How Nicki Broke the Blueprint

Please support the channel and get access to a ton of great content (at a discounted price for a year's subscription) by signing up for Nebula and Curiosity stream through this link- curiositystream.com/fdsignifier
Nicki Minaj exists in an interesting place in hip hop history. For a moment in hip hop she seemed like a once in a lifetime occurrence, a female MC who could rhyme, captivate a massive fanbase, make hits, and sell millions of records as good as any man in the industry... but then her success somehow backfired. Now in the wake of her own success, all the things that made Nicki standout seem to be being copied by a generation of female artists built in her image. Worse yet, her name is brought up more for controversy than anything else these last few years. But that doesn't mean her legacy and story of how she changed hip hop isn't worth telling.
In this episode of the Black Media Breakdown F.D tries to tell the complicated story of Nicki Minaj and her impact on hip hop all while telling the truth as he sees it... and hopefully avoiding the wrath of the Barbz.
00:00 Intro, Plea for Safety
09:19 Women in hip hop in the old days
17:00 Lil Kim revolutionizes women in Hip Hoop
23:25 How Nicki changed the game
39:50 The backlash against Nicki
57:48 How the game changed on Nicki
01:14:02 Nicki gets canceled
01:24:05 How Nicki can come back/Final thoughs
You can follow me on twitter and Instagram- @fdsignifier
Patreon: / posts
Edited by:
Needless: / @needlessnick
2D animations by:
Aranock: / aranock
Featured Creators:
Fab Socialism: / vellloh
Tee Noir: / teenoir
Khadija Mbowe: / khadijambowe
Folding Ideas: / foldingideas

[@lethe.archive]

im so glad we’re already at the “talking to animated metaphors” era of fd

[@blaze14ZX]

Yeah that was great, it was a funny and interesting addition.

[@DianoiaNoesis]

1 as an impact of lauryn Hill - yeesh- please explain bro- I am waiting for the lauryn hill video later today. I mean that’s not asking much is it lol

[@JulianSteve]

Yes, I noticed the animated metaphors, and additional edits. I am here for it🤘🏾🔥

[@Tru1Tani]

😂😂😂

[@muticere]

given me strong Doug Walker flashbacks, but it's okay (same elephant he used, too, I think)

[@KhadijaMbowe]

It's the fear and respect for the barbs 💀

[@wompwomp9946]

love you play auntie

[@labelsandlife]

Okayyy 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@JulianSteve]

He had to put the disclaimers in advance. I do not blame him. Also, great job Khadija🥹💯

[@jesceeskylar6409]

We’d shut this channel down 😂😂😂😂

[@natesamadhi33]

Because he knows the barbs will get his ass shut down, falsely arrested, & jumped all in the same day

[@MissAlmostFine]

Nicki's fanbase was not only primarily BW in the beginning, black gay men also took to Nicki like white on rice. This also played a part in how the Hip Hop community saw Nicki. Why would "they" want to celebrate a woman who has BW AND Black gay men as active participants in Hip Hop??

[@SeyvonTheGenie]

SPEAK ON IT!!!

[@stopplaying189]

Now look at all these new experimental rappers

[@mrlofi333]

Bad influence

[@laexploradoraaaXD]

YEAH Lil Nas X was a barb

[@MayorOfEarth79]

@@laexploradoraaaXD "I've been by the phone, stanning Nicki morning into dawn, only place I felt like I belong, strangers make you feel so loved you know..."

[@ohitsclemenTIME]

In regards to Lil Kim's plastic surgery, she started getting it because her ex kept breaking her nose. She was in an incredibly abusive relationship. She admitted she kept doing it afterward because of insecurity and how she kept getting cheated on with white women. I feel for her.

[@feelshowdy]

Oh no, that's horrible :(

[@aaamazing9888]

Biggie 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@ktbecstasy]

Cap she was just insecure n cowards around her championed her to get surgeries

[@sweetqueenladybug2028]

Kim doesn’t deserve that at all . Biggie should be ashamed to himself

[@BrooklynDaDon1]

Actually no, she got work done before that but need to keep up the work because she STARTED facing abuse

[@0AriesFire0]

I feel like her achieving these accolades without much competition is actually even more of an accomplishment cause it further emphasizes just how much of a male dominated industry it was

[@panashe5268]

I don’t think it’s male dominated because “men didn’t allow women to succeed in the space.” It’s male dominated because much of hip-hop is the expression of black masculinity which doesn’t resonate as much with women. Women typically aren’t the ones in the streets engaging in shoot outs with gang members or selling drugs to the community. That’s why women gravitate more toward other female artists and male rappers like Drake (who rapped about women in a positive light).

[@ForeignManinaForeignLand]

One ting about my good Uncle is he will find a way to talk about Wrestling.. even in a video about Nicki 😅 certified classic

[@100Stratusfiedx]

I mean Nicki did Victoria’s theme song. Lil Kim did Trish’s

[@JulianSteve]

Hey Foreign and thanks for the spoiler. I’m in school, so I’ll be watching this tonight or tomorrow🥲💯

[@liberpolo5540]

xD I bet you're right!

[@mapitizat]

@@100Stratusfiedx You bullshittin? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 So this beef is bigger than rap.

[@BellamyJay]

SQUARE UP FOREIGN WHERE YOU AT

[@walkaway1764]

"Brute force of girly chaos" is the best description of Nicki I've ever heard.

[@RedHearts178]

forreal

[@sii9423]

💯💯

[@jdmorgan4582]

The pink print era shouldnt have been glossed over cuz that’s when she got back into that hiphop sound that everyone wanted. Many call that album her magnum opus

[@synnyjester3x]

an amazing piece of work, especially in the area of Hip-Hop.

[@jalenriley7706]

@@michaelgreen2954 cause why he ain’t bring up the fact that’s these artists today get paid off streams because of her?! It’s a lot that was missed honestly

[@Theechosenone_]

​@@jalenriley7706and ALOT that was touched on honestly. How long did you want the video to be? Sheeesh. And Nicki was one of many artists fighting for paid streams. Js.

[@MATTELMADE]

The pink print should be written down in history. She was so iconic for this release

[@jssnun]

@@Theechosenone_But yet NOT enough. Dont tackle a topic ur not ready for. Period.

[@jaszs7766]

Ion think Nicki ever lost her fan base, Nicki lost the media and industry, however she is still striving and running the game due to her fan base and the numbers they pull even 12-13 years into her career. The reason she wasn’t moved and erased from the industry was due to the impact her fans have and they way they are able to move thru social media.

[@medo05511]

facx. the only reason she is still relevant in the 2020s is because of her dedicated fanbase. No one else is paying attention to what she's releasing or what she's doing. it's her fans that keep her name popping up in social media.

[@excellentttt]

An interesting thing about nicki is that she’s rarely asked about her craft and her vision of her artistry. In a great interview about her writing, she said that when she is on a feature, she goes harder because she feels she needs to earn that spot. This is a big reason why soooo many of her features are incredible. She’s subtly competing with her collaborators. People do not talk enough how amazing that Motorsport verse was because of all the cardi drama but she went IN. so she’s problematic af but the respect is due.

[@joeybatmania9327]

Cardi and Nicki trading subliminals on Motorsport MADE that song, hands down

[@DeLaSoul246]

This is SO TRUE! I remember thinking years ago, "I wish there was a whole album of just her features." Used to listen to her Monster verse over and over. Sooo good 🤩 she made the rest of that song so forgettable to me. Amazing

[@excellentttt]

@@DeLaSoul246 I have a playlist called “featuring Nicki Minaj” 🤣

[@DeLaSoul246]

@@excellentttt LMAO hell yes 😂

[@fizzychizzy]

Nicki always delivers on her features. Plain Jane is AMAZING.

[@TeeNoir]

To say you bodied this is an understatement.

[@martinebonita2658]

📠

[@miaadhaora4399]

Hey, Tee Love you girl

[@OverthrowMedia]

Facts, like id comment while watching it and FD would hit that piont evertime like damn i need to just shut up and watch. Ps @Tee Noir i love your content.

[@gonzalo4722]

Hey BV

[@Itsthatck]

No he didn’t. You’re biased. Stay away

[@queenrayna]

I’m not a barb… but I remember when Massive Attack dropped. I was 10 years old, and I was immediately enamored. Then there was IttyBittyPiggy, and Bed Rock, Bottoms Up, and THE MONSTER VERSE, Super Bass (she’s a pop girly), Did It On ‘em, Moment 4 life. It was hit after hit. She was everywhere and I loved it. I knew she was an icon from that age. I spent my childhood and teendom loving her. She has had such an impact on my life. I remember being 13 watching the My Time Again documentary, and finding it so amazing. It was so influential for me, specifically her discussion about boss vs bitch, it shaped my confidence.

[@arcayalove2526]

Sounds like a Barb to moi 🦄🦄💕💕, js.

[@tubarine]

welcome to the family

[@queenrayna]

@@arcayalove2526 I mean I pretty much am, I just don’t like to associate with the stereotypical image of the extremely fanatical Barb that’ll doxx bitches. However, I will absolutely defend her influence, and praise her influence in my own life. 🦄💕

[@queenrayna]

@@arcayalove2526i remember having Your Love as my main ringtone when I was in 5th grade ❤

[@arcayalove2526]

@@queenrayna I completely understand what you mean by not being an “extreme fanatical Barb” because I feel that way myself. I fell in love with Nicki after hearing the Monster verse from Nicki in 2010. Although, in 2010 I was only 31 y/o (🥹😂 waaay older than yourself), I was fully into Nicki. She is truly an ICON in every sense of the word. And it’s so amazing to me how her career has thrived after all these years!! Like I tell others, “I’m a Barb, just not a crazy Barb 😊.”

[@kin.greened]

watching this after the whole megan and nicki thing is... introspective to say the least lol

[@AwkwardWhispers]

"I didn't get it 'cause it wasn't FOR me." That is so refreshing to hear.

[@SpaztasticSheep]

This

[@4dooraventador]

nicki has a lot of queer fans as well and i like to include that in why she’s so successful, because she created a space for queer fans to feel safe, and j think that was also new and revolutionary for the time. she got a lot of young queer people (myself included) into rap.

[@bohlalenchabeleng1370]

She did create a safe space for gay people.

[@caitieeeee]

very true

[@fragileguyguy7226]

What about “that line” from Doja Cat’s remix to “Say So”. She wasn’t very LGBTQ inclusive with that line.

[@keytho1002]

@@fragileguyguy7226 she was talking about herself not the gay community

[@PGOuma]

She got me into rap when I was 12

[@cosa_oscura]

Your point that Nicki was one of the first to make it feel like SHE was the boss, SHE was the one who was to receive pleasure, that it was all about her getting hers - I feel like you identified why she resonated with me so much. It was something I could never really verbalize or identify. She felt like she gave us all permission to get ours at a time when I most needed to hear it.

[@kbee8517]

I would be interested to see you make a video essay on Lauryn Hill's influence alone on hip hop and especially her impact on the culture of the time , as well as her influence on modern rap (Kendrick, Cole, Nicki, etc.)

[@gbbs9]

Yeah! Lauryn had way too many 1s on that rubric to be as celebrated as she is. And I’m not just saying that bc she’s my fave🤣

[@ravenwolfkittyface1802]

I still remember an interview (or something) she did more towards the beginning of her career. She casually referred to herself as “girl with vag*na,” and when the interviewer laughed and asked “as opposed to girl without vag*na?” she looked him in the eyes and deadpanned “yes.” Her casual and insistent affirmation of trans bodies in that moment, along with some of her lyrics - “I’m fighting for the girls who never thought they could win / cuz before they could begin, you told them it was the end” - gave me so much hope for her career and the effect she could have on a wider cultural level. She’s definitely had a big impact on things, but it’s sad to see how far she’s fallen in sone ways.

[@victoriap1649]

As someone always on the outside looking in, this was heartbreaking to read. Truthfully all I know of her now is how she is not an ally to fellow women, and about her marrying and defending a r*pist and harassing his victim to drop charges. Reading that she started out saying things like that and with every intention of being an ally/role model/ helping hand to fellow women... it’s truly so heartbreaking that something switched up a long the way 💔 Thanks for sharing this.

[@goldie12577]

@@victoriap1649 Do you even follow this case at all? lmao

[@victoriap1649]

@@goldie12577 yes I have. Sorry you see it differently.

[@mikeikee]

@@victoriap1649 clearly you haven’t lol. she never harassed the victim at all.

[@imanigordon6803]

@@mikeikee she clearly did

[@samajmonroe]

Nicki is truly a moment in time. Playful, animated, sassy, sexy, had attitude and strong minded… she has it all as far as being a star but most importantly she is one of the first artist to actually know and engage with her fans personally. She is truly cared about and that’s why she can thrive. She made it where male artist needed her co-sign, something a lot of women in hip hop haven’t been able to do.

[@arcayalove2526]

And….. THIS!!!!

[@KyeyuneBatuma]

This is powerful powerfully written

[@audreymuzingo933]

I just love how effing FUNNY she is. And her lyrics are just the half; the faces she makes are a thing of real beauty, where "not pretty" facial contortions are a comedic device off the table for women, in fact I can't recall seeing it (much) in any females I can think of since Lucille Ball.

[@EayuProuxm]

So I fired my boss, speedran raising my kids, evicted my landlord, therapized all my friends and enemies and dissolved my local government all so I could free up my schedule to devote 100% of my energy and focus to this FD video. No other youtuber gets me as expectant as FD does

[@hiwrenhere]

"I fired my boss" Left me laughing out loud

[@OofieDooples]

@@hiwrenhere speed running child rearing is significantly funnier.

[@hiwrenhere]

@@OofieDooples In order to avoid confrontation I can only say that I also laughed out loud at that too 🤣

[@phaphanindeya3880]

Dedication.

[@shanekajohnson1320]

😂

[@absoluitfruit5793]

as someone who was really into japanese street fashion at the time, she brought a lot of that into the mainstream, and ive always respected her for that.

[@oluwashinaomisanya7487]

Not to mention she has had a major hand in the success of female rap within the K-pop.

[@Pugetwitch]

I've always reckoned that was a form of cultural appropriation, though. It certainly was viewed that way when Gwen Stefani did it.

[@absoluitfruit5793]

@@Pugetwitch i would say what gwen stefani did was much different. ive never seen anything gwen wore worn by actual j-fashion models, but i have absolutely seen models in those blunt bang wigs that nikki wore. gwens album, and the way she used four japanese women as props within it, also has a whole other slew of issues to it. afaik, nikki has only ever worn the fashion, which i dont think in and of itself is appropriative.

