A “Yikes” worthy moment in Nicki Minaj’s upcoming single has her under fire…again.
In 2019, Nicki Minaj announced to the world that she would be retiring from music, shocking her fanbase in a major way. Nobody saw it coming — apparently, not even she did. Since her infamous tweet was sent out, the rapper has popped up on several feature verses, including one for Meghan Trainor last week, and she explained that she may have been a little pre-emptive with her announcement. Now, it appears as though the “Chun-Li” rapper is attempting to get back into the groove, previewing new music. However, it may not be receiving the type of attention Minaj would have preferred (or maybe she does) as on particular line from her unreleased track is currently receiving major backlash from the general public.
Minaj began receiving backlash as listeners heard her name-drop Rosa Parks. “All you b—es Rosa Parks, uh oh, get your ass up,” Nicki rhymes in references to the civil rights icon, whose 107th birthday would have been today. “Nicki Minaj need to leave Rosa Parks [alone],” one Twitter user responded. “Nicki Minaj did NOT say Rosa Parks get your ass up. She didn’t. Nah. I cant believe this,” another wrote.
Foundational Black American activist Tariq Nasheed called Minaj out very directly citing a past history in insensitively name dropping important figures in black history. “Nicki Minaj consistently disrespects Foundational Black American icons in her raps and cover art, like Malcolm X and now Rosa Parks, because as a Trinidadian, she doesn’t identify with our FBA lineage. She would never say anything disrespectful about Trinidadian icons,” he tweeted.
As Nasheed mentioned, this isn’t Minaj’s first time being called out for possible anti-blackness. She received heat just last year for turning hashtag #BlackGirlTragic which is meant to empower black women who have overcome abuse into a way for her to diss those who she deemed “ugly,” but many also may remember in 2014 when Minaj caught heat from the family of the iconic Malcolm X for using a picture of him looking out of a window for her single “Lookin’ A** N*ggas,” to which she simply responded to the backlash by then dragging his daughter in a follow-up song, her freestyle to 2014’s ‘Chiraq,’ rapping “Malcolm X daughter came at, lookin’ ass n*ggas ain’t happy.”
“Rosa Parks would have been 107 years old if she was still living to see her birthday today,” journalist Ernest Owens also pointed out. “Y’all go remind Nicki Minaj that. Quick history lesson: She never got up, she stayed seated. The lyric makes no sense.” Take a look at some of the responses below and let us know what you think. Was the self-proclaimed queen’s line disrespectful?
Nicki Minaj consistently disrespects Foundational Black American icons in her raps and cover art, like Malcolm X and now Rosa Parks, because as a Trinidadian, she doesn’t identify with our FBA lineage. She would never say anything disrespectful about Trinidadian icons
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) February 4, 2020
When Nicki rapped “All you bitches Rosa Parks Uh Oh get cho ass up”, not only was it disrespectful it didn’t make sense. Rosa Parks did NOT get up. Is Nicki rapping from the position of the white racist who told Parks to get up?
I need Nicki’s #BussyLivesMatter fans to help me https://t.co/Eed4G1EsRm
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) February 4, 2020
bitch not on rosa parks birthday
— afro archangel jay (@JAYVERSACE) February 4, 2020
Everyone shocked about Nicki’s Rosa parks line like she’s not the same person that said “ like MJ doctor, they killing me” #YikesNM #Yikes pic.twitter.com/3jam0g8wVM
— negrhoe ⁶ ♡ (@negrhoe_) February 4, 2020
Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman when they catch Nicki in heaven pic.twitter.com/vH6umJZV1U
— 髪の神 (@FineAssCj) February 4, 2020
white nicki minaj fans headed to say the rosa parks line
pic.twitter.com/pO1WTp1JGQ— AUNTIE JOSEPH 💋 (@PIRUMAMI) February 4, 2020
Nicki Minaj need to leave Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman alone. They both have fought the good fight, let them ladies Rest In Peace. 😭😭😂 pic.twitter.com/RD1RhSDYTj
— ✍🏾🗣 (@writtenbytruth) February 4, 2020
I heard #NickiMinaj was disrespecting, #RosaParks. That doesn't surprise me when she did it before, disrespecting the image of Malcolm X. 👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿 https://t.co/gtac20Vwbh
— The MyVoice Channel On YouTube (@CoreyTheTru87) February 4, 2020
I was a big fan of you @NICKIMINAJ until I heard your verse about Rosa Parks. I’m sorry but you no longer have a fan.
— Pill Cosby 🅙 (@1JParrish) February 4, 2020
Not only is the Nicki Minaj Rosa Parks line disrespectful, it makes no sense. Cause Rosa didnt get up.
Or is she speaking from the white power side of it? TRASHHHHHH.— Terrell Mallory (@_Twinndiesel) February 4, 2020
I hope @NICKIMINAJ take that line about Rosa Parks out of her song. Hella disrespectful. Nothing funny about a black woman being told to get up and move to the back of the bus and it’s black history month. Some shit you just don’t say. That was a defining moment in our history.
— Courtné 💛💜🏁 (@_iamcourtne) February 4, 2020