Author: Kara B (@karabrazey20)
Even addressing this issue is tiresome, but it needs to be placed center mass and laid to rest for eternity. I’m talking specifically about the nonsensical talking points of Nicki Minaj not being an ally to women, narrated by music industry rivals and distributed by bots and the gleefully uninformed duds on social media. Most barbz and Nicki fans will say we have gotten to a point where we shouldn’t care what “they” say or believe but I’m a “Nicki narrative buster”, this is what I do. Address and dissect narratives that are being pushed with the intent to create turmoil on the timeline and effect fan engagement. We all know every time Nicki releases music she shifts the conversation and alters the dynamics of what is expected from female rappers. A lot of labels resent that. There is a concerted effort in the music industry to market the new “influencer female rapper”. Female rappers who don’t rely on talent or even chart success; only being profitable in terms of endorsements and 360 deals. Because Nicki is a solidified talent and icon, she stands in the way of the music industry scheme coming to fruition.
To combat Nicki Minaj’s presence in hip hop, they create narratives to affect the public perception of her and to make the female rapper they are trying to prop up, appear as the “anti-Nicki”. Industry folks are aware the “razzle dazzle” being placed before these women will only lead to fleeting success and it will be on to the next one. Talent does matter as well as being media savvy. You must cultivate YOUR fanbase from the bottom up if you want longevity and for female rappers to have “crossover” success, the audience must buy into it. Don’t believe me, just ask Scratch Off what success was yielded from her 2-week long stint as a crossover pop artist. It yielded nothing because no one believed that she is a mainstream creative.
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Therefore, they put certain narratives into play such as Nicki being “not for women” even though she recently followed Ice Spice and posted her beautiful “Dazed” magazine cover on her IG story. Nicki quoted Ice’s song lyrics and for the most part barbz (Nicki Minaj fans) have shown Ice Spice overwhelming support. After announcing her own music label, Nicki officially introduced the label’s artist with one of them being a fellow New Yorker by the name of London Hill. London is a female rapper with a distinctive flow and witty lyrics, but most people will remember her from the “Fine Nine Likkle Miss” remix. London’s verse on that remix was top tier. Nicki also signed Dutch-Ghanaian Afro R&B artist, Nana Fofie who has some of the smoothest vocals you ever want to hear. Does this sound like someone who is “anti-woman”?
I know a few artists who are “anti-woman” but the industry and low life podcasters go blind for them. When Nicki dropped the “Queen Mix” to “Super Freaky Girl” her chart topping #1 single last year, female rappers were in shame and tarnish mode. The “Queens Mix” featuring JT (City Girls), Bia, Katie Got Bandz, Akbar V and Malibu Mitch was met with heavy shade from their fellow female rappers and the same online duds who love to say Nicki isn’t for women. The stench of jealousy and sabotage was so poignant Nicki had to go on Queen Radio to address it. Not a single female rapper congratulated those 5 women, but it was only those 5 women that congratulated Nicki on “Super Freaky Girl” entering that coveted Billboard Hot 100 #1 spot. Make it make sense. Nicki has collabed with the most female rappers than any other female rappers. She was featured on Trina’s album on a song called “BAPS” and was met with the ultimate disrespect from Trina’s team. Trina ended up doing an IG live to apologize and disclosed Nicki did her verse for free; off the strength of their relationship. For some reason that wasn’t good enough for Trina’s team, apparently Nicki should’ve financed the music video. But nonetheless, Nicki took the high road per usual and expressed her love for Trina.
The problem isn’t Nicki, it’s the industry and their expectations of what Nicki can give them for free or what she can give their female rap artist. In particular; access to her fanbase (that she built from the ground up) and access to the formula that makes Onika, Nicki Minaj. Remember, at the end of the day, Nicki Minaj is a persona and Onika is a woman just like me and you (albeit with a smile that stops traffic, a body that is enviable and a level of talent that blew the lid off female rap). The problem is access to Nicki isn’t in the 140 characters or less these duds use to show fake love. Access to Nicki is in who she chooses to make herself available to. And if she isn’t feeling you…chile. Good luck lol.
