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Nicki Minaj is back, and she did not come to play. On Feb. 11, one week after the release of her single “Do We Have A Problem?” Minaj dropped “Bussin’” with Lil Baby. In anticipation of her upcoming album, Nicki Minaj has set the tone for rap in 2022 and made it clear that she is not going anywhere.

“Bussin’” boasts a driving beat, characterized by a booming bass that compels one to get up and run to the dance floor. It sets the tone for fast-paced verses that force the listener to catch up or get swallowed by the music.

In contrast with the vulgarity and basic flows common in mainstream rap, Minaj approaches this song with a chill vibe, borrowing her flow from “Fefe” with 6ix9ine and showing it takes minimal effort to get the world buzzing about her. Despite starting off tame, she hits with power and repeats her catchy refrain of “B-B-Bussin,’” asserting her dominance and having fun with it. She even starts singing in the last verse, showcasing her mastery of flow and ability to ride a beat. As always, Nicki Minaj is doing things most other artists in the industry don’t do or are unable to do and proves why she is the best. Her bars are exquisite and her flow is impeccable. Minaj starts trends; she does not follow them. It is only a matter of time before others start to copy Minaj’s energy from this new era.

Lyrically, “Bussin’” isn’t one of Nicki’s best works. Yet she is a pro at exuding boss energy and making listeners feel confident. Lines like “Told his ex she ain’t gettin’ that dick back,” make listeners feel her untouchable confidence. This is something Minaj excels at. Despite her lengthy hiatus, she picked up right where she left off. Lil Baby on the other hand did not deliver at the same level with his feature on the song. His verse is mediocre and the lines — such as “I’ma lil’ busy, go shop until I finish / Every bit of seven hundred, this is not a rental” — are exhausted. They illustrate his wealth, which is not uncommon for rap but brings nothing else to the table. His bars provide no sustenance nor do they have any twists to keep the listener guessing.

“Bussin’” provides a great energy essential to Minaj’s return, but the collaboration overall was average and nothing groundbreaking. The two artists have great chemistry, but it is clear only one of them delivered excellence on this song.