Nicki Minaj believes rappers shouldn’t sign for white-owned labels
In a recent social media rant, rap artist Nicki Minaj discussed the industry, suggesting that her fellow artists should avoid white-owned record labels. Her frustration was mostly targeted at the new generation of female rap artists in her slipstream, such as JT and Ice Spice.
Before her online tirade, Minaj caused a few ripples after unfollowing JT and Ice Spice on social media. On August 21st, she launched into a fiery monologue, enraged that so many Black American artists are signing with record labels owned by white people.
The rant was centred on the fact that Minaj feels her own label, Heavy On It, is more worthy of their business. “Motherfucker tell somebody they don’t want to sign with Heavy On It,” she began. “But then they’ll go and sign with the white peoples. And guess who the white peoples finna call?”
Addressing herself as Barbie, Minaj reflected, “They always get the attention of the Barbz.” In her frustration, Minaj seemed more vexed with the decisions of her peers as opposed to the operations of white businesspeople.
Continuing, Minaj mentioned her 2023 studio album Pink Friday 2. On the record, she collaborated with many fellow artists, including Finneas, J. Cole, Drake, Skillibeng, 50 Cent, Monica and Keyshia Cole. “You will be surprised,” Minaj added. “And I’m not talking about doing ad-libs on any songs. If your name is not on Pink Friday 2, they’re not a Heavy On It artist.”
The animosity between Minaj and Ice Spice appears to have begun in 2023, when, after being linked to Heavy On It, the latter signed a deal with Virgin Records. Under this new deal, Spice released her most recent album, Y2K. In January 2023, the pair had achieved joint success collaborating on ‘Princess Diana’, a track on Spice’s Like..? EP.
Sadly, since ‘Princess Diana’, there has been a breakdown in communications between Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj. The unfollow, followed by a social media tirade, appears to have elongated the tension, and with Minaj’s ardour in mind, the ball is in Spice’s court for reconciliation.