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To combat the lack of access to Nicki, narratives are used to sway public opinion and to try and destroy what appears to be her online marketing of music. Something the duds on their labels have tried to imitate and failed miserably at. So, called hip hop commentators is another tactic they use to push the “anti-woman” narrative on Nicki. Take Nadeska for instance, from some bullshit Apple Music podcast. She feels Nicki shouldn’t address the other female rappers in her lyrics or respond to them online. Nadeska said she wanted more “Looking Ass” energy from Nicki where she is just shitting on dudes. “Looking Ass” is a Nicki Minaj song released in 2014 where she is taking aim at men. No particular man was the target of her ire in this song, but it addressed all the criticism levied on her by toxic men. Now why would Nadeska want Nicki Minaj addressing men in that manner? She isn’t asking any other female rapper to do it. Shouldn’t Megan Thee Stallion have some clips to unload off her chest directed at men? But Nadeska views Nicki dissing men as an advantage for the other female rappers she actually likes. You might be asking what advantages. Well, the industry has been trying to humble Nicki since she 1st picked up the mic. In Nadeska’s mind, only a man can throw the lethal blows to make Nicki exit stage left. And what do men use as weapons against women? Their vagina and in her feeble mind, Nadeska feels they can attack the one thing Nicki cares more about than her career…family.
Don’t let that lethargic lizard fool y’all into thinking she just offering commentary on the current topics and critiques of the music. She is not. Nadeska has a disdain for Nicki that she can’t verbalize on Apple Music, so she hides behind the eyerolls and shady commentary. If her true feelings were known, she would lose her job, so she tries her best to disguise it but can’t. Toxic Femininity.
Nicki has been attacked relentlessly for the past 6 years and not one so called “cultural commentator” stood in the gap for her. And as it is written; those same “cultural commentators” had to back pedal. Not only did Nicki survive the hate train but she became akin to the “Thanos” of female rap. 15 years in and securing #1’s while strengthening and reinvigorating her fanbase, remaining the standard bearer of female rap and still the best selling female rapper in history. They had to bow down thru their gnarled lips and heavy tongues.
I ask again, who is the “anti-woman”? Nadeska doesn’t feel as if Nicki should respond to the vitriol other female rappers throw at her because she is above it all. Never has Nadeska addressed the ageism campaign being orchestrated against Nicki, either online or amongst the birds she cozies up to. The toxic femininity Nadeska displays is no different than Ebro and his toxic masculinity. Ebro unlike Nadeska, is trying to build a new narrative, leaving Nadeska to peddle the industry effort. Ebro feels no matter how low these flightless birds go with Nicki, she will still respect them. He feels Nicki is looking for a sparring partner and she sees Scratch Off as a threat. I guess that 2-week stint as a failing pop artist convinced Ebro that was enough for him to try and help save Scratch Off’s career.
See the toxicity. Ebro is just trying to keep his job by playing both sides of the fence. No one takes him serious in hip-hop. Nadeska on the other hand is playing into all the worst aspects of toxic femininity. She is not a friend to women or an ally to anyone other than the birds she nests with. Why does it anger Nadeska that Nicki responds to the duds thru her music? Or call them out online when they disrespect her? 2 reasons. Reason 1-Nicki has been reduced to a punching bag who can elevate other female rappers. Meaning, they have stripped all humanity from her in the public eye and amongst female rappers. Disrespecting Nicki isn’t shunned because the way they see it, she needs friends. So, labels tell them, play nice to get access to her fanbase and whatever gems to success she can give you. See, it’s kind of hard to just copy “The Pink Print” because Nicki wasn’t label created and Lil Wayne just let her soar as high as she could go. The other little missing nugget is that Nicki had an authentic old school come up, they can’t replicate that. Notice when Nicki starts talking about her come up or when clips of old club performances pop up online, everyone stops to relive that moment?
Reason 2-Nicki doesn’t just diss her opps or opponents, she makes them living punchlines. Punchlines and bars that live forever. A fanbase as massive as Nicki’s, duds can go anywhere in the world and be reminded the cost of their misfortune of getting into a battle with Nicki. Nicki isn’t God, but she is witty enough to make whatever she wants to say about you, stick forever. Scratch Off was reminded of that and switched up her whole look to appear more youthful. And a lesser realized reason Nadeska probably doesn’t want Nicki “dissing” other female rappers, is it makes people take sides. If I was a producer and you going at Nicki and can’t sell 100,000 albums in the streaming era ORGANICALLY, why would I give you a beat? Why would I give you a beat if your fans have no streaming power to ensure I keep some residuals coming in for years to come?
Thankfully, no one takes Nadeska and her toxic femininity seriously. No one will ever run to Apple Music, IG Live or Amp with the anticipation of hearing anything out of her mouth. And that’s why she’s mad. She has no influence, creative insight or personality and only gets what Apple Music gives her. No one and I mean no one, is waiting to hear anything from Nadeska which is why she is cradled amongst Ebro and the sausage dude on Apple Music. Apple Music; where toxic femininity and mediocrity thrive in the broad daylight like bacteria in a petri dish.
2 comments
The analysis and commentary in this article was excellent. Such a great read!
Excellent Article!! I totally agree. Keep it coming.