Why is it that when there’s any connection to Jay-Z, some people think it’s okay to disrespect or undermine others like Baby? The recent escalation in the feud between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion seems to hint at tensions involving Nicki and the Carters. Nicki is now making it clear that just because someone is close to Beyoncé and Jay-Z doesn’t give them license to disrespect her. Sources close to Nicki indicate she’s wary of a situation similar to what happened with Keri Hilson involving Jay-Z and Beyoncé. It appears that Megan Thee Stallion is part of a significant project involving Jay-Z.
Nicki isn’t just cautious around Jay-Z and Beyoncé; she’s also wary of others in the industry. The Grammy incident, which seemed deliberate to embarrass Nicki, plays into this narrative. Let’s dive into how Jay-Z and Beyoncé are allegedly trying to undermine Nicki. Wasn’t there always a positive relationship between Nicki and the Carters? It appeared so, especially when Beyoncé publicly recognized Nicki’s birthday and the birth of her son in 2020, even sending a handwritten note welcoming Nicki to motherhood. They also seemed supportive when congratulating Nicki on her Vanguard Award at the 2022 MTV VMAs.
Recently, as of July 2023, Beyoncé sent a selection of pink Ivy Park items to Nicki Minaj in celebration of her title track for the Barbie film soundtrack. However, some have noted that Nicki’s last appearance at the pre-Grammy Roc Nation brunch was back in 2015 when she was dating Meek Mill, who later partnered with Jay-Z in advocating for prison reform. This raises questions about whether there have been underlying issues behind the scenes, masked by public appearances. It seems that any rift between Nicki and the Carters likely occurred towards the end of 2023, leading to Nicki referencing Beyoncé in a recent song with lyrics like, “They said, ‘Why you can’t be Beyoncé?’ Daddy wasn’t no businessman. Mama wasn’t no business owner. M, what an idiot. You can’t be me. I’m already it.
Beyond this, there’s been tension with Megan Thee Stallion, where Nicki’s response seemed disproportionate to a single line in Megan’s song. Rumors now suggest the real issue isn’t with Megan but with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Given that Roc Nation, owned by Jay-Z, backs Megan Thee Stallion’s success, speculation is rising that Roc Nation is funding this rivalry to push Nicki out of the industry. The lyrics in Megan’s song referencing “Megan’s Law” likely struck a nerve as it alludes to Nicki’s husband, Kenneth Petty, being in the law enforcement database due to past legal issues. Interestingly, in 2020, Nicki’s brother, Jelani Mirage, received a 25-year sentence for similar charges, despite Nicki’s plea for leniency in a letter portraying him as a caring and selfless individual.
The reference to Megan’s Law in relation to Nicki Minaj was deeply personal. It’s not just about Megan, because Nicki believes Roc Nation is behind her perceived sabotage. This became evident during Nicki’s rant against Megan, where she claimed Roc Nation was investing heavily in promoting Megan to overshadow her. Nicki’s tweets explicitly accused Roc Nation of pouring money into boosting Megan’s career, despite Nicki’s belief that Megan is a struggling independent artist. Nicki’s frustration is palpable, as she dismisses Megan’s talent and success, citing her own achievements without significant promotion or a video.
In another tweet referencing Roc Nation, Nicki addressed personal grievances, accusing someone of bringing up her family and spreading lies, even involving deceased relatives and personal relationships. Nicki feels targeted and bullied, especially at Roc Nation events, which she believes expose personal information about her. She calls for accountability and an apology, asserting her intentions to delve into industry figures’ actions, particularly singling out Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez in her upcoming song.
Beyond Megan, Nicki’s grievances extend to industry figures like Jay-Z and Beyoncé, who inadvertently became part of the conflict when Nicki criticized Elliott Wilson for disrespecting her during a livestream promoting another artist’s album in December 2023. The tension between Nicki and Roc Nation appears multifaceted, reflecting deep-seated personal and professional conflicts within the music industry.
Elliott has previously expressed frustration over established artists being overlooked for major interviews in favor of new viral artists. He sarcastically shared a video of Nicki Minaj twerking with the caption, “Hip-hop journalism.” In response, Nicki criticized Elliott, suggesting that if he could pause his focus on Jay-Z for a moment, he might be able to show support for up-and-coming artists. She also accused him of participating in efforts to tarnish her reputation by spreading rumors that she doesn’t support new talent, despite collaborating with many newcomers. Nicki believes Elliott is one of the voices working against her in the industry. Some people even suspect a deliberate agenda against Nicki Minaj, with one supporter publicly commending her resilience in continuing to release music despite facing numerous challenges. The sentiment suggests that although powerful forces may be trying to silence Nicki, her impact and legacy remain strong. Additionally, there are claims that the Grammys deliberately embarrassed Nicki Minaj. During the Grammy’s Premiere Ceremony, which streamed live on YouTube, Killer Mike was announced as the winner for Best Rap Song, contradicting the Recording Academy’s earlier announcement that Nicki Minaj and Ice Spices had won with “Barbie World” from the Barbie soundtrack.
The post was swiftly deleted, but it sparked significant backlash from Nicki Minaj’s fans, known as the Barbs. Many were bewildered by the Grammys’ tweet declaring Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice as winners, only to retract it moments later. This incident, especially amid Nicki’s recent claims of sabotage within the industry, seemed to validate her concerns for her fans. Nicki’s contentious relationship with the Grammys is well-documented; in 2022, she criticized the Recording Academy for classifying her song “Super Freaky Girl” as pop instead of rap, allegedly to diminish her competition. Likewise, in 2020, she called out the Grammys for overlooking her despite seven chart-topping songs.
The erroneous announcement followed by deletion naturally raised suspicion. It suggested a decision made higher up, with the social media intern left in the dark until the last moment. The Barbs wasted no time in pointing out that this incident aligned with Nicki’s allegations of industry sabotage. One fan questioned why the Grammys would post an official announcement only to contradict it during the show, echoing Nicki’s sentiments about industry betrayal. Another fan emphasized the disconnect between the official announcements and the actual show lineup, reinforcing Nicki’s claims of industry conspiracy.
Nicki Minaj specifically implicates Roc Nation, alleging Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s involvement in the sabotage. Megan also indirectly referenced Roc Nation in her response, hinting at potential entanglements. Could Nicki’s suspicions about Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and others plotting against her hold weight, akin to what happened with Keri Hilson? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
