“Pink Friday Girls,” released on Minaj’s ‘Pink Friday 2’ album, features a sample of Lauper’s signature hit, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”

Nicki Minaj in April 2024; Cyndi Lauper in August 2022. PHOTO: PRINCE WILLIAMS/FILMMAGIC, BRUCE GLIKAS/GETTY

Nicki Minaj delighted the audience at her Pink Friday 2 World Tour performance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday, May 1, with a special surprise. She brought out none other than Cyndi Lauper, 70, to join her on stage for a performance of “Pink Friday Girls.” The track prominently samples Lauper’s iconic hit, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening.

The moment went down toward the end of the show, and the pair held hands as they strutted down Minaj’s catwalk and delivered their first live performance of “Pink Friday Girls.” Midway through the song, according to fan-filmed footage, the “Super Bass” musician, 41, told the crowd, “Make some noise for this icon, this legend.”

As the “Pink Friday Girls” performance came to an end, Minaj turned to Lauper, bowed down and expressed gratitude for her presence at the show. “I have been speaking about this woman in my interviews since I first began rapping,” she said, per a video shared to social media.

Lauper’s appearance at Minaj’s concert comes after the rapper was joined by Drake at the Pink Friday 2 World Tour stop in Toronto on Tuesday, April 30 to perform their recent collaboration, “Needle.”

Nicki Minaj performs in New York City in March 2024.KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE

Nicki Minaj’s admiration for Cyndi Lauper has been evident throughout her career. In 2009, she expressed her love for Lauper’s work on X (formerly Twitter), naming “True Colors,” “Time After Time,” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” as her top three favorite songs of all time. She referred to Lauper as a “genius.” The following year, Minaj and Katy Perry teamed up for a duet rendition of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” on VH1’s Divas Salute the Troops.

Nicki Minaj and Cyndi Lauper in Los Angeles in November 2012.CHRISTOPHER POLK/AMA2012/GETTY

At the 2010 Grammy Awards, the pair officially met for the first time. “This is crazy. People don’t know how obsessed I am with you,” said Minaj on the red carpet, before referring to Lauper as “one of my fashion icons.”

Upon the release of “Pink Friday Girls” on Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 album in December 2023, Lauper shared the song to her Instagram Story, while the “Barbie World” performer wrote on X, “I’m told she’s never cleared a master recording. I am so grateful. I’ve always loved her as you guys know.”

The Pink Friday 2 World Tour continues through July, with shows scheduled in cities including New Orleans, Houston, Oklahoma City, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Stockholm, Milan, Dublin and more.

Nicki Minaj Throws Item Back into Crowd After Nearly Getting Hit by Object Onstage

The singer was performing on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour when a fan threw an object at her from the crowd

Nicki Minaj performs during her Pink Friday 2 World Tour in New York City in March 2024. PHOTO: KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES

Nicki Minaj was left unimpressed after a fan threw an object at her onstage.

In a video shared by Pop Crave on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday, April 21, Nicki Minaj was seen performing in Detroit on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour when a pink item was hurled at her from the crowd. Reacting quickly, Minaj blocked the object with her hand, then crouched to retrieve it before tossing it back into the audience. The rapper, who was performing her hit “Starships,” appeared visibly surprised by the incident, with her mouth open in shock before resuming her performance. As of now, a representative for Minaj has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment regarding the incident.

Nicki Minaj performing in Raleigh on April 7, 2024.PRINCE WILLIAMS/FILMMAGIC

The “Barbie World” singer is the latest in a line of stars to have an item thrown at them onstage.

In June 2023, Bebe Rexha was hit on the forehead with a phone during her concert at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City.

The New York District Attorney’s Office told PEOPLE at the time that Nicolas Malvanga was arrested on several misdemeanor charges: two counts of third-degree assault as well as second-degree aggravated harassment, third-degree attempted assault and second-degree harassment.

“I was trying to see if I could hit her with the phone at the end of the show because it would be funny,” Malvanga, 27, of New Jersey told police, according to the criminal complaint.

Nicki Minaj at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark in September 2023.MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES

Bebe Rexha sustained injuries including a split eyebrow requiring stitches after an incident where she was struck by an object while performing onstage. Following the incident, she was escorted offstage and received medical treatment at the venue before being transported to a nearby hospital. Rexha later shared a post on her Instagram showing her stitches and a black eye, reassuring her fans with the caption, “I’m good.” This incident brings attention to the ongoing issue of objects being thrown onstage during performances, prompting other stars to speak out about similar experiences.

“This trend of throwing things at performers while they are on stage must come to an end. It’s so disrespectful and very dangerous. Please just enjoy the music I beg of you…” Charlie Puth wrote on X after Rexha, Ava Max and Kelsea Ballerini were hit during concerts.

During a Weekends with Adele show at The Colosseum in Las Vegas last year, Adele also said, “Have you noticed how people are forgetting f—ing show etiquette at the moment. People are throwing s— on stage. Have you seen that? I f—ing dare you — I dare you throw something at me. I’ll f—ing k!ll you.”

“Stop throwing things at the artist … These people have lost it. Can you imagine?” she added.