MUSIC

Car​di B Feuds with Children (but Only When They Deserve It)

ZN8tion was asking for all the smoke the minute they said Cardi B smelled like poop.

Cardi B

Photo by David Fisher (Shutterstock)

Cardi B has shown that she doesn't take crap from anyone, and that especially and rightfully includes elementary school children.

"Not gonna let no little f***ing white boys come at me all motherf****ing day long," Cardi B said in an Instagram rant. The response was sparked by a diss track made by a rap group called ZN8tion, which is comprised of four 10-year-old brothers. "Motherf***ing shut the f*** up and stay in your motherf***ing place. Go drink your motherf***ing milk, bitch." The response was obviously justified. Just cause they're kids messing around does not give them the right to say cruel things like, "You smell like a turd" or that Cardi "reminds me of a germ." What creative and complex insults!

Cardi B, a proud 26-year-old woman who isn't afraid to stand up for herself against pre-adolescents, is in no way shape or form a germ. And she definitely doesn't smell like poop! And she wanted to make that clear to all the world! If anything, ZN8tion smells like poop! I think Cardi B would agree with me. Besides, they're spouting this toxic narrative to all 119 of their followers! That's practically a movement!

Sure, the multi-millionaire rapper probably has better things to do then start an Instagram quarrel with small children, but frankly their insults were so diabolically evil that they deserved to be roasted as hard as they were. You think they'd be safe from Cardi's wrath because they're children? Think again. Everyone needs to grow up, especially ZN8tion. I hope Cardi B reminded these tweens to act their age (10). Also, take note of their webcam-quality video. Clearly, they're not rich like Cardi B. Clearly they're just kids who decided to record this video during one of their playdates while they were on a sugar high from eating too much Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I hope that sugar crash hurts, ZN8tion, and I hope you think twice before making such a catastrophic mistake again!

MUSIC

Nicki Minaj's Murky Stance on Sexual Abuse

The artist has sided with abusers throughout her career. Should she be held accountable?

Back in 2018, ESPN college football analyst Jesse Palmer took to his DailyMail TV show to comment on Nicki Minaj's new relationship with a man named Kenneth Petty.

While Minaj told listeners yesterday on her Queens radio show that the couple had obtained a marriage certificate, the relationship has been steeped in controversy since its early stages. After rumors of the couple began to swirl, it was revealed that Petty was a registered sex offender in New York. When he was 16, he was convicted of using a "sharp object" to force sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl. To quell the growing backlash, Minaj took to Instagram and said the charges had been trumped up. "He was 15, she was 16...in a relationship. Y'all can't run my life," she wrote. Palmer noted that this response wasn't "the first time Minaj had defended a sex offender," saying Minaj also supported her older brother, Jelani Maraj, when he was accused of sexual assault back in 2017. Maraj was ultimately found guilty of repeatedly raping his 11-year-old stepdaughter. Minaj denied that she ever supported her brother during his trial and said she was prepared to sue Palmer for defamation.

While Palmer may have misspoken, Minaj's stance on sexual abuse and domestic violence has historically been murky. Minaj's brief Instagram rebuttal to the backlash against Petty is no doubt problematic, as it loosely implies that since the victim and Petty were dating, her claims of rape are somehow invalid or "trumped up." Minaj claims not to have supported her brother during his trial but was known to have allegedly wrote to him on Instagram, "I love you more than you will ever know."

She was also spotted visiting him in prison, though Minaj claims she only did so to support her mother. Minaj's mother believes Maraj to be innocent. "We have the affidavits to prove that [the jury] was busy talking about his sister [outside the courtroom.] If his sister didn't show up that means he was guilty," she said in an interview with Hip Hop Hood Report. "They totally ignored the evidence that there was no evidence to prove this man guilty." A juror misconduct inquiry was opened in October of 2018, although Nassau's DA office has stood firmly by the conviction. DNA evidence found on the victim's pajamas matched Maraj's and the victim's 10-year-old brother took the stand to graphically describe, under oath, what he saw when he allegedly walked in on the 40-year-old raping his sister. Maraj's attorney, John Labau, said he agreed that he doesn't believe there is enough evidence to convict his client, but noted, "Do I think maybe something happened? Probably."


Minaj's stance on violence against women has repeatedly been called into question. She has continually supported Chris Brown and Tyga, both of which have extensive rap sheets of sexual misconduct and faced a slew of negative backlash when she collaborated with controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine in 2018. Fans were upset with Minaj's ability to overlook 6ix9ines guilty plea of raping a 13-year-old earlier that year—an ex-girlfriend of 6ix9ine additionally told The Daily Beast in 2019 that he physically and sexually abused her during the entirety of their relationship. Minaj further announced that 6ix9ine would be co-headling her NICKIHNDRXX tour with her and Future—who has also faced multiple accusations of being misogynistic towards women.

"It is one of the more egregious examples of an artist sacrificing principles for profit," wrote The Daily Beast of Minaj's decision to work with 6ix9ine. "When the queen of rap picks out a 22-year-old to collaborate with…[she's] legitimizing a man who's legally copped to—while continuing to lie about—some pretty vile behavior." Minaj faced further backlash later that year for "slut-shaming" female celebrities in an interview with Elle Magazine. "Maybe I was naïve, but I didn't realize how many girls were modern-day prostitutes," she said. "These are girls are so beautiful and have so much to offer. But I started finding out that you give them a couple of thousand dollars, and you can have sex with them...it makes me sad as a woman." Fans noted that Minaj has historically used her sexuality in order to help her career. In 2010, Minaj admitted in an interview with Rolling Stone that she lied about being bisexual in order to attract media attention.

However, it's important to note the controversies that Minaj has faced—including Palmer's swiftness to classify her as a supporter of sex offenders—exhibit a double standard in popular culture. Chris Brown, who has extensively been accused of violence against women, was accused of raping a woman in Paris in January, and as a response he printed and sold T-shirts that read "This Bitch Lyin!,'" directly profiting off the accusations. While the trial is still ongoing, the shirts are currently sold out. Additionally, Ammer Vann of Brockhampton was accused of sexual misconduct and subsequently was kicked out of the group—only to go on and continue making music. His last Soundcloud release, "I'm sorry," addressed the allegations, its comment section filled with fans showering praise and respect on the artist. Tyga, Sheck Wes, Kodak Black, and Nas are just a few of the other male artists who have recently been accused of violence against women.

Is Minaj's own hesitance to condemn abusers based on her personal disbelief of the accusers? Or has she just been conditioned to look the other way in an industry that has historically objectified women? Is it a little bit of both? "As a [black] woman in a male-dominated industry, Minaj has faced a great deal of adversity," wrote Flare Magazine. Minaj has openly advocated for female empowerment and has "demonstrated fearlessness in pointing out institutional racism," which makes her handling of abusers and sexuality that much more confusing. "Minaj's support of the wrong people showed me that she might not have the iron-clad morals that I have come to expect from her," wrote Flare. "[It] actually helped me humanize her. It is now evident to me that I wasn't actually in love with Minaj as a person—I was in love with her feminist boss-ass-bitch image, and was filtering out the rest." Should we continue to "filter" our artists in 2019?

New Releases

Nicki Minaj Plays It Safe with “MEGATRON”

Nicki Minaj is a voracious rapper on any song, but she hasn't been able to put out anything innovative or captivating since 2014's The Pinkprint.

Nicki Minaj is throwing her hat into the ring for the song of the summer— and if her Barbz have anything to say about it, it's a big contender.

On "Megatron," Minaj stays in her element with an airy vibe. The Caribbean-inspired beat highlights the rapper's clever lyricism and bitey flow. Her first single post-Queen, "Megatron" validates that Minaj has already proven her abilities as a singular rapper. However, despite her skills, the "Queen of Rap" is still struggling to maintain relevance and reinvent the wheel.

The seductive, glossy video for "Megatron" is reminiscent of the bootylicious jungle in "Anaconda"—but the song, while great, demonstrates that Minaj hasn't progressed much as an artist since then. "Megatron" could've been released in 2015; if it had been, Minaj would've seemed edgy and ahead of her time. Unfortunately, nowadays, island-inspired, hip-swaying music has been overdone in popular music ever since Rihanna's "Work."

Still, the music video incorporates all of today's popular elements of futuristic, colorful, and inviting visuals. The video successfully adds to the playful, seductive energy of "Megatron." It perfectly captures how Minaj wants to be perceived, regardless of how unchanged and outdated her public image becomes.

Nicki Minaj may be in a realm of her own when it comes to her sound and style, as she's cultivated a voice that's instantly recognizable and sharp. Even though she comes packing with ingenious wordplay, a unique flow, and entertaining production, she hasn't been able to deliver anything as inspiring and cohesive as 2014's The Pinkprint. Yet, there's no doubt people will be bumping to the loose, sexy "Megatron" this summer, and maybe that's just what she needs to launch a second wave of relevance.

Music Features

Nicki Minaj Now Has Beef with BET

Minaj slams BET over unprovoked dis.

Photo by Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

When Cardi B won her history-making Grammy for "Best Rap Album," the BET social media team had a crazy idea: "What if we used this opportunity to bash another headlining black artist who's performing at our upcoming music festival?"

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MUSIC

ALBUM REVIEW | Lil Wayne "Tha Carter V"

Lil Tunechi releases the fifth installment of the iconic series

Weezy F. Baby and the F is for "Finally!"

After a heated legal battle over owed royalties with his label Cash Money Records and his father Birdman, Lil Wayne has released the highly anticipated "Tha Carter V,"the album that most hip hop fans thought would never see the light of day. But alas, the greatest hip hop series next to Jay-Z's "Vol." won't end with 2011's "Tha Carter IV."

The album starts off with "I Love you Dwayne," a heartfelt message from Wayne's mom confessing her love and undying support for her son, the artist and the man. After the tearjerker of an intro is over, Wayne's signature lighter flick hits and it's back to business. A posthumous cameo from the recently departed XXXTENTACION on "Don't Cry" sets the tone for the reintroduction of Lil Wayne when he's in "Carter" mode.

Another standout on C5 is the Swizz Beatz produced "Uproar," a revamped version of the G. Dep Harlem Shake classic "Special Delivery". Wayne brings his Southern Swag to match Swizzy's Big Apple bop and the track is sure to transport you back to 2001 as soon as you hear it. "Mona Lisa" featuring Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar showcases Wayne's duality as a wordsmith and a storyteller. Wayne paints the picture of a femme fatale who is willing to do his bidding at the expense of unsuspecting men of means. Lamar's theatrical delivery acts as the frame for Wayne's version of one of Da Vinci's greatest works.



The theme of family appears again on the song "Famous," which contains a feature from Wayne's daughter Reginae. Though "Famous" is another precautionary tale about the woes of stardom, the serene yet haunting hook provides an honest look into the heart of a man who has been famous since before he could legally drink. "Tha Carter V" also includes contributions from Travis Scott, Snoop Dogg, and Wayne's superstar protege Nicki Minaj.

Even though it's been seven years since C4, "Tha Carter V" shows Wayne's enduring ability to craft a body of work that speaks to the current climate. This album also highlights Wayne's influence on today's new crop of rappers who sport face tats, dreads, and imbibe codeine-infused beverages. A tad lengthy for today's music scene, the 23 tracks may be Wayne's way of apologizing for keeping his adoring fans waiting for so long.

Some will say Wayne is nowhere near the artist he was in 2005-2010 when he was putting up Steph Curry numbers on everything he touched. But, if you take the time to listen to the way Wayne's evolved since the first installment of the series, you'll see that he still has claim to the title "The Best Rapper Alive".

Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️


Deascent is a hip hop artist, music writer, and on-air personality for "Popdust Presents". He's also the co-front man of The Cold Press. Follow him on Instagram.



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