[@TNDCBaby]

​@@Pugetwitch Maybe but the way that they continue to do it with hiphop, rap and R&B, I am not sure that they have room to criticize or be bothered.

[@aliahc8595]

@@Pugetwitch Nicki is black, not white.... street fashion is appropriated from black culture, it's not the same soooooooooooo *wermp*

[@sawyerk641]

I'm currently teaching now, and I have a student who wanted to do a research paper on Nicki Minaj! I suggested they go through your video to help them generate ideas, which was when I found out that schools where I am have your content blocked for some reason. Cheers.

[@AprilHotrose]

Wow

[@senoracheapee1864]

Nikki did not emerge outta nowhere. She was very much popping in 2008/2009 in the local NYC scene...hella known in Queens, Brooklyn, and Harlem

[@MichaelTurner856]

Cool to know!

[@omarikirkland4986]

Yea i heard about her in 2008 from a girl in college from NJ. she used to rap like biggie.

[@xenopyxis]

FD making a literal fucking elephant in the room and foreshadowing it, along with being visibly excited during the reveal sketch is dork dad behaviour and needs to be appreciated.

[@JackDicaprio]

@PSI Nick who is Dan???

[@JackDicaprio]

@PSI Nick Thanks for letting me know! I’ll chick Dan out!

[@vidmuncher]

@PSI Nick OK, I suspected it was folding ideas. Nice to know I'm not going crazy

[@cynamentl]

@PSI Nick I'm still watching and I thought his voice sounded familiar! Thanks for the shout-out!

[@The7thDraconian]

I was mostly reeling because that elephant was a Doug Walker thing and seeing it again was a "No! You're dead! I saw you die!" moment for me.

[@savantGK3]

I think you missed the impact of LGBTQ culture on Nicki’s rise and how queer people, particularly black gay men played a large role in Nicki’s rise as well. Would’ve been interesting to hear your commentary on that

[@TacticusPrime]

Lil Nas X started his Twitter life as a Barb.

[@Procanin]

Honestly i feel like this is the reason why he is doing this video. The man says he hasn't even listened to a full album. Imo this is all to pander to the breadtube crowd and its love for Nicky due to her bond with the LGBTQ culture.

[@nicoledempsey3415]

Someone should do an entire analysis of her VMA performance because it is the most memorable moment in Nicki's career for me. An entire performance about how LGBT+ people are demonized and targeted by the catholic church. Ballsy, artistic as FUCK, I will never forgive those who made her feel shame for showing us her theatricality. I genuinely think if she rolled with it we would have seen such amazing shit, like thats final form excellence rt.

[@stephanolivier7852]

@@Procanin i agree with you especially the part about the albums. Him not listening to none of Nicki’s album limited his research which is why he’s only asking for women opinions on Nicki’s career. There were a lot of men gay and straight that loved/respected Nicki. Even pop smoke put Nicki in his top 5 rappers. Also he never mentioned Nicki’s worldwide success and how that helped hip hop become the #1 genre that it is today. Nicki is still the only female rapper to headline a world tour but instead he was too focused on Nicki’s competition 🥱 he didn’t even say anything about Nicki’s alter egos but u would have to hear her albums to know that which he didn’t do. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Procanin]

@@stephanolivier7852 I didn't know about Pop putting her in the top 5.

[@Gonzo_Gab]

I do agree with most of your points, even that Nicki is deserved some major recognition from those who came directly after her, especially Cardi, Doja and Meg. However, that ship has long since sailed because instead of uplifting and supporting these artists right away, she waited a bit, criticized them for “stealing” her style, and then only supported a few of them for some PR points before going right back to demanding her flowers - even to the point of degrading and belittling Meg and some of her other fellow female rappers while championing the men who allegedly did them harm. It’s just gotten nastier, and I’d even argue that many of the artists seeing a rise in hip hop prominence today are there because they were inspired by Nicki, but uplifted and influenced by Cardi. Nicki may have broken the blueprint and replaced it with a hip hop world accessible and dominated by women, but she was really only looking for her own spot at the table, not to flip the table over and get a bigger one for those who came after her.

[@livviloolah]

in light of recent events... an update would be interesting 😅

[@Fabsocialism]

Y’all better watch theee fulll video before strange takes!

[@bicthboy4life619]

Fr

[@caseyw.6550]

Yes! ❤

[@leebird9023]

Lil' Kim was so cute; I hate that people made her feel less-than for the way she naturally looked. She didn't have anything (objectively) to feel insecure about, but anti-Blackness and white supremacy destroyed her self-esteem :(

[@ericacaines2529]

Her man Big did that to her. It's a sad truth, but nonetheless the truth.

[@DDoubleEDouble]

Not just “people”, especially the men in her life :(

[@JulianSteve]

Yeah, the whole Lil’ Kim conversation on how she changed her looks through the years is upsetting. I talked about it on my channel a year ago (not the best video lol)☹️💯

[@ExeErdna]

Biggie did that to her and due to him getting killed it was never resolved so that feeling festered. She wanted to be like those other redbone/high yellow women from back then. When she was popping as she was.

[@SaltoDaKid]

She had get surgery for her health, why doesn’t know remember that

[@IvyroseGullwhacker]

I'm definitely a member of the "Nicki Generation." I was 12 when Monster came out and I was introduced to her. Became an instant fan. I cannot express the impact her music has had on my life. Seeing her continuously stand with/by predatory men around 2018-20 especially was very difficult as I was healing from my own abusive relationship. Every controversy, I tried to stan-"logic" my way around it ("Oh I just won't listen to that 69 song" "Maybe her husband got help and is ready to be an upstanding man and father," etc.) , but this pattern on top of the anti-vaxx comments eventually led me to no longer listen to her music or otherwise support her. And it's hard, because her songs were very impactful and are just genuine bangers. When she won the Vanguard award at the 2022 VMAs I got emotional during her performance, which was essentially a performed resume from one of the greats. It felt like part of my childhood/adolescence died when I stopped listening to Nicki and left her behind.

[@TanJRHeaux]

I’ve never seen someone cover Nicki this impartially and fairly before. You did an amazing job, this is coming from a longtime barb. The point you made about only being as good as your next project, and the music she “should” be making right now is absolutely true. I think that if she delivers a good, solid, mature hip hop/rap album as her fifth album; a lot of her sins will be “absolved” so to speak, and she will be able to lay down the final pieces in the puzzle that is her legacy. I have an inclination that the next album will be a sort of “Pinkprint 2”, but we’ll just have to see ;)

[@salaciousness]

Gurl, you were right!🤣🤣😅

[@Africangoddess97]

You were right!

[@arcayalove2526]

You definitely spoke that into existence my friend!! Wow 🤩

[@ItsHardToBeThisCool]

you were right AND it goes crazy🫡

[@KabbalahSherry]

You manifested Pink Friday 2 🥹💗 TY lol

[@coRynnstar]

Nicki gave me -- a weird, Black theater kid from a very VERY white town -- the pop-to-hip-hop gateway I needed the early 2010s. I'll always be grateful for that.

[@mosessupposes2571]

Why do you capitalize Black but not white? I’ve seen that a lot in comments but not so much everywhere else. Thanks

[@murk4552]

​@@mosessupposes2571it's inconsistent in our communities, capitalization isn't a standard anywhere though on KZbin unless the users do it as priority 😂

[@OwlyFisher]

​@@mosessupposes2571it's like Deaf Vs deaf. it indicates belonging to a culture/community rather than just a trait

[@idrk3707]

@@mosessupposes2571bc who cares

[@destinixshakur]

@@mosessupposes2571girl hush

[@user-xsn5ozskwg]

As a black kid I always distanced myself from hip hop, mostly out of a fear of being seen as stereotypical. Your black media breakdowns have really let me see parts of our culture I've othered for too long and gain a deeper appreciation for it. This video specifically helped me gain an appreciation for the contributions of an artist who would normally never be on my radar, and I think more importantly get a bit of an understanding of why Nicki is/was so cherished by her audience and what she means/meant to them.

[@zonyae29047]

Growing up I always told myself that listening to rap music was bad, and anyone who did was a sheep. I listen to dubstep, game OSTs, and japanese songs primarily, and have listened to those most of my life, but 4-5 years ago I opened my mind to rap. Because around that same time, the black power/BLM movement happened. I still dont really side with it, but the culture of black people started to become not as stigmatized. Which for me, made it easier to rationalize to myself that maybe I should give it a try (since I love music of all genres).

[@Kitunekld]

I can identify with this, although it was less about the stereotype and more about my family being very religious and keeping me away from a lot of Black music that was popular the time. I wasn't even allowed to listen to Michael Jackson, and when friends at school told me about him, my mother got upset, saying she would have preferred I'd never be introduced to his music. And rap was basically devil music as far as my parent's were concerned, so 99% of it was off the table. The only rapper I was only ever allowed to listen to at home was M.C. Hammer, because he was "clean" and didn't curse in his music or talk about anything to do with criminals or drugs. I listened to my parent's music growing up, which meant Motown and Disco, as well as Contemporary or Adult R&B, so Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Patti Label, Earth Wind & Fire. My Dad snuck in the Isley Brothers. Some R&B my friends were listening to was okay, so long as it wasn't raunchy. I was a big fan of Boyz II Men. It wasn't until I got to college that I really had the freedom to explore the larger world of rap and Black music.

[@marvin469]

Carlton banks ?

[@user-xsn5ozskwg]

@@marvin469 Basically, but without the money

[@marvin469]

@@user-xsn5ozskwg LMFAO , u caught that

[@datsquisheeboi]

As a former barb. Part of what drew us in wasn't really her. Through my love for her music, I found a community. I was in one of those groups of kids screaming Nicki verses from the top of our lungs. It did genuinely become part of my personality and for a lot of queer people raised as boys, was the first time we we able to see such a huge aspect of Black culture come closer to talking about experiences and feelings we related to. A lot of that hostility is because they feel someone critiqueing her is, by proxy, a personal attack. By the time we got to the 2010's accountability culture, people were ready to still excuse her rich history/present of queerphobia because what she meant to them transcended that boundary. I've been thinking about starting a channel because I think its also important to talk about how and why so often cishet women (and cishet men who are ever so slightly gender-divergent🙄) are given Diva status among the LGBT+ community. Especially the Black divas since theirs plenty of talk abbout the white ones.

[@helio7249]

Based

[@heatherlee2047]

+

[@destinixshakur]

I stopped reading after “as a former barb “

[@datsquisheeboi]

@@destinixshakur apparently not since you took the time to comment🤷🏾

[@destinixshakur]

@@roralojane k

[@corngreaterthanwheat]

Nicki's guest verse on Monster is a GOAT qualifier in and of itself.

[@nateds7326]

The thing is I don't think she ever really reached that level of quality ever again.

[@omarikirkland4986]

forgot that one.

[@cassiuscruz8570]

You missed a very huge part of the story which was Nicki's connection to gay men and queerness in general.

[@bulat128]

Yes

[@bohlalenchabeleng1370]

That's because she's bisexual herself.

[@topfloorsmoke]

“Paper Planes” is actually more a political anthem… the song is essentially a play on xenophobia, a critique of the military industrial complex that sells guns to third world countries, inspired by her ties to the Tamil militia groups through her father, and how they fled the country to Britain because of it, and it even samples a song by The Clash that critiques nativism. Its one of my top favorite pop songs for the decade. Even the line “*cash register* and take your money” is specifically referring to the “they took our jobs” mentality

[@kambion]

YUP. Also, MIA is just better than Nikki Minaj.

[@jbradleymusic]

@@kambion I adore MIA, but Nikki is a more skilled musician.

[@michellehell251]

I listened to both of them back when I was a teenager . They've both really impacted what kind of Feminism I subscribed to. Nicki for the way that she was unapologetically feminine and quirky and so objectively talented that misogynoir could not stop her. MIA for the way that she used music and fashion to talk about big global issues that effect Black and Brown people. They taught me that it was good for me to be a multifaceted woman of color. It kinda paved the way for me to be able to understand what intersectional Feminism could look like.

[@lifeinthevillage2279]

Hard agree. MIA is incredible

[@Uberkris77]

MIA IS my favorite female rapper but I have a very hard comparing the two. They are just so different

[@TheGhostofAbigailMills]

I had to pull from this video essay A LOT in the past 2 days, what with the current ... situation happening. Watching her legacy fall even more apart in real time has been haunting to see.

[@Moniquedb222]

Nicki legacy isn't going nowhere

[@TheGhostofAbigailMills]

@@Moniquedb222 Yeah, you would think so, right? No matter what, she gave us an unforgettable era of both hip-hop and pop music. It may not be going anywhere, but its not going to be looked at the same. She opened the door for femcees, but then spent the last nearly 10 years trying to slam it shut behind her because (to her) There Can Be Only One. I say this with love: The "throne" only exists in her mind, other rap girlies getting their shine is not some kind of affront to her and its delusional to think that the company she keeps somehow isn't going to reflect poorly on her.

[@24kgoldplatedvermeil]

@@TheGhostofAbigailMills agreed. I think its important for barbs to understand that no one wants to erase her legacy, but that they should at least recognize and hold her accountable for how her behavior and who she aligns herself with is the root cause of situations shes been put in over the last 10 years. They dont want to sit back and think about that for some reason. They just go on the defense, its the world against nicki. It doesnt have to be that way.

[@gabbym360]

I really loved this video (and everything of yours I've seen) and I've noticed you touching on cancelling celebrities a lot. I'd love to hear your perspective on having "problematic faves" and the ethics of consuming media from "problematic" creators. Especially when it comes to active support, such as streaming a living artist's music or going to their concerts.

[@sivgreyson]

^^^^ same

[@lamikiminach9503]

Nicki has come out saying she hates most of her early pop songs, but she kinda had to do them because that WAS the musical landscape at the time. And then she was able to use that momentum to make the kind of music she actually likes.

[@MissAlmostFine]

I'm actually a little sad that she doesn't like her early pop stuff because she really opened up a door for female rappers in pop in a way that was only cracked. Like other female rappers had rap singles crossover or a feature here or there but Nicki truly embraced the pop zeitgeist in a way that no one had done before. And was really shitted on for it from "Hip Hop " heads.

[@lamikiminach9503]

@@MissAlmostFine yeah I love a lot of her pop stuff too but I think Nicki took a lot of the criticism to heart and that soured her opinion of her early work.

[@ericacaines2529]

It wasn't even necessary the musically landscape. The truth is when artist sign to record labels, they have to do what the label tells them to do in order to make back the money the label advances them. That's why she said they mind "f" the fans. It was all piloting. They were trying to see how viable it would be to merge female rap with pop. Nicki Minaj made it a huge success. Now look around; all the female rappers signed to big labels are doing the rap/pop records. The labels want to reap ad much money as possible. Rap alone will not bring in the money like that.

[@mysticalstylings2456]

Once she did her own type I became a fan

[@SaltoDaKid]

But she still does pop song today in the similar way???

[@BakMei1003]

To the MIA point Nicki actually crafted her visual aesthetic from MIA. MIA is quietly one of the 3 most influential artists/fashion icons of the last 20 years. The resurgence of 80s aesthetic and colors everywhere stemmed from what MIA was doing from 2007-2010. Look up Kala era MIA and you'll see exactly what clicked for Nicki "...with a bad bitch that came from Sri Lanka" wasn't a throw away line from Nicki. It was an MIA homage MIA only being known for Paper Planes is almost cliche at this point, but her DNA is on the largest female artists of the decade. She's so much more than the one song everybody knows her for

[@dragonnymph]

I promise u every time I heard that line I thought about MIA. I was a huge fan of hers and knew she was from Sri Lanka, in fact she was the only reason I knew that part of the world at that point lol. So this is really really cool to read.

[@helio7249]

And they worked together for a short period of time. I remember an interview where MIA talks about working with Nicki.

[@DistantLights]

I remember MIA

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

Yeah she's a right-wing Cadbury fruits and nutcase.

[@armavir740]

THANK YOU. FD got me so mad with that MIA disrespect.

[@willh8682]

Watching this video after the weekend of Meg dropping ‘Hiss’ and Nicki dropping ‘Big Foot’ contextualizes soooo much. Amazing essay👏🏾

[@jamesowens8070]

Bro Nicki Minaj has so often represented pure confidence in her songs, videos, and performances. I love that you see and respect that man, deep appreciation

[@SayisSaying]

I have ADHD and I literally sat through the entirety of this video... that's the highest praise I could ever give any video essayist. Great Job!!

[@ohnoes423]

SAME

[@JulianSteve]

Wow, Fiq, the collaborators, and editors did their thang then👏🏾‼️

[@Uberkris77]

Same but I've paused it like 8 times

[@sbond7510]

Same!!

[@hotjuices2]

@@Uberkris77 so not same

[@Princess_Weekes]

Despite everything in her personal life and my own feelings on how she has supported other women in rap, it is without a doubt that Nicki Minaj is one of the greatest rappers of all time. She is excellent at her craft and deserved more from the industry. Lil' Kim will always be my GOAT tho

[@seapeajones]

SAME!

[@noseyandneutral]

YESSSSS

[@kambion]

Foxy Brown [fixed]

[@JD-ny3vz]

Wow Lil Kim is really your GOAT rapper??? Really to each their own I guess she probably wouldn't make my top 20

[@JD-ny3vz]

Also I just wanna clarify I'm not attack your opinion because I know how things can get misconstrued online. It is genuinely surprising for me personally to hear people consider Kim or Nicki the GOATS of hip hop. I'm a "Hip Hop head" and being in spaces with fellow heads both male and female for like the past 20 years it's just a surprise to hear. Their both dope artists btw and Kim's first album is legendary I love that shit.

[@cheyennemorrison4107]

53:09 when you said “random white girls” my brain instantly went “hehe that’s me” and then when a clip of super bass played i entirely flashed back to middle school/early high school. Like, Nicki was the first black woman who I personally saw as a beauty icon, I can remember telling my mom how much I loved her makeup and look and my mom being really surprised; like she definitely brought me and my sister up in a more white feminist tradition of NOT doing over the top campy femininity. I think part of it was that in puberty I started getting much curvier than the white women I had to look up to, and like I have big lips and big hair and I began to see those features as desirable through black women, and it all started with the few hundred views I gave the super bass music video.

[@toniantiporda9024]

Kind sir, please give us an updated video, a part 2. Please, sir, we want some more.

[@jouelzy]

Such a good video! Was so good to see Tee & Teanna in the video.

[@omnistasis]

This is about to be amazing no matter the angle. People can hate but Nicki got bars and was running the game (better than her male counterparts) without an album for 4-5 years

[@SaltoDaKid]

Yeah that’s a lie, yes she pull way more number but she not better in bars.

[@imanigordon6803]

Let’s not cap early Drake and Kendrick were blowing nicki out the water.

[@malikabrooks3938]

@@imanigordon6803 Drake doesn't write his raps bro.

[@malikabrooks3938]

@@SaltoDaKid She better than a lot of male rappers though so....

[@imanigordon6803]

@@malikabrooks3938 Yes and? Writing and performing and curating an audience are different skill sets. I’m not saying Drake is the Goat but his song making skills and his initial Album discography blows Nicki’s out the water

[@safuu202]

Definitely feel like Foxy Brown should also have been included in list of female rappers who kept the torch alight for female hip-hop. Kim and Foxy released their debuts at the same time and Foxy even made history as the first hard-core female rapper to have an album debut at #1 on Billboard. Between Lauryn and Foxy they definitely paved the way for dark-skinned BW in the rap game to feel seen. Definitely can be a matter of taste but since Foxy has consistently been credited as Nickis top inspirations, especially in terms of flow and lyricism, wouldn't have hurt to include her in there.

[@lonelypanda772]

F.D I need you to update this video with what’s going on recently with Megan and Nicki because it’s crazy

[@reidgeyer726]

I think it was missed here that Nicki has the most collaborations with other female rappers when compared to her competitors

[@Moedawg54]

And the first woman with the most hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Like BFFR on my sis.

[@blissfulinsomniac5711]

She's also been in the game longer than the modern competitors, though

[@soaribb32]

Really? It seems so recent...

[@jssnun]

@@blissfulinsomniac5711thats neither here nor there.

[@blissfulinsomniac5711]

@@jssnun Actually, it is. Someone who has been in the game longer would have more time to collaborate with others.

[@wizzytalksalot]

Glad Khadija mentioned the CAMP because as a kid that was the shit i was super into. I think she even influenced black teen group at the time like OMG Gurlz, Cymphonique, and in general that era of black teen celebrity images. She made the camp aesthetic hip hop for sure. Doja Cat and City Girls I think are directly in that legacy.

[@wizzytalksalot]

Omg and Lil Nas X of course!

[@coRynnstar]

@@wizzytalksalot Exactly this!!

[@antizzleness]

Considering this video, id be interested to hear your analysis on megan ther stallion, especially in the context of how she's been able to relatively stay out of prominent female rap beefs unlike Nicki minaj and cardi b. But also in the context of her attack from tory lanez, the following general public defame, and now her beef with text. I found her situation to be an interesting example high profile mysogynoir.

[@MrMrchatcity]

Damn I swear that Eve should have had a place up there just from how fast the public pulled her in mainstream acceptance, pop culture, and role model status. For example she went from rappin on tracks DMX one year to rappin on tracks with Gwen Steffani w/ actual beats by dre the next year.

[@juicyparsons]

sounds like you a rap nerd without being as annoying as most rap nerds. love this content!!

[@juicyparsons]

thank you for lending your platform to our FAVES!!!

[@kambion]

Nah, dude is a casual, and this take is for casuals (like you). Nikki just bit Foxy Brown who did the same shit 20 years ago. L.

[@JulianSteve]

I agree with you Stefanie👏🏾‼️

[@stoplyingabout]

True, props to FD for not acting like the other rap nerds. I am a rap nerd and look down on most of rap, rappers and their fans. I most of it, and think it's overrated talentless, shallow music, save for a few artists. I admit I can ruin a good time.

[@juicyparsons]

For example- the guys on DeadEndHipHop have never had the range for a respectful Nicki conversation

[@ILoFoSho]

This is a side note but as a man talking about a female rapper and continually acknowledging that, at the time, the stuff surrounding Nicki wasn't really about you or for you: this feels like a really good example of how to contribute to an important conversation that you're not necessarily a part of and still stay in your lane. Thanks for that.

[@kennyclark6119]

you got one thing wrong, nicki collabed with many female rappers before cardi b

[@BellaZ209]

Exactly they keep skipping over it trying to rewrite history to continue a false narrative it’s annoying

[@hooka40]

Honestly these vids are so informative, well thought out, and well researched that they deserve end notes of all the citations and references

[@contentdaddy6467]

As a 35 year old Barb sitting next to my “Pink Friday” poster…you tackled the controversial and problematic issues I’ve struggled with regarding Nicki with grace and compassion for rap and for her impact. Thank you for making this.

[@itsJODONNA]

As a former barb, my heart has been broken so many times by her decisions these last 5 years. I was 13 when Nicki came out. I ate, slept and breathed everything she said for YEARS. Like she is top 5 to me, and at some point she was number 1 period. I loved everything about her. At the time I was truly under the impression that feminism (as she would sell it) was defined by being 'one of the guys' all while wearing a pink dress, so I was eating that representation up. It's interesting because she really spoke to the underdeveloped feminist politic most middle schoolers have, which is why I think her fanbase amongst young girls was huge. As I got older, my perspective changed, but it's been frightening to see her still pedaling the same misogynoir she did 12 years ago. I'm constantly staring around looking for the growth, but I don't know if that will ever happen. To see her actively engage with and support r*pists, defend white artists who appropriate or use the n-word, and to continue this 'mean girl' persona, directed at girls who are 15 years younger than her, just tears me up. I don't think I'll ever buy another Nicki record (though I own her first 4 albums) because there are simply TOO many talented women rapping right now that actually have half-way decent politics. She has made it clear that she revels in being the only woman invited to the table, and who knows if that will ever change.

[@Peace2Mateo]

this comment hit different.

[@VENIKA]

This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had my foot 65% into the door as a stan, I knew every rap and every feature but I agree about her selling a really watered down version of feminism. Once I grew up and started to read a bit more I realised that hers stance isn’t about feminism at all, it’s about maintaining her position at the top. Watching her over the last 3 years has been so disappointing, I have not allowed myself to stream any of her music recently and likely never will. Azaelia Banks recently wrote a critique of her just the other day that was spot on, the music is just not good enough atm to excuse any of her antics and she is happy to be the only woman in the room despite all the progress the female rap collective has made.

[@itsJODONNA]

@@VENIKA !!!! I couldn't agree more. And sadly, I don't think she's realized that wanting to be the only one at the top is actually hurting her in this era, where so many women are collaborating. A lot of female rappers are trying to make space for everyone, including her, and she's been turning a cold shoulder.

[@ShawnBloom]

Honestly. The whole industry including producers aint shit. R*pist getting paid regardless.

[@trayog2459]

Respect

[@moniion7415]

Your voice is super nice to listen to, sometimes I'll put your videos so I can sleep to, but then I love hearing what you've got to say, so I'm in a quandary. Keep up the good work

[@universalvessel2546]

The elephant in the room is by far my favorite aspect of this. Your creativity is definitely a gemory. I’m grateful I came across ya page love!

[@adafihj6439]

Here's the thing about Nicki on the internet. Most people don't understand or catch her tone. Sometimes when she leaves comments on tiktok or Twitter people think she's attacking but it's not, and most of the time barbs have to come in and break down why she isn't attacking the person but being funny in her own way. Which is why when she "goes in" on the barbs they pay her no mind because they know she's not being serious

[@PrincessVybz]

I’m not even a barb but I get this!! Ppl are so slow sometimes lmao

[@jhoniikemp]

For some reason, people cannot detect satire. Which is beyond me, because I’m sure we all learned that in our reading comprehension courses.

[@hellobye7697]

My favourite thing about Nicki Minaj was the fact she knew exactly what she set out to do, and was very vocal about it during her pre-fame era and she did exactly what she said she would. Boss shit

[@albinoalpaca1059]

My guy, keep creating the top tier content. I appreciate the approach to all these topics in your videos.

[@fruitgh0st]

this video was before its time

[@der7941]

M.I.A. is my personal GOAT. Her influence on modern music from electropop to experimental hip-hop speaks for itself. Plus she was one of the first artists to envision art in the internet age and even pioneer the cluttered-internet aesthetic seen in a lot of visuals today (just compare the music videos for XXXO by M.I.A. and Atlantis by Azealia Banks or M.I.A.'s Boyz and Rihanna's Rude Boy). A true mainstream-underground artist, constantly pushing the boundaries with her bold political messages and musical experimentation. Nicki even gave M.I.A. a shoutout with the line "with a bad b****** that came from Sri Lanka" on Monster.

[@johns.966]

I was going to say this isn't the KZbin channel for it, but I would totally watch a video or even a whole movie about M.I.A. Her life story is incredibly compelling, starting out as a child during the Sri Lankan Civil War, fleeing the country, becoming an artist, having international hit songs, etc. Where's her Netflix documentary?

[@lovelyfrusciante]

@@johns.966 she has a documentary! it's called Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. and it was so well done! made me appreciate her music even more

[@ericacaines2529]

The UK hip hop rap market is a whole different place. It is very artistic. Even the musical sounds from the beats Grime/UK Drill, electronic/punk is next level. American rappers, couldn't make it. I'm not surprised why you feel the way you do.

[@runawayshay6409]

M.I.A. and Azealia Banks 🧡

[@mysticalstylings2456]

I still rock Bucky Done Gun in the mornings and Bad Girls is my anthem

[@skytimely]

The GOAT title is hers. Missy Elliot and lil Kim can also have that title, but that doesn’t take away from her. You don’t have to be a fan to give her her flowers.

[@u1rtc7t5f64t157856v8]

I honestly can't fathom how anyone can take her or her music serious...

[@skytimely]

@@u1rtc7t5f64t157856v8 That could be your opinion of her music but that doesn’t line up with the sales and love her fans have for her. You don’t just get a solid fanbase by doing nothing. They’ve stuck by her since day 1. Not many artists can say the same.

[@kambion]

LOL pppppfffffftttt casual

[@kambion]

@@u1rtc7t5f64t157856v8 Right? That might be the dumbest fucking take I've seen about rap; she's not even top 10.

[@kambion]

@@Davidweedlove And Nikki just ripped both of em... so... this vid is a total L.

[@Musicmastermind1017]

With the recent "turn of events", this might need an updated part 2!

[@japoonboals718]

I’m just so happy to see your channel grow. Been here for awhile and on KZbin for so long it’s so awesome to see your channel grow in popularity and quality when it was so well done to begin with. Thanks for using the internet and thanks for making great content.

[@clarissak.4587]

Short memories. People don’t remember what hip hop was like, especially for women, when she first came out around 2005. She opened everything up again for female rappers

[@PrincessVybz]

This is a FACT

[@ExeErdna]

It's true, when Missy dropped off due to illness here was a void and that's 17 or so years ago. Even if I never really cared about her work or most of anybody's to be deadass about it. She put in the work she's a goat even if she's done a lot that people willfully won't mess with her for.

[@datedylan2187]

wdym 2005? Nicki came out to the scene years after that

[@Ilovechicago100]

Facts

[@masalanicholoff3593]

You know what? Yeah. Nicki definitely deserves to be in the G.O.A.T. conversation. She may not be my favorite, but it's undeniable that she's one of the most influential rappers of the 2010s and probably the most influential female rapper period.

[@Khiarika1]

No, "most influential female rapper period" still goes to Kim. I have rarely seen anyone copy anything from Nicki that didn't originally come from Kim, Also I'd argue Kim is the most influential rapper on the planet. The ENTIRE female rap genre, kpop, and some pop artists are fashioned in her image INCLUDING Nicki Minaj and Foxy Brown. No man...not even eminem can say that.

[@BedTimeZzz]

@@Khiarika1 and we haven’t seen anything Kim do that Madonna hasn’t done…since you still talking about Fashion instead of you know Rap…has Kim ever sold like Nicki? Have any of these new bitches ever sold like Nicki…keep the fashion opinions where they belong…we talking about rap…most influential female rapper at that

[@mrlofi333]

@@Khiarika1 talk yo shit if you know you know

[@mrlofi333]

@@BedTimeZzz Kim didn’t sell like Nikki because of bad boy when did Madonna come up wtf

[@goldie12577]

@@Khiarika1 Madonna, Cher, Grace Jones and Marilyn Monroe already did that

[@dogandchicken]

Another great video. They always hook me at the beginning and I learn a lot about stories I’ve only heard a fraction about before. Critiques without the identity of a critic, but as an educator looking at things from all sides. Also hell yah pink background.

[@MK-hh1vo]

This was so engrossing and detailed about the phenomenon of Nicki and the evolution of female rap culture in general! Well done 👏🏾 And yet I have to shed a tear 😢 for not one mention of *Roxanne Chante* ! Her beef with KRS1 is what really got me interested in *female* rap in particular (yes, I'm that old). Imo she was a powerhouse before the industry seriously considered the idea of female rappers.

[@Daeranilen]

The passing mentions of Lil Wayne in this video really make me want a deep dive into his career as well. I think I was too young to fully appreciate his impact when he was really big - to me he's just always been the Lollipop guy because that song was INESCAPABLE for awhile, and I'd love to learn more about him beyond that, becasue clearly I missed a lot!

[@queendeche4555]

Yeah, Wayne was on top of the game for a while AND while he was super young! You gotta look up the Hot Boys/Cashmoney era. His mixtape series [The Carter(s)]. How his impact threatened Jay Z’s and then (later) how Jay gave him respect. I could go on, but this was all before the Lollipop sensation. Then he discovered and platformed two of the most iconic artists of all time.

[@maluse227]

Its really interesting seeing this conversation on youtube where I'm used to seeing it in the university setting where musicologists basically all agree that Nicki is a GOAT and is one of the most significant female rap artists to ever live. Hell I've even heard a room full of Ph.Ds struggle to name a better mainstream introduction than her monster verse.

[@emceeunderdogrising]

That's the worst place to learn about Hip Hop.

[@joegibbskins]

What about Melle Mel’s verse on The Message? Obviously some of it was lifted, but that was happening at that time in hip hop

[@maluse227]

@@emceeunderdogrising Not really like you come into it knowing that the field of musicology dealing with hip-hop is very young, and everyone has been formally trained in different areas before applying that training to hip-hop. So one of the biggest draws about the field is that everyone there genuinely loves the genre and isn't doing it because it's a respected field. So there's a lot of sincere historical work done as well as some very important cultural analysis about how hip-hop is often disrespected and the systemic issues its practitioners face on a regular basis.

[@maluse227]

@@joegibbskins That was actually part of the discussion and part of what kicked it off. Some people came down saying that Melle Mel's verse was on par or better. But the fact that she was part of a larger group in that setting and wasn't as fiercely independent as Nicki was had an impact. Still a phenomenal verse tho.

[@emceeunderdogrising]

@@maluse227 They don't study the history or have been involved in the Culture. Has your PHD teacher ever interviewed people like KRS-One and Kool DJ Herc? Have they cyphered in a ghetto ass area at 3AM after a Freestyle Fellowship show? The problem is they are on the outside looking in most of the time. This has been a huge problem with PHDs for a long ass time. They setup these museums and studies that seem okay. But when you talk to the OGs, Godfathers, and street scholars they typically get a lot wrong. The official Hip Hop Museum and Hip Hop Congress are recognized as being authentic. But there are few examples. Hip Hop is a street culture. It just doesn't translate into the university setting. I studied the history directly from a pioneer in the Culture. I've studied its history and been involved in performing its elements. Hip Hop as a culture has four core elements that need proper study independently. Does your professor know about Cornbread or SKEEM? Do they know about New York City Breakers and Rock Steady? About DJ Q-Bert or Rock Raida?

[@MatthewStevensOrMattDave]

FD I'ma need a new video on this Nicki and Megan beef

[@earthdaddy]

There's a difference between a lyricist and a rapper, and artist and a singer. Anyone who says Nicki is not the GOAT, ain't listened for real or just don't know wtf they're talking about. I'm a whole grown ass man, an OG some would say, and I got no problem bumpin Nicki the same way I'd bump any other legendary artist. I'd even say she's in my top 5.

[@NeedlessNick]

For all the barbs watching, I am but the simple editor of this video, no need to attack me. I just make pretty pictures and carry no opinions about the queen. All I know is fine dining and editing

[@NonIntrovertial]

Good job bro, I love it!

[@NeedlessNick]

@@NonIntrovertial Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@victorythecreator]

Great job!!

[@NeedlessNick]

@@victorythecreator Thank you!! I freaking loved your not like other boys and your video on the us military, so means a lot to have ya reach out!

[@victorythecreator]

@@NeedlessNick Oh wow!! Thanks for watching 😁🤎🤎

[@citronquartz2779]

i love how you connect your complicated love of kanye and everything he meant to you as a kid who felt unrepresented by rap when you were a kid to how little black girls felt about nicki when she came on the scene. i really appreciate that

[@Biboche23]

Im just so obsessed with your channel the way you go in depth so rationally and intellectually its so interesting and accurate points of observation always. Your Kanye videos were so on point and expressed how some of us were growing up in the mod-late 2000s as teens and how it really changed everything. He was one of my heroes growing up. I listened those videos today at the office. I love your train of thought! Bravo👏🏾👏🏾 ❤ You could literally do lectures on all of this.

[@h3zANDRU]

Just found you from being in recommended with the “connecting the manosphere” vid and scrolled and saw this and smiled… this is definitely a needed conversation and analysis.

[@sheldonblair1271]

I really love how unbiased the video and just appreciate's Nicki talent. The real hard fact is that Nicki is the only female rapper in the game that maintain relevancey while having one of the biggest fanbases in pop culture for a 15+ years. I look back at all the genre-bending and cutting edge music Nicki was doing back in the day and I just get in awe that she did all that while being bashed within the Hip Hop community unfortunately I understood why she had to strip down her sound and brand just to be accepted as a Hip Hop Mogul. Nicki's bars? Authentic come up? It can't be diminished or ignored at all! Great video F.D.!

[@TheMPExperience]

15:00 Politely, Missy should have at least a 3 for impact. She changed the music video game. She produced so much behind the scenes, and developed other artist.

[@cinnimani2606]

yeah i was mad about that too. her videos were ALWAYS next level

[@JulianSteve]

Absolutely💯

[@whoandgo]

I was looking for this comment

[@ekaterina.hicksmagana]

FACTSSSS he did not talk about missy enough 🤨

[@CashMoneyReckadz]

I would have given her a 4 tbh!

[@Americahasaproblemchile]

You just got a subscriber! I can’t wait to hear more of the music history vids

[@TheCannon324]

When has Cardi ever apologized for anything she’s done wrong let alone be accountable

[@Roygasm]

A good example was when Twitter tried to cancel her over buying a purse, only to come back and have everyone post receipts to charities and matched nearly every donation

[@missmelanin7066]

THIS RIGHT HERE! 👏

[@destinixshakur]

She won’t . They won’t ever make a video like this about her because it’s not possible because she’s a one album wonder unfortunately . I’m still waiting for someone to hold her accountable . Outside of Tasha K, the only other blogger that hold her is AshMiracle and Conture Bae

[@laexploradoraaaXD]

The Monster verse and that video where two versions of herself are battling it out? Oh that was unmatched. I remember being in the club and like every woman knowing Nicki's verse. My friends and I loved her theatrics. She was a weird, fun, rebellious girly girl. I was in college in those days and it was fun! Lil Kim deserves her flowers and Missy Elliott has always been a fave but we were coming out of the slim bodies dominating the pop landscape and here was Nicki with curves and fun, fresh styles.

[@Pugetwitch]

We need to bring back slim bodies. At least they were natural and prompted natural self empowerment, and didn't have these young girls paying out of pocket and going into debt for dangerous surgeries, fantasizing over a being a plaything for men.

[@alexandravalerious3274]

@@Pugetwitch agree! a body type should not be trendy. at least old body ideals were attainable and natural. the instabaddie, karjenner body type (with its exageratted porportions) is out of reach for anyone. its surgery and famous people lying that they never got work done and it was just exercise which is so much more insidious.

[@esthersmith3056]

the monster verse is still an all-time favourite for me. and like. im not really much of a nicki fan overall. but holy shit she went off on that one.

[@MynamestartswithS]

@@Pugetwitch the “slim” girls in pop culture were eating worms, starving themselves and making themselves throw up for that body type. There should be no universal body type

[@shamaamamamamaah6928]

@@Pugetwitch ...Yeah, because young girls weren't starving themselves and/or had eating disorders, fantasising over being a plaything for men when slim bodies were in fashion.

[@Salfredo2548]

As a male I actually grew to like Nicki over time. I never felt like it was gonna be my thing, but every time I heard her spit I was like this girls got game.

[@averystevens1606]

I'm a history major and I love long documentary-style videos. Defo signing up for Nebula, thanks for that!!

[@eleesiasportraits6114]

I love the way you stick wrestling into everything! The comparisons are so interesting. 😁

[@justhearmeout3959]

There is nothing more hilarious than watching FD Signifier talk to his audience as if it were a feral cat 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Aranock]

So glad I could be a part of this excellent analysis! Hope everyone liked the animations. 💜 Fiq your analysis is as always nuanced and poignant.

[@gonzalo4722]

Hey Aranock! 👋🏻

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

I hope you're not talking about the "Elephant in the Room" Elephant, because that's clearly a Chad Rocco/CR animation he did when he was working for Channel Awesome (That Guy With The Glasses back then) for Doug Walker's old Nostalgia Critic videos from 2008/2009 up until 2012/2013-ish. Edit: Actually the last time CR used it was in his 2015 Familiar Faces video on The Animalympics.

[@NeedlessNick]

@@cannibalisticrequiem They are not talking about that one lol, that was just a gag. They did the dope star wars animations and the one that introduced nicki with the little girl watching tv.

[@Aranock]

@@cannibalisticrequiem No that was not the animation I did.

[@Aranock]

@@NeedlessNick Ty needless 💜

[@emilyrln]

Your content never fails to impress me and give me stuff to think about. Great video!

[@jalenchildress716]

So you mentioned MIA and I think you should really look into her, her music, and her family. Shorty got some real deep ties to some revolutionaries and her music echoes their message. Sonically, it’s not my cup of tea at all, but she definitely has a message worth hearing.

[@EayuProuxm]

The moment I recognized that Kendrick didn't call Nicki's name on his Control verse is the moment I and the community at large weren't giving Nicki the respect she deserves

[@PrincessVybz]

Yup!!!

[@chick1800]

can you explain this more?

[@zeinab6889]

@@chick1800 basically in kendricks control verse he mentioned all the people he considered his peers or ''on his level'' that even caused a subtle beef with drake, but that verse had a huge impact on hip hop in general, a lot of the people who people considered the ''goats of the 2010s'' were mentoned, drake, meek mill, pusha t etc.. but nicki was never mentioned or acknowledged in that verse or really by kendrick in general

[@chick1800]

@@zeinab6889 wow i didn’t know that 😶 thanks for sharing it…kinda lost my respect for KL

[@burn650]

Nicki can’t rap lmao he shoulda named remy she literally was doing pop music YALL funny

[@mythicalfelix]

She gave us Lil Nas X so I say she can "retire with the crown" like she said she would. There's really nothing you can take from her she doesn't give an inch and she is an icon.

[@imanigordon6803]

Lol are you say lol nas x the next goat?

[@mythicalfelix]

@@imanigordon6803 Nah but he wouldn't be where he is w/out her though and he's so huge now....its just crazy that a nicki superfan blew up like that

[@imanigordon6803]

@@mythicalfelix true when you look at it he has a lot of her influences

[@Agntculboik9]

Nobody want lil nas x

[@Neo-op3iz]

@@Agntculboik9 yes we do

[@sophie.ahlberg1748]

The content is amazing, and I LOVE your shirt!

[@HtownCI]

Nicki is not over though. She is still needed in the industry. She is still relevant. She is still getting plaques. She still sets the bar. She still Has the bars. She just hyped up all the new girls to step it up with “We Go Up.” All the girls want a feature. She writes her own raps. She has a whole new generation of young Barbz I see reacting to her music and ready for more. They are rocking with all her old stuff and catching up and following her now. Including 18-24 yr old straight men who notice her bars that set her apart from these newer girls who only talk about 1 thing. Also, Her albums have always had a different theme/era also.

[@PrincessVybz]

FACTSSSSSS

[@thefelicits]

I would have liked more discussion of her music and her various techniques and alter egos, only touched on hashtag rap or whatever it's called but I think the alter egos and accents set her apart, the way she switches flows, the technical skill

[@MorganDidThat]

Period

[@TheeManiBrazy]

Literally, Nicki is still selling. Second highest selling rapper behind Drake so I’m confused…Whole lotta money went platinum not even a month after it dropped.

[@stephanolivier7852]

Thank you for saying this cuz i didn’t like how he made it seem like Nicki is over. She’s still on billboard as we speak. She can make a high budget videos like DWHAP and like you said she’s still relevant, her video with Ariana Grande just reached 2 billion views which is the highest viewed female collab on KZbin. Also Nicki is the only female rapper to headline a tour worldwide, no female rapper did that so i was confused when he called Nicki’s competition mega stars but didn’t say the same for Nicki when Nicki has done more.