Last week on The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne Tha God proclaimed that Nicki Minaj’s music has gone cold. I was on the treadmill getting my HITT on and listening in disbelief. Nicki is still making hot music. I truly believe the hate that Nicki receives has less to do with her music and more so to do with people just being haters. When you are on top for as long as Nicki has been on top, people are waiting for you to fall off. It doesn’t matter that she’s been on top because of lack of competition because that’s not her fault.
It’s not her fault that Remy Ma was in jail as she ascended to the top. Or that Lil’ Kim hasn’t made a bop since “Lighter’s Up” back in 2005. Or that Foxy Brown doesn’t have a rap career anymore. Or that any of the other underground female rappers can’t seem to come up from the underground. I like my female rappers street and sexy because it’s possible to be both which is why I can’t get jiggy with Angel Haze, Siya or Gifted Gab. Trina is sexy without skill and Shawnna just couldn’t take off under DTP. Jean Grae is cool but not my particular taste. Iggy Azalea is a non-Hip Hop factor and Azealia Banks is way too hipster for my liking.
I like braggadocious rhymes. I like rapping like I’m the baddest to have ever done it. And I like my artists to write their rhymes which is why Cardi B isn’t a factor in terms of artistry.
Nicki is constantly rapping my thoughts especially when she said “cause 99.9%, of these fuckboys can’t fuck me.” Nicki speaks to the 2017 fly girls who are unapologetically bad. She speaks sex and entrepreneurship. She boasts about material things and love. She raps about the value in exclusivity and ambition. “But my pussy so exclusive, limited edition. You know niggas love pretty bitches with ambition,” Nicki spits on Fabolous’ “Doin It Well.”
Nicki still has punchlines for days and although,“No Frauds” didn’t go far or “Regret In Your Tears” and even, “Charged Up,” they weren’t horrible songs. People don’t listen to lyrics because if they did, they would know that Nicki still has bars. Her verse on Gucci Mane’s “Make Love” is straight fire.
“Tryin’ to win a gunfight with a bunch of knives
I win, get off the bench and give a bunch of fives.
She ain’t eatin’ but I swear she got some bum ass taste
Text her man like, “Dawg, how that bum ass taste?”
Pay your rent! And stay in your bum ass place
Oooohhh, oh you the qu-e-e-the queen of this here?
One platinum plaque, album flopped, bitch, where? (bitch, where?)
You see, silly rabbit, to be the queen of rap
You gotta sell records, you gotta get plaques
S, plural like the S on my chest
Now sit your dumbass down
You got an F on your test
”
I really need the Nicki naysayers to sit down cause Nicki’s verse on Yo Gotti’s “Rake It Up” goes.
“
I tell all my niggas (yo) cut the check (cut the check)
Buss it down, turn your goofy down (down) pound
I’ma do splits on it, yes, splits on it (splits)
I’m a bad bitch, I’ma throw fits on it (fits)
I’ma bust it open! I’ma go stupid and be a ditz on it (ditz)
I don’t date honey (no) cookie on tsunami (oh)
All my niggas wife me once they get that good punani (oh)
”
Musically, Nicki Minaj is still the queen regardless if you believe she has a bad attitude. Or if you think, Remy Ma bodied her on “ShETHER.” Because if you love “ShETHER” so much, spit a bar from it. I’ll wait. Most people liked “ShETHER” because they don’t like Nicki. There’s a difference.
Women and men always judge women who are confident. You can think you’re bad but you can’t think you’re the baddest. You can travel the world but you can’t make a video in jest about basics who can’t spell Prague. If you don't aspire to travel in a private jet than stick to the Megabus and Bolt Buses that you're used to.
She was able to crossover and come back and because of that how can anyone deny Nicki’s talent or staying power. I pray that if you reach the top of your field or industry that people are kinder to you than you may be to Nicki.