new album, Pink Friday 2.

Minaj released her fifth studio album on her 41st birthday, December 8. The album, a follow-up to 2018's Queen, includes appearances from J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, and Future. However, it's the song "Needle" that has grabbed the attention of fans, as it marks Minaj's first collaboration with Drake since 2021's "Seeing Green." The chemistry between the two artists is as strong as ever.

“Friends were doubtful about our love, heard they’re envious now / We both know they’re unhappy at home, forget them all,” raps Drake in his verse. Minaj enters, and she’s “Throwing shade like silhouettes, spinning like pirouettes / It gave nothing, thank you for nothing, next / Damn, Drizzy, another bitter ex, shout out my intellects.”

Drake and Minaj harmonize the final chorus, acknowledging the rarity of finding each other in life: “Pull up the Maybach and bend your leg back / Let’s engage that, don’t delay that / You’re like a needle, life’s a haystack / Friends may leave us, you can stay back.”

Drake and Minaj initially collaborated on “BedRock,” a single released by the hip-hop group/label Young Money Entertainment in 2009. This marked Minaj’s debut and led to numerous partnerships with the rapper behind "God’s Plan".

They worked together on "Moment 4 Life" from her Pink Friday album and "Up All Night" from Drake's Thank Me Later. In the future, they collaborated on "Make Me Proud" from Drake's Take Care and "Only" and "Truffle Butter" from her album, The Pinkprint, as well as the 2017 single "No Frauds." In Minaj's "Anaconda" video, Drake made a memorable appearance and received a saucy lap dance from her.

Their close friendship often led to speculation about a romantic relationship, but Minaj addressed this in her song "Only," rapping that she has never been intimate with Lil Wayne or Drake. Despite Drake expressing interest in her, Minaj married Kenneth Petty in 2019 and the couple welcomed their son in October 2020. In the same month, Minaj expressed excitement about the prospect of her baby and Drake's son having playdates in the future.

Nicki Minaj and Drake attend the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kevin Mazur/BBMA2017/Getty Images for dcp

During a conversation with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1's New Music Daily show on September 1, Minaj discussed her recent collaboration with Drake. She expressed her excitement for the song and confidently predicted that her fans and the world would love it. At that time, Drake had not yet finished his part of the collaboration, prompting Minaj to ask her fans, the Barbz, to inform Drake that they were eagerly anticipating his contribution to Pink Friday 2.

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Drake revealed to the crowd at his July 8 concert at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena that he and Nicki Minaj had collaborated on a song. There was initial speculation that the song would be included on his album, For All the Dogs, released on October 6, but Nicki Minaj's album was delayed until December 8.