Abstract
If an artist is identifying as a feminist, does this mean that everything they do must represent this ideology? And do they have to take responsibility for all the songs coming out with their name attached? This chapter will explore the music of Nicki Minaj, whose catalogue includes a number of collaborations with artists who put across misogynistic statements in their lyrics, and will ask whether her association with them risks undermining the pro-feminist work she has done.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Beaudoin, Kate (2015) ‘17 Times Nicki Minaj Perfectly Shut Down Sexism’ accessed March 22, 2020 https://www.mic.com/articles/114458/17-powerful-feminist-quotes-from-nicki-minaj
Bennett, Andy, Shank, Barry, and Toynbee, Jason (eds.) (