Nicki Minaj headlined day one of the 2022 Essence Festival on Friday (July 1) and while thousands of her Barbz were upset her performance wasn’t available for live stream on Hulu, the New York rapper still found a way to create a moment for fans to talk about.
After her set was delayed for 45 minutes, Minaj hit the stage, performing her Lil Baby-assisted single “Do We Have A Problem” before launching into fan favorites such as “We Go Up,” “Did It On ’em,” and “Beez in the Trap.” However, after her DJ cued up “Monster,” the 2010 Kanye West single where many fans believe she delivered her best guest feature, Minaj stopped the show.
“A monster though!” Minaj began. “A monster though! But we don’t fuck with clowns.”
The moment led to Minaj instead revealing her guests of the night – Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman to perform hits such as “#1 Stunna” and Young Money founder and her mentor Lil Wayne, who performed “Seeing Green,” “High School,” “Truffle Butter” and “A Milli” from 2008’s Tha Carter III, among other songs.
Minaj not performing “Monster” immediately led to speculation she had fallen out with Ye, attributing it to his guest appearance on Cardi B’s “Hot Shit” single, which was released earlier on Friday.
“Where you stand? Where was Jay at? Where was them at?/Where you done that? Where you live at? Another headline, ‘Where your hat at?’/’ N-gga, go home, where your kids at?’,” Ye raps on “Hot Shit.”
Wyclef Jean Brings Out Lauryn Hill At Essence Fest To Perform Several Fugees Classics
The surprises didn’t stop there at Essence Fest. During his performance, Wyclef Jean brought out his Fugees bandmate Lauryn Hill to celebrate their 1996 album The Score, including live renditions of “Killing Me Softly,” “Ready Or Not,” “How Many Mics,” and “Fu-Gee-La.”
Essence Fest continues throughout Sunday (July 3) with performances from Lucky Daye, Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, The Roots and Friends, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and more.
Literally married to a sex offender. I think you do F clowns.
lol. that’s hilarious. —but that’s true tho.
You won the internet sir
Pennywise was never convicted, don’t put all clowns in the same circus
yo damn uncle a sex offender, again in a white neighborhood i never heard of it, as soon as i move to a black neighborhood nothing but incest. word to face
Cut your nose to spite your face situation. You will need him in end and when he work with you, you will say its all good
She just mad because Ye did a verse for Cardi B
Didn’t Cardi run up on this stupid ho???
Why is she still actin hard..I dont like any of em just askin.
Really in her feelings over a featured verse. Yet she brings out Birdman who tried to off Wayne….. she’ll be bringing out Ye in a few years.
It’s true. She doesn’t f*ck with clowns. She likes r@pists.
Don’t forget she supports pedophiles as well
you are reaching SOOOOOOOOOOOOO far on this one. really? she in no way referenced kanye at all. where did u go to college?
Monster is arguably one of her most important moments of her career… if there is no beef why the shade and why not perform the song? She robbed her fans of a experience
screw you nikki minaj.
Why do we love putting each other down? Keep it civil as you never know when I might need that person. She married to a sex offender and she talking about clowns. Maybe she should look in the mirror.
2 clowns.
Maybe not clowns but she loves herself a pedo rapist.
One acts like one & one looks like one…what’s the difference?
This is prob more about Rick Ross and what Ross said regarding her and Meek than Kanye. Look at who she’s signed to and who the brought out right after: Birdman/Cash Money. Idols to Rivals anyone?
As soon as I heard about the Cardi song with Kanye, I knew Nicki was going to be pissed. She was begging Kanye to release New Body a few years ago but Kanye said no cause he was a changed man, now he is on a song called Hot Shit.
Imagine knowing that much about cardi b or Nicki lol. At least Kanye actually has some true hiphop classics worth revisiting.
I can Bet Kanye Don’t Give 2 Fucks LOL
I KNOW HOW THIS THOTTY MOVES. SHE’S MAD BC HE DID A SONG WITH CARDI.