Nicki Minaj released “Lookin Ass Nigga” Wednesday (February 12), a selection that was accompanied by unofficial cover art that featured Malcolm X in an iconic photograph. Minaj received criticism for the use of a Malcolm X photograph and she has responded to this criticism with an Instagram post and caption, which can be read below.
“What seems to be the issue now? Do you have a problem with me referring to the people Malcolm X was ready to pull his gun out on as Lookin Ass Niggaz? Well, I apologize. That was never the official artwork nor is this an official single. This is a conversation. Not a single. I am in the video shooting at Lookin Ass Niggaz and there happened to be an iconic photo of Malcolm X ready to do the same thing for what he believed in!!!! It is in no way to undermine his efforts and legacy. I apologize to the Malcolm X estate if the meaning of the photo was misconstrued. The word “nigga” causes so much debate in our community while the “nigga” behavior gets praised and worship. Let’s not. Apologies again to his family. I have nothing but respect an adoration for u. The photo was removed hours ago. Thank you,” Minaj wrote in a statement issued via Instagram.
The iconic photograph of Malcolm X has inspired several Rap albums, including the cover art for Boogie Down Productions’ By All Means Necessary, a project that was released in 1988 via Jive.
To view the music video for “Lookin Ass Nigga,” click here.
Minaj recently announced that her upcoming album is set to be titled The Pink Print.
A screenshot of Minaj’s post can be seen below, followed by the “Lookin Ass Niggaz” cover art.
RELATED: Nicki Minaj – “Lookin Ass Niggaz” [Video]
its funny because shes basically white now
No she’s half Black and half Indian with big ass and big titties, plus she got a little flow.
Nah, she’s definitely white. And her titties and ass are fake.
Yea, she’s not Black in my book, India can keep her.
She bleached the mess out of her skin
Hey dentaldamboy what does A+L=OE mean, Mr Accountant?
Nicki Minaj is the queen of hiphop and has a huge ass and boobs.
go look up a pic of her 7 years ago… she was built like a surfboard
Please she used to be a fat lesbian and she’s garbage anyways a super disrespectful. Krs preaches in the same vein as Malcolm did but this faker song is just about how much money she has. Garbage artist!
People thought she was referring to Malcolm X as a “Lookin ass Nigga” she should have used KRSOne doing that pose with his UZI and it would have been less controversial.
she just fucked up & wrong on so many levels. DUMP ASS BITCH!
stupid black bitch. s.m.h. k.m.t.
The cover clearly loks like she was calling Malcom a Looking ass nigga – why? Cause he’s “LOOKING” out a window! It looks like a complete diss. What the hell is a looking ass nigga? That concept and those words are so confusing. Stick to the simple pop shit Nikki!
true
What A Fuckin’ Dumbass.
No one is giving her anymore attention thats why she has to do this whack song with a shocking cover art. And thats why she has a big fake ass and big fake ass boobies to compensate for her terrible lyric writing. Nicki Minaj’s 15 minutes are almost up yall shes on her way out
Song was hot doe….
Whelp she learned from the best at doing shit like this…..aka lil Wayne with the karate chop rmx spitting that emmitt till line
Misleading headline. She didn’t “blast” anyone, she’s just apologizing. Goddamn DX, get off that sensationalism.
It was distasteful regardless of who she was referring to. If I was a part of his estate I’d be offended too.
what a sell out!!! lmao. farakhan should have fruit of islam get at her for this on
I THINK IT ALL ART MUSIC IS ART IT NOT TO DISS PEOPLE THAT WHY SHE GOT MONEY AND FAME AND YOU HATEIN’ ASS BITCHES SIT ON THE SIDE LINE WISHIN YALL’ HAD IT LIKE HER. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DOING BABY GIRL DO IT BIG OR GO HOME GET MONEY BEAUITFUL I LOVE NICKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you are a modern day slave to cosign somethin like this
Are you even a real human? Or are you just an undercover member of an organization trying to promote black buffoonery and propagate racism?
Your comment seems to constructed, and manufactured, and planned. The subtle Ebonics, the all capital letters. You’re not fooling anyone.
No one gives a shit about Nicki’s wealth, you moron. How hard is it to understand that using a civil rights figure like Malcom X and reducing all of his efforts to nothing by slapping on a phrase like “lookin ass nigga” is a complete insult to the progress black people (at least at one point in U.S. history) were making.
Black people now are nothing like the well-respected black people during the Civil Rights Era, and that’s what pisses people off. But by actually taking a step further and indirectly implying that Malcom X is a nigga is just going too far.
How aggressively do black people have to tarnish their image and their culture before enough is enough?
Christ.