Fly

Nicki Minaj Pink Friday
Features	Rihanna
Released	November 19, 2010 (album) August 30, 2011 (radio)
Format	Digital download
Genre	R&B, hip hop
Length	3:32
Label	Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown
Writer	Onika Maraj, Kevin Hissink, W. Jordan, Jonathan Rotem, C. Rishad
Producer	J. R. Rotem, Kevin Hissink
Single information
Single release	August 30, 2011
Video release	August 28, 2011
←Last single "Till the World Ends (The Femme Fatale Remix)"		Next single→ "Y.U. Mad"

Pink Friday track listing
"Fly" is track number 5.
Previous track "Right Thru Me"	Next track "Save Me"

"Fly" is a song by Nicki Minaj from her debut album Pink Friday, and was released as the eighth and final single from the album. The song features guest vocals by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released as a single on August 30, 2011, and has since been certified Platinum in Australia and the United States and Silver in the UK.

Pink Friday Diaries

In Nicki Minaj's iTunes Ping, Nicki began a "Pink Friday Diaries" initiative wherein she gave her own insight on the conception, development, and meaning of a selection of songs on her upcoming album; her entry on "Fly" is as follows:

FLY is one of my absolute faves. I wanted to work with Rihanna for a long time. I'm very pround of her accomplishments; especially since she was born on an island like me :). This song is a female empowerment song. But then again, its not specific to just women. It speaks about flying, soaring high... in the face of every single solitary adversity that comes your way. I speak about how the media has attempted to box me in and how that has made me feel suffocated. After years of being dragged thru the mud, I've mustered up the courage to re-define myself. I believe that I represent an entire generation. My fans have become my family; and together we have become a movement. Get ready for it. We came to win.

—Nicki Minaj, iTunes Ping "Pink Friday Diaries," November 12, 2010

Music video

The video was shot on January 7, 2011 and directed by Sanaa Hamri. The full music video premiered on mtv.com and Minaj's VEVO channel after the preview on VMAs Pre-Show on August 28, 2011.

J.R Rotem - The Making of Nicki Minaj's "Fly"

Nicki Minaj - Fly ft. Rihanna

Stills gallery

Chart performance

Chart (2010–12)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	18
Australia (ARIA Urban)	4
Brazil (Billboard Hot 100 Airplay)	5
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)	24
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	55
New Zealand (RIANZ)	13
Ireland (IRMA)	14
Scotland (Official Charts Company)	12
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)	1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	16
US Billboard Hot 100	19
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	50
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	20
US Pop Songs (Billboard)	16
US Rap Songs (Billboard)	9
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)	40

Lyrics

"Fly" (Nicki Minaj ft. Rihanna)

{{{lyrics}}} I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise To fly To fly {{{lyrics}}} I wish today it will rain all day Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away Trying to forgive you for abandoning me Praying but I think I'm still an angel away Angel away, yeah strange in a way Maybe that is why I chase strangers away They got their guns out aiming at me But I become Neo when they're aiming at me Me, me, me against them Me against enemies, me against friends Somehow they both seem to become one A sea full of sharks and they all smell blood They start coming and I start rising Must be surprising, I'm just summising I win, thrive, soar, higher, higher, higher More fire {{{lyrics}}} I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise To fly To fly {{{lyrics}}} Everybody wanna try to box me in Suffocating every time it locks me in Paint their own pictures then they crop me in But I will remain where the top begins Cause I am not a word, I am not a line I am not a girl that can ever be defined I am not fly, I am levitation I represent an entire generation I hear the criticism loud and clear That is how I know that the time is near So we become alive in a time of fear And I ain't got no motherfucking time to spare Cry my eyes out for days upon days Such a heavy burden placed upon me But when you go hard your nay's become yay's Yankee Stadium with Jays and Kanyes:] {{{lyrics}}} I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise To fly To fly {{{lyrics}}} Get ready for it Get ready for it Get ready for it I came to win Get ready for it Get ready for it Get ready for it I came to win {{{lyrics}}} I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise To fly To fly