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Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and raised in Queens, New York, rose to prominence in the late 2000s with her bold, colorful persona and rapid-fire flows. Over the past decade, she earned the title of the "Queen of Rap," cementing her legacy with hits like "Super Bass," "Anaconda," and "Starships." Her versatility and creativity, blending genres and creating larger-than-life personas, helped shape her identity as one of the most successful and influential female rappers in history. However, like many other fans, my admiration for Nicki began to falter when Megan Thee Stallion dropped her diss track "Hiss" in 2024. It wasn’t until then that I started to learn about the controversies surrounding Nicki—scandals she seemed to have intentionally kept hidden from the public eye.
Megan’s diss, "Hiss," was a revelation that forced many of us to dig deeper into Nicki’s past. Megan boldly referenced the problematic associations Nicki had tried to conceal, including her relationships with convicted sex offenders (By using the line "These hoes don't be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan's Law"), legal disputes, and feuds with other artists. For me, and many others, this song exposed the skeletons in Nicki’s closet, and it became clear that she had been actively shielding her fans from the truth for years.
The Lil' Kim Feud: The Beginning of Public Conflict
Nicki’s history of controversy dates back to her early days in the industry. One of the first major scandals was her feud with Lil' Kim, a rap pioneer who accused Nicki of stealing her style and not giving proper credit. This wasn’t just about fashion or image—Lil' Kim felt that Nicki was "erasing her legacy". Looking back at this now, it was the beginning of a pattern where Nicki would engage in aggressive behavior rather than showing respect to her predecessors, something "Hiss" indirectly illuminated for fans who, like me, hadn’t paid close attention to the growing list of public disputes.
Remy Ma and the "Shether" Battle
One of the most significant turning points in Nicki’s career came when rapper Remy Ma released her scathing diss track "Shether" in 2017. In the song, Remy called Nicki out on several fronts, accusing her of using ghostwriters, undergoing plastic surgery, and manipulating her way to the top. This entire episode was part of a larger trend where Nicki avoided accountability. Instead of addressing the claims, she fought back with petty insults in her response track "No Frauds," leaving many to question her authenticity. In another response to the diss track made by Remy Ma, she barely responded and tried to act unimpressed with a now deleted Instagram post showing an article of Remy Ma & Fat Joe's album opening week sales, which is the stereotypical response for a more popular rapper to brag about sales numbers while avoiding the serious accusations.
"Hiss" just reminded me of how easily Nicki dismissed serious allegations, further feeding the narrative of her trying to bury the truth.
Cardi B and the 2018 Fashion Week Fight
When Nicki and Cardi B’s feud culminated in a physical altercation during New York Fashion Week in 2018, it was splashed across headlines. Cardi famously threw a shoe at Nicki, later claiming that Nicki had been attempting to sabotage her career behind the scenes. Cardi was seen leaving the venue with a visible bruise on her forehead, which she later attributed to being hit with a security guard's elbow during the altercation. I will not be showing the bruise on her forehead, you can research that yourself. Cardi B took to Instagram to address the situation, expressing her frustrations with Nicki, particularly about perceived disrespect regarding her parenting and professional choices. She emphasized that she was willing to stand up for herself but ultimately wanted to move past the drama. After hearing "Hiss," it became clear that Nicki’s involvement in public disputes with other women in the industry was a recurring theme. Instead of lifting other women up, she repeatedly engaged in conflicts that reinforced the image of her as insecure and territorial.
Defending Her Brother: A Disturbing Allegiance
Perhaps the most shocking revelation for many fans—one that Megan brought into the light when dissing Kenneth Petty in "Hiss"—was Nicki’s unwavering support for her brother, Jelani Maraj, who was convicted in 2017 of sexually assaulting his 11-year-old stepdaughter. Nicki posted his bail, attended court hearings in his defense, and refused to publicly denounce him, despite the heinous nature of his crime. This was something I hadn’t known about until recently, and it was deeply unsettling. How could someone I had think highly of for so long stand by her brother after such an unforgivable act? It made me realize how much Nicki had shielded fans from her problematic decisions, carefully curating her public image to avoid backlash.
Kenneth Petty: Marrying a Convicted Sex Offender
Nicki’s controversial choices didn’t end with her brother. She married Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender who was convicted of attempted rape in 1995. In addition to that, Petty has faced multiple legal issues for failing to register as a sex offender in California. Nicki has fiercely defended her husband, dismissing the criticisms as attacks on her personal life. Again, this was something I had never heard about before, but when Megan’s "Hiss" dragged it back into the spotlight, that made it impossible to ignore. Nicki’s decision to stand by two men with such troubling pasts has left many fans & myself included questioning her moral compass.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation Scandal
Another incident that eroded my respect for Nicki came in 2021, when she tweeted false information about the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming that it caused her cousin’s friend to experience swollen testicles and impotence.
This tweet went viral, sparking public outrage and condemnation from health officials. Nicki doubled down on her statement, refusing to apologize even when it was proven to be misinformation. For someone with such a massive platform, this level of irresponsibility was staggering. By that point, it was clear that Nicki was more interested in stirring up controversy than in owning up to her mistakes.
The Hasan Piker Clash Over Tucker Carlson
In that same year, Nicki found herself embroiled in yet another scandal when she supported far-right commentator Tucker Carlson. After Carlson praised her stance on the COVID-19 vaccine, she shared his segment on her social media, which prompted backlash.
When political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker criticized her for aligning with someone who has a history of promoting racism and xenophobia, Nicki went on the defensive, lashing out at him and anyone else who dared question her. Instead of engaging in thoughtful dialogue, Nicki resorted to divisive tactics that only deepened the divide between her and critics.
Megan Thee Stallion and the "Hiss" Dispute
In 2024, Megan Thee Stallion shook the music industry with the release of her diss track “Hiss,” which directly targeted Nicki Minaj, reigniting their long-simmering feud. The track wasn’t just another shot in a competitive rivalry—it dragged Nicki’s controversial personal life into the spotlight, particularly her relationship with convicted sex offenders, including her husband, Kenneth Petty. Megan didn’t hold back, with lines like “These hoes mad at Megan’s Law,” referencing Petty’s sex offender status, putting Nicki’s problematic personal associations front and center.
Nicki’s response to "Hiss" was defensive, as she downplayed the accusations and leaned on her fanbase, the Barbz, to attack Megan online. Instead of addressing the serious issues raised in the song, Nicki dismissed the track as another attempt to discredit her, fueling more online drama. The Barbz took to social media in full force, displaying the toxic stan culture that surrounds Nicki, where any criticism is met with hostility.
Megan’s “Hiss” not only reignited their feud but also laid bare Nicki’s refusal to engage in meaningful accountability, exposing cracks in her carefully controlled public image. For many and myself, the track was a turning point, forcing fans and others to reevaluate their admiration for Nicki in light of her troubling personal decisions and the culture she perpetuates around her.
The Barbz: Toxic Stan Culture
One of the most difficult aspects of Nicki’s career to reconcile has been the behavior of her fanbase, the "Barbz." Fiercely loyal and often aggressive, the Barbz have been known to harass anyone who criticizes Nicki, including journalists, other artists, and even casual fans. The Barbz’ constant defense of Nicki, no matter how serious the accusation, is an example of the toxic side of stan culture. While it’s normal for fans to be protective of their favorite artists, the Barbz take it to an extreme level, attacking anyone who dares question their "queen." Megan Thee Stallion’s "Hiss" opened the floodgates for more criticism, but rather than engage in self-reflection, the Barbz retaliated against anyone who supported Megan, proving once again how damaging stan culture can be.
What Nicki Needs to Do
It’s not too late for Nicki Minaj to take accountability and rebuild her reputation, but it would require significant changes. First and foremost, she needs to publicly distance herself from her brother Jelani Maraj and her husband Kenneth Petty. Both men have been convicted of sexual crimes, and continuing to support them only serves to tarnish her legacy further. Severing ties would send a clear message that she does not condone their actions, and it would be a crucial step in reclaiming some of her lost credibility.
In addition, Nicki should consider making donations to organizations that support survivors of sexual assault, such as RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). By taking meaningful action, she could show that she is committed to helping victims rather than aligning herself with perpetrators. An apology for spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation is also long overdue; acknowledging her mistake would go a long way toward mending the public’s trust in her.
Finally, Nicki needs to reevaluate her engagement in petty feuds with other artists. Instead of tearing down her peers, she should focus on building bridges within the industry, especially with other women in rap. Her legacy could still be one of empowerment, but she has to make a conscious effort to change her behavior.
The "Queen of Rap" may still hold her crown, but it’s tarnished beyond repair. If Nicki wants to salvage her legacy, she must take responsibility for her actions and make genuine efforts to change her ways. Only then can she begin to repair the damage she has done to her reputation and regain the trust of her former fans.
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