Viewing Nicki Minaj Differently

Let me preface this with: I know very little about Nicki Minaj, other than if I was asked about the artists that dress the most outlandish, I’d name her and Lady Gaga; and I’d do so with the respect of understanding they know how to stand out from the rest. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you if I’ve heard her music (though I’m sure I must have); but I’ve always been pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy it. I’m willing to admit that might be an unfair assessment, but I’m not as much a fan of rap in my 40s as I was in my 20s.

But…I read an article the other week about an interview she did with New York Times Magazine where she got up and walked out because of a question she was asked by the interviewer. At first glance, admittedly at just the title, I thought, ‘holy crap, what a diva!’ and then…I was too curious about what question would have driven this woman of outrageous costumery (I know, not really a word) to walk out of an interview.

I rather became a fan of Nicki Minaj in the few moments it took me to read the article. Her responses to her disagreements with Miley Cyrus and her to the question about the drama around her were stunning examples of awesomeness! She was right on both accounts.

I grew up in the age of Madonna and Cindy Lauper. Both of these women did exactly what needed to be done to draw in the crowds and while I’m not completely sure about the business woman Lauper turned out to be, Madonna was an inspiration in that sense, for sure. Both women did their part to help young girls (like me at the time) realize there were many different ways to be a strong woman and you didn’t have to grow up being afraid of the word feminism. This was important in the 80s because we weren’t far removed from the anger and vitriol of the 70s wave of feminism. When I look at the artists today – Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, even Miley Cyrus in her own distracted way – I can’t help but think of the ways my mom probably responded to Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Eve, Salt n Peppa and En Vogue to name a few.

I’m happy to see there are strong women role models of all walks for the young women in my life to look up to and aspire to be like. I never wanted to be Madonna, but I certainly recognized her strength and ability to do it her way. That was a powerful lesson. The interview Minaj gave a few weeks ago (article below) has some powerful words that, if the young women of today are paying attention, could help to change the way we treat each other as women and human beings; thus making our world just a little bit better.

Read more :Nicki Minaj walks out on New York Times Magazine interview

Nicki Minaj walks out on New York Times Magazine interview

The interview started off well, with Minaj animatedly talking about Instagram, self-image and feminism. She even opened up on her feud with Cyrus:

“The fact that you feel upset about me speaking on something that affects black women makes me feel like you have some big balls,” said the hip-hop star. “You’re in videos with black men, and you’re bringing out black women on your stages, but you don’t want to know how black women feel about something that’s so important? Come on, you can’t want the good without the bad. If you want to enjoy our culture and our lifestyle, bond with us, dance with us, have fun with us, twerk with us, rap with us, then you should also want to know what affects us, what is bothering us, what we feel is unfair to us. You shouldn’t not want to know that.”

But things soon took a wrong turn after Grigoriadis asked Minaj about the feud between Drake and Minaj’s boyfriend Meek Mill, and the beef between Lil Wayne and Young Thug. That’s when Grigoriadis unleashed the interview-killing question:

“Is there a part of you that thrives on drama, or is it no, just pain and unpleasantness — ”

Minaj stood up and reacted sharply, calling the interviewer “disrespectful.”

“What do the four men you just named have to do with me thriving off drama?'” she asked. “That’s the typical thing that women do. What did you putting me down right there do for you? Women blame women for things that have nothing to do with them … To put down a woman for something that men do, as if they’re children and I’m responsible, has nothing to do with you asking stupid questions, because you know that’s not just a stupid question. That’s a premeditated thing you just did.”