Nicki Minaj in ‘Anaconda’: She twerks hard for the money

An extended riff, more or less, on “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot, Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” felt like a bit of a throwaway when the song appeared early this month.

The words? Not as fierce as those in her and Beyoncé’s remix of “Flawless.” And the sound? Not as surprising as that of “Pills N Potions,” the tender electro-soul ballad that Minaj put out in May.

But if the rapper was holding back in “Anaconda,” perhaps that’s because she was reserving her effort for the song’s music video.

Posted late Tuesday on YouTube, the clip is an elaborate (and very raunchy) production number linking several different episodes.

First we see Minaj leading a crew of scantily clad twerkers in a steamy jungle scene. Then the action moves inside a grass hut, where Minaj plays both an aerobics instructor and a French maid armed with a can of whipped cream.

Finally, there’s a sequence in which the rapper gives a lap dance to her pal Drake, who appears entirely overwhelmed by the gesture.

It’s a lot to take in. If occasionally raw language and strip-club-worthy suggestiveness don’t faze you, click here to watch it.

Twitter: @mikaelwood