Nicki Minaj Fires Back At Sexist Tweets Spurred By Gossip Site’s ‘Serious Question’ About Women In Rap

by Erica Russell December 12, 2015 5:08 PM | PopCrush

On Friday, gossip and entertainment site Bossip posed what should have been a simple question on Twitter, asking: “Why aren’t there more mainstream female rappers?”

#seriousquestion Why aren't there more mainstream female rappers?

— Bossip (@Bossip) December 11, 2015

The answer could have perhaps pointed to the idea that society tends to lump women in music together by their gender rather than their genre, for one—I mean, “female” rappers? Really?—not to mention the systemic sexism in the music industry as a whole, where women artists are commodified more for their bodies than their, you know, actual music.

Instead, the site began retweeting a series of replies from users, many of which were, surprise surprise, incredibly sexist, and some of which took direct aim at Nicki Minaj, like this “factual” little gem:

Yep, men are visual creatures they don't care if you can sing…That's why nicki had to buy an ass to blow up! #Fact https://t.co/k2cei7Pu6t

— #$ettinTrendsONhoes (@ILOVEBLACKMEN01) December 11, 2015

Now, while retweeting something doesn’t necessarily always mean you agree with it, many have pointed out that Bossip’s RTs seem to cosign the statements that were being made by users, especially the more insidious and misogynistic tweets. (Plus, why perpetuate ignorant statements like above anyway? It only helps to spread these already systemically hateful beliefs against women in music…)

Soon after the conversation started though, Nicki herself stepped in to set the record straight and take Bossip to task for retweeting so much sexism without actually standing up for the women artists at the center of the conversation—including her (very successful, very hardworking) self:

I've gone toe to toe w/everyone of your favorite male MC's. To undermine my skill & diversity as an MC is actually comical @ this point.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

I saw Bossip retweeting ignorance so I figured I'd put that out there. Lol. The greats give me my respect. The great journalists as well.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

If a male rapper was on tracks w/Wayne, Jay, Eminem, Kanye, etc going ROUND 4 ROUND he'd b hailed as a GREAT as well. Jealousy is a disease

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

Not giving me my props doesn't stop me from being great. I am a mogul. Your hate is what made this possible. Lol. Thank uuuuuu! Mmuuaahhh!!!

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

To imply someone's ass is the reason they get on tracks and hold their own with every great MC who is still alive black ppl, do better lol

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

Lol. R the male rappers only successful cuz they have a big bulge ? https://t.co/lF5ngNpe3A

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

Your greatest achievement in life will be attempting to undermine my greatest achievements in life. lol. Now check that. Phaedra voice

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 11, 2015

The most infuriating part though? After Nicki had the gall to stand up for herself as a “female” (cringe) rapper, the site still refused to back down, instead reducing Nicki to the “angry black woman” trope by tweeting her own lyrics in an attempt to invalidate her very legitimate and personal experience as a woman of color in an industry dominated by men:

Wow, our lil' question had Nicki hotter than a Middle Eastern climate, violent…

— Bossip (@Bossip) December 11, 2015

The whole thing sucks, quite frankly, because at its core, the question Bossip asked is truly an important one, and one that, in an alternate reality of sense and ethics, could have catalyzed an impactful and potentially change-enacting conversation on Twitter. Alas.

At the end of the day though, no matter the struggle or how many haters come flying out of the shadows of social media, there’s really no tearing Nicki Minaj—with her six American Music Awards, three MTV Music Video Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, and over half a million album sales for The Pinkprint alone—down. So nice try. Better luck next time!