"Let's go to the beach-each, let's go get a wave."
If you just read those words and didn't immediately hear the aggressive, neon-drenched synth of 2012, are you even a person who lived through the Obama era? Honestly, it's one of those lyrics that's permanently seared into the collective brain of anyone who ever set foot in a Forever 21. It's weird, it’s catchy, and it’s basically the anthem of a very specific kind of chaotic energy that only Nicki Minaj could deliver at the height of her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded era.
Back then, "Starships" was everywhere. You literally couldn't escape it. You’d go to the grocery store? Starships. You’d turn on the radio in your mom’s car? Starships. But lately, this specific line—the "let's go to the beach-each"—has taken on a life of its own. It's not just a lyric anymore. It's a vibe, a meme, and apparently, something Nicki herself has some very complicated feelings about.
The Anatomy of the Line: Why "Beach-Each"?
Why did she say "each" twice? It’s the question that haunted a generation. Or, more likely, nobody cared because the beat was so loud you couldn't think anyway. Technically, the song was produced by RedOne, the same mastermind behind Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance." The man knows how to write a hook that sticks like gum to a shoe.
The rhyme scheme is actually pretty simple if you look at it:
- Beach-each rhymes with get a wave (kind of, in a slant-rhyme-pop-logic way).
- Say rhymes with say.
- Clink rhymes with drink.
It’s mindless. It’s brilliant. It’s what we call "maximalist pop." In the early 2010s, we weren't looking for deep metaphors about the human condition; we were looking for a reason to wear shutter shades and neon pink lipstick. The beach was less of a destination and more of a metaphorical state of mind where responsibilities didn't exist and the "Bud Light" was always flowing (yes, she really name-dropped Bud Light in the first ten seconds).
The Infamous "Sike" Heard Round the World
Fast forward to New Year's Eve 2024. Nicki Minaj is performing at E11EVEN in Miami. The crowd is hyped. The DJ drops the beat for "Starships." The room starts screaming "Let's go to the beach-each!"
And then... silence.
Nicki literally stops the track. She tells the DJ, "Sike, sike, sike, sike. I don't perform that song no more, y'all. I don't like it! What y'all want me to do? Stupid song!"
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The internet, of course, lost its mind. Imagine being the person who paid thousands of dollars for a VIP table just to be told that the beach is closed. But if you’ve followed Nicki’s career, you know she’s been low-key hating on her "pop" era for years. She’s a rapper’s rapper. She wants to be known for the bars on "Lookin Ass" or "Monster," not for a song where she dresses like a neon tribal alien on a beach in Hawaii.
The Hawaii Music Video That Started It All
We have to talk about the visual. Directed by Anthony Mandler and filmed on the island of Oahu, the "Starships" video is a fever dream. Nicki is beamed down from a spaceship onto a beach. She’s wearing a pink bikini and has bright green hair.
It was high-budget, high-concept, and highly confusing.
There were tribal dancers, kaleidoscopic effects, and Nicki being carried around like royalty. It won Best Female Video at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, which was a huge deal at the time. But looking back, it represents a period in music where "more" was the only requirement. More color, more bass, more wigs.
Why the Meme Came Back
So why are we still talking about "Nicki Minaj let's go to the beach" in 2026? TikTok. Obviously.
The "Starships" intro has become a shorthand for "I'm about to do something impulsive" or "I am completely checked out of reality." It’s used in "get ready with me" videos, travel vlogs, and even ironically in videos where people are definitely not at the beach—like sitting in a cubicle at 3:00 PM on a Tuesday.
There’s also the "Nicki Minaj Flag" that started popping up a few years ago. It’s a photo of her from the "High School" music video (not Starships, but similar vibes) superimposed over a flag. People fly it at festivals and in their dorm rooms. It’s become a symbol of "Barbz" culture, which is one of the most dedicated and, frankly, terrifying fanbases on the planet.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Era
A lot of critics at the time thought Nicki was "selling out." They saw the beach-themed pop hits as a betrayal of her underground mixtape roots. But looking back with some distance, you can see that she was actually pioneering something. She was one of the first artists to successfully bridge the gap between hardcore hip-hop and chart-topping Europop.
She wasn't just following a trend; she was the trend.
She even acknowledged the limitations of the song later on. In various interviews, she’s mentioned that while she appreciates the success "Starships" brought her, it doesn't represent who she is as an artist anymore. It’s like looking back at a photo of yourself from middle school wearing neon leggings—you might cringe, but you can’t deny you were having a good time.
How to Lean Into the "Beach-Each" Energy
If you're actually looking to recreate that 2012 Nicki vibe, you can't just go to any beach. You need the right mindset. Here is how you actually do it:
- Embrace the Absurd: Don't worry about the lyrics making sense. If you want to say "each" twice, say it.
- Color Saturation: If your outfit doesn't hurt someone's eyes, you're doing it wrong. Think electric pink, lime green, and teal.
- Own the Room: The whole point of the song is confidence. "Bad bitches like me is hard to come by." Say it until you believe it.
- Know the Lore: If you’re going to quote the song, you have to know that Nicki might actually roast you for it if she sees you. That’s part of the fun.
The longevity of "let's go to the beach" proves that pop culture doesn't always need to be deep to be meaningful. Sometimes, a "stupid song" is exactly what the world needs to forget their problems for three minutes and thirty seconds.
Whether Nicki likes it or not, we’re all still heading to the beach.
Next Steps for the Barbz:
- Audit your playlist: Check out the transition from Pink Friday to The Pinkprint to see how her "beach" sound evolved into something much darker and more personal.
- Watch the "Starships" video again: Look for the hidden details in the Kualoa Ranch scenery—it’s the same place they filmed Jurassic Park.
- Respect the boundary: If you see Nicki live, maybe don't request "Starships." Stick to Pink Friday 2 tracks if you want to stay on her good side.