In Praise Of Nicki Minaj

We are all falling in love with NICKI MINAJ, new Barbie rap/pop-star.

I have honestly come to like her more and more and she’s growing on me. But one thing I have noticed about her and other recent rap stars raping style is kind of getting on my nerves. And maybe this style is something that rappers have been using for a while, but I don’t notice it with Nas or any credible rapper and to me it makes rhymes seem undeveloped and it seems trendy more than effective. It’s like a simile without the Like or As. But it’s not a metaphor. I promise.

I had to go through an old grammar book to make sure I wasn’t being an idiot. Artists do this thing where they like say something pause a beat then say the comparison. It makes sense and sometimes the execution makes the listener be like “oooooooooh”, but sometimes my reaction is more like “really?”.

For example in the song “Did it on ‘em” Nicki Minaj dropped the line “You use to be here now you’re gone….. Nair.” It’s a clever line and I get the comparison, but when you’re trying to be hard and tell someone off comparing them to a hair removal product kind of seems either immature or just plain dumb. Young Money uses it too, ironically in “Bed Rock” which features Nicki Minaj. He says “and I gotta n*gga….. grocery bag.” How is that even really a valid comparison? I have heard it randomly used in a better sense on the radio, but thinking about it now I have forgotten what songs and what artists.

I just want to challenge listeners to go past a catchy melody and listen to what these more poppy rappers are actually saying. I am in no way bashing, because I honestly love Nicki Minaj’s look and her break into female rappers. She’s like a new Eve or lil’ Kim. But take a listen.