Watching Beyonce give props to Nicki Minaj through “Darling Nicki (Minaj)” must have been a gratifying moment. Hearing the biggest pop star of this generation dub The YMCMB emcee “the rap queen” served as another career highlight matched by several multi platinum singles, sold out world tours and other googleable notables. Of course, Yonce’s video was posted following her TIDAL X:10/20 performance where she brought out Ms. Onika for The Pinkprint single “Feeling Myself.” At that moment, it’s clear Minaj has reached a level of pop notoriety that’s unheard of for a female emcee. Looking a little deeper, there isn’t anyone New York touching her reach and sales male or female.
Earlier this month, Minaj became the first rapper since the late great Tupac to cover New York Times Magazine. Interestingly enough, reporter Vanessa Grigoriadis elegantly said, “Minaj has become expert at modeling the ways that women can wield power in the industry.” And yes, she wields a lot of it. Compared to her New York peers, Minaj easily stands above them without much effort. Looking at her local competition, she’s sold more than A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson and Troy Ave others. Last year’s video for “Anaconda” broke all sorts of records. One record broken was the most Vemo views within a 24-hour span, knocking down Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” Last year, Minaj beat Michael Jackson by having 51 Billboard Hot 100 hits. The North American leg of her The Pinkprint tour even grossed a total of $13 million.
Sure, Minaj’s visual aesthetic may be a little too over-sexualized for some and her music thematically can seem shallow. However, she’s really mastered the art of making great pop with Hip Hop at the base. Let’s not act as if her “Monster” verse didn’t outclass Ye, Hov and Rick Ross. Album wise, there’s at least one track on Minaj’s albums from Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded to The Pinkprint that shows off what she can do lyrically. Would Eminem have even bothered to lend a feature to her on “Roman’s Revenge” if he didn’t respect her abilities as an emcee? The same could be said for album cuts including “Come On A Cone” and “Wants Some More.” Pretending that Minaj only represents are mainstream Hip Hop notions of materialism is lazy cop outs considering tracks like “All Things Go” and “Bed Of Lies.” She’s gone on to outpace her mentor Lil Wayne and essentially stands side-by-side with labelmate Drake.
It’s more than just the music as well when it comes to major pop culture figures. Earlier last summer, Minaj joined Tupac, Biggie Smalls and Snoop Dogg in earning a wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas. Then there was the “What’s good Miley?” moment at this year’s MTV Music Video Awards. Minaj’s ongoing romance with Meek Mill made them rap’s current favorite it couple. Hell, they were popular enough to get a full spread in a current issue of GQ Magazine. There’s never been a female in Hip Hop with this much control over her career, in addition enjoying such astronomical success. It’s damn near unprecedented. In such a male-dominated field, it’s easy to forget about how much Minaj has done for Hip Hop. In a span of around five years, she’s gone from making appearances on The Come Up DVDs to literally becoming Hip Hop’s first pop diva.
This is absolutely fucking ridiculous.
Hopefully you got paid for this.
Is it April 1st? Numbers don’t lie…yeah she’s sold lots of pop records to little girls and yeah I admit she can spit better than most, but “runs New York”? I don’t think so.
Probably still jigga… But in terms of actual hip hop music, Fabolous runs New York now.
Definitely runs ny hip hop, no argument there.
This is so true! And anyone who disagrees simply doesn’t like her. And if you don’t see it, you’ll see it when she retires. Her impact transcends hip hop, to the point where people who don’t even listen to hip hop recognize her name! And FYI her hip hop records sell just as well as her pop records. Bottom line is her success is unprecedented as a female rapper!
Uh, no. She is not hip-hop, she’s a pop artist. And she has no impact at all.
Delete this ! lil Kim runs new york! nicki is a flop pop artist !
lil kim seriously??? nigga u need some help if u think lil kim fu panda runs NY.
Lil’ Kim is still the Queen of New York because there isn’t a female to come from New York to blow like Kim did and spit as flawlessly as she did. Kim is still the most influential female rapper from New York. Nicki doesn’t come close to being as impactful where hip hop is concerned.
Wait, Wait, Wait, hol’up shit nigga. OUTPACE her mentor Wayne? How? How could she possibly Outpace Wayne? These Journos sometimes are so biased its unbelievable. Weezy has done way greater than Nicki and Drake for that Matter. Did you know when holds the undisputed title for when it comes to making money from Tours in Hip Hop that is. Till this day Wayne has thee highest grossing tour ever made in HipHop. The Americas most wanted he made 43 or 48 Million $ on that Tour, no Hiphop artist has done that. You talking about video views that aint shit. Sharpen up your Journalism skills, this is pathetic.
wait.. this is not pathetic. I mean obviously wayne is better than Drake and Nicki but Nicki is a female rapper and you gotta give her some props. She is the most influential female rapper of all of time she is being recognized WW and She is the only one being so famous. She definitely has bars she can rap and She is amazing but people don’t want to hear the truth.
“She is the most influential female rapper of all of time” – Damaris FAIL FAIL FAIL. You have GOTS TO BE 15 or something. Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill, they all shit on Nicki.
Damaris I agree with you but to say outpaced Weezy, that’s that bullshit.
?. Really hip hop dx? What her people got y’all on payroll. FOH. Yes, Nicky is running the female rap lane and that’s only because Rapsody hasn’t blown up yet so that’s by default. But run NY??? Is it just because she is from NY? She is NOT running NY, ATLANTA is running NY.
Lets face it, the NYC scene is very gay right now, very lame. There are no heavy hitters coming out with that NYC flow that the Whole World recognizes, everybody is trying to sound like they are from somewhere else. And the music sucks.
Nicki sounds like a dude, and that’s a turn off.
Keeping it honest… Hip-hop music was in it’s prime in the mid 90’s, just like the NBA. Been downhill ever since. Now you got clowns like Young Thug, Drake, Kanye and Nicki Minaj. It’s laughable. Nicki Minaj is wack as fuck and should not be considered hip-hop. She is an absolute freak show. Hip-hop music/culture (whatever is left of it) is embarrassing now and seems to be run by the gay mafia. I’m just glad I ain’t growing up in this era, because hip-hop ain’t so cool anymore like it once was.
Saying Nicki is wack is funny lol. Because in reality SHE CAN OUT BAR YOU. look at what she did on Monster…..nuff said clown haha
For a top hip hop website, you lose credibility everyday. You fuel what’s destroying the genre you supposedly love. You should be praising rappers for their skill, intelligence, and message. Instead, you promote celebrity, who has more money, and gossip. Your whole view on this genre is backwards and pathetic.
Truth over everything.. Word!!!
bump
I’ll put this here. When Nic released Pink Friday she had a major pop influence…. With that being said she is one of the greatest lyrically, and punchline wise. She can out bar a lot of dudes now a days. Y’all just can’t take it because she’s a woman , but let be real. Y’all dudes needa quit acting like bitches.
The greatest lyrically and punchline wise? Are you fucking kidding me? And quit making blanket statements yapping bout “y’all can’t take it cause she is a woman.” NO! We can’t take it because she is NOT running NY and she is a POP STAR! Whenever anyone tries to bring up how “lyrical” Nicky is, they bring up “monster.” Please! And for the record, Sno The Product & Rapsody rap circles around Nicky, period point blank. Oh btw, HipHopDX has officially turned into hiphopmediatakeout
Lil’ Kim lyrically bodied Nicki Minaj on Black Friday. Nicki Minaj couldn’t produce a single track that could count as a reasonable reply. Nicki hasn’t got bars, and it’s now obvious that Safaree was her ghostwriter because she has gone downhill since he left her camp. Nicki Minaj may be the most overrated hip hop artist of all time.
I wanna lick her booty hole after she poops
Trinidad – Queens transplant(s)
I didn’t read it i mean if it’s for female rappers it’s okay but everyone knows 50 is the king of NY
How can anyone in his right mind say that Nicki Minaj is hip hop’s first pop diva when Lil’ Kim DEFINED what it means to be a commercially successful hip hop artist who broke into pop? Missy Elliott was also very successful. Nicki Minaj doesn’t even have a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Does this writer think Nicki invented female rap?
Nicki Minaj does not run hip hop. To run hip hop, your music has to be hip hop. The Pinkprint was barely a hip hop album. It was full of wannabe pop songs. Nicki Minaj is less hip hop than Fergie. She is a joke.
Shes runs NY rap if you’re gay…
I want to run my dick between Nicki’s ass cheeks, legs and titties.
Do it to yo mama! The lady is a show biz persona. Unfortunately, the i dustry she is in thinks black female equates to cheap, taudry and low life. I am hoping hip hop will become as acceprable as normal genres of music ie pop. This over the top filth is not her choice.
I won’t dispute that Nicki is thee sickest Female rapper right now. Commercially that it. Everyone saying Rapsody yes Rapsody is immensely talented but she’s just an underground artist. Nicki is doing her very Hard. I mean if it wasn’t for Weezy it wouldn’t she wouldn’t be where she is now, when she was with Gucci she was just another female rapper trying to get it but under Wayne she has that X factor. That goes for Drake too. Now back to my point you cannot say she outpaced Weezy F Baby, that’s like saying Kanye outpaced Jigga. Even if they try they just simply can’t. Thank you. I’m from South Africa by the way.
It is honestly just disgusting and insult to Female Hip hop artist that this pop queen piece of crap is taunted as running shit in New York Hip Hop. This is someone who was so low in the rating had to do a stent on American Idol. I get some people are in to this crap but saying that she Runs New York Hip Hop is a joke right. O you were honestly serious your magazine and webpage should be taken off the shelves you have gone the same way as MTV and should seriously rethink what Real Hip Hop is. Next week’s article for you to post is that Miley Cyrus is Big Pun reincarnated. Give us a break and find some real music instead of this simple mind crap that you think has a message.
Oh my!!! What dope are you smoking young man?
DX takes another L with this one