Only by Nicki Minaj: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2014 Anthem

"Yo, I never fucked Wayne, I never fucked Drake."

If you were alive and near a radio in late 2014, those ten words were basically inescapable. It was the opening salvo of Only, a track that didn't just climb the charts—it essentially broke the internet before we even had a phrase for it. Nicki Minaj has always been a master of the "shock and awe" marketing tactic, but with this specific song, she managed to turn a simple denial of a rumor into a multi-platinum business empire.

People still debate whether those opening lines were a genuine attempt to clear the air or the greatest troll in hip-hop history. Honestly? It's probably both. At the time, the Young Money camp was plagued by tabloid whispers. Fans were obsessed with the idea of a secret romance between Nicki and her label-mates. By putting it all on a beat that sounds like a haunted house in a strip club, Nicki took control of the narrative. She didn't just shut down the rumors; she monetized them.

The Weird, Ominous Magic of the Production

Musically, the song is a total anomaly. Most club bangers from that era were loud, EDM-infused, or filled with heavy bass. Only is the opposite. It’s built on this "icy," minimalist synth line that feels almost uncomfortable. It’s thin. It’s creepy. It’s sparse.

Produced by the then-ubiquitous Dr. Luke along with Cirkut and JMIKE, the track doesn't rely on a massive drop. Instead, it relies on the sheer charisma of the four titans on the track. You’ve got Nicki, Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown all squeezed onto one five-minute file. That’s a lot of ego for one song.

Surprisingly, it works. The lack of a heavy melody allows the lyrics to sit right in your face. When Nicki says she wants them to "eat her ass like a cupcake," there’s no wall of sound to hide behind. You hear every syllable. It was a bold choice for a third single from The Pinkprint, especially following the viral explosion of "Anaconda."

Why Drake's Verse Is a Masterclass in Being "Thirsty"

If Nicki’s verse was about dominance, Drake’s verse was about... well, being Drake. He basically spends 16 bars admitting that he’s in the friend zone but actively campaigning for a way out.

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"I never fucked Nicki 'cause she got a man / But when that's over then I'm first in line."

It’s peak Aubrey Graham. He manages to sound sweet and predatory at the same time. He even goes into a weirdly specific tangent about his love for BBWs—mentioning how he likes girls so thick they make everyone else in the room "uncomfortable." It’s a moment of bizarre honesty that actually humanized the superstar. He wasn't rapping about being a mob boss; he was rapping about staring at his friend's body in the back of a Maybach during LA traffic. We’ve all been there, minus the Maybach.

The Lyric Video Controversy That Almost Sank It

We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Before the official music video (directed by Hannah Lux Davis) came out, Nicki released a lyric video.

It was a disaster.

The animation, created by Jeff Osborne, used imagery that was undeniably reminiscent of Nazi propaganda. We’re talking red armbands, massive rallies, and symbols that looked way too much like swastikas. The backlash was instant. The Anti-Defamation League got involved. People were rightfully furious.

Nicki eventually took to Twitter (now X) to apologize, saying she didn't come up with the concept and pointing out that her best friend/videographer and her producer were both Jewish. The director, however, was less apologetic, basically telling people "sorry I'm not sorry" and claiming he was trying to remind the youth of history. It was a mess that overshadowed the song's musicality for weeks.

Only by Nicki Minaj: The Stats and the Legacy

Despite the PR nightmare of the lyric video, the song was a statistical monster. Here is a quick look at what happened on the charts:

• Peak Position: It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• Hot 100: It peaked at #12, which is wild for a song that is essentially five minutes of slow-burn rapping.
• Radio Power: At one point, Nicki held the #1 and #2 spots on Rap Airplay simultaneously with "Only" and "Truffle Butter."

The song solidified the "Big Three" of Young Money. It reminded the world that while they were all solo superstars, they were still a gang. Wayne’s verse, in particular, is often cited by fans as one of his better late-era features. He brings a weird, frantic energy that balances out Nicki’s cold delivery and Drake’s melodic pining.

What Most People Still Get Wrong

The biggest misconception about the song Only is that it’s a "diss track" or a "club song." It’s neither. It’s a power move.

By 2014, Nicki was tired of being the "girl in the group." This song was her way of saying she’s the boss of the group. She puts the two biggest male rappers in the world on a track just to have them talk about how they can't have her. That is a level of flex that few artists have ever achieved.

She also uses the song to address the "fake butt" rumors with total nonchalance ("Worried 'bout if my butt's fake"). By the end of her verse, you realize she isn't defending herself—she's mocking the people who care.

How to Listen to "Only" in 2026

If you’re going back to revisit this track, don’t just play it through phone speakers. The sub-bass is actually quite intricate, even if it’s quiet.

1. Use Good Headphones: You need to hear the "breathing" in the production.
2. Watch the Official Video, Not the Lyric One: The Hannah Lux Davis video is a cinematic masterpiece of "dominatrix-chic" that fits the song much better than the controversial animation.
3. Listen to the Lyrics Closely: Pay attention to the metaphors. Nicki’s "John and Kate Plus 8" line is a classic example of her era-specific punchlines that still land today.

The song remains a staple in her setlists for a reason. It represents a time when Young Money was untouchable and Nicki Minaj was officially entering her "Queen" era. It’s dark, it’s vulgar, and it’s unapologetically confident.

For anyone looking to understand the transition from the "Super Bass" pop-Nicki to the "Chun-Li" rap-Nicki, this is the bridge. It proved she didn't need a hook or a dance-pop beat to dominate the airwaves. She just needed a mic and a very specific set of rumors to crush.

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Next Steps for Fans:
To get the full experience of this era, you should listen to the full The Pinkprint album in order. It’s a rare look at Nicki’s vulnerability, and "Only" serves as the perfect mid-album adrenaline shot. You might also want to check out the "Truffle Butter" sessions to see how this specific lineup of artists worked together during those 2014-2015 studio dates.