Oh Nicki, Nicki, where for art thou Nicki. Remy dragged you a sheer 48 hours after you came for her on Gucci Mane's "Need Love" track, and in hindsight, I'm sure you agree it was a grave misstep. Do you have nothing to say for yourself? You must defend yourself.If not for you, for the rap game.
Walk with me.
Must I remind you? We've been here before. In 2001 Nas released "Ether" — A legendary diss-track of similar carnage aimed at Jay-Z. The two had been embattled in rap beef for years when one day Nas decided to end it with one hook: "I. Will. Not. Lose."
Remy keeps the beat and the hook as the Nas diss — a questionable decision and a blow to her creativity –but what she lacks in beat selection she overcompensates in lyricism and storytelling. Reminiscent of "Ether", Remy sits you down for a three credit cross-curricular grad level course in "the ain't shit-isms of one Onika 'Nicki' Minaj." This course touched on record label economics, anatomy and physiology, and wraps up with a dog dive into rape culture in the black household.
Take a listen here:
Don't cry for Nicki. Nicki is a bully and has maintained her respect in urban communities by antagonizing the very people who made it possible for her to be her. Simultaneously, she panders to white people with her bubble gum pop anthems like "Pound the Alarm".
The catchiness of her rap lyrics are just like the K-mart clothing line that has inspired suburban girls to try and hold onto whatever element of "ghetto fabulous" they can.
I have been cool on Nicki since she came for Lil Kim. I never understood the allure of insulting the very people who made it possible for you to ascend to the heights you've reached. And her go-to insult is to cite poor album sales — a cheap trick in my mind. See, if Nicki remained true to her hip-hop roots she would see struggling sales in the misogynistic hip hop record industry anyway.
Since Lauryn Hill, white people have not embraced black female rap like they appreciate Nicki. She is accomplished. Not even the scathing bath of the "ShETHER" can take that from her. But she is no Miss Lauryn Hill. That is because Nicki's eagerness to pander to white America makes her appear to be more dynamic than she really is. And Remy hit that nail in its ugly head.
Don't weep for Remy either; feminism is at work here. "ShETHER" is a rough track filled with problematic and disparaging narratives towards Minaj, but it is also necessary.
If women are ever going to be respected as emcees they have to be able to play the game.
"Ether" is legendary. People still talk about where they were when they first heard the track. If female emcees are going to ever to receive the recognition they deserve they must be able to go at each other in battle rap without their lyrics being taken as anti-feminine. This beef is a fundamental step in making that happen.
There is no magical rap world where female rappers get along, sit in Pinterest inspired reading nooks and help each other write lyrics about how great each other are. Being passive won't get them on the status of men, but rather reinforce gender stereotypes that rap is not for women because they're too soft. Cardi B did not quit stripping for this.
Rap is an effective form of self-expression that was designed to fight oppression and convey the intense feelings of people who participate in it. Hence the hard beats; hence the hook; hence the cursing.
Rap will never be friendly and pretty. But it will always be petty. So, at its foundation, If women hope to ever gain equitable respect in hip-hop, they must be able to deliver and receive a well thought out battle rap attack. And off the heels of 2015's "Back to Back", we needed this one is for the girls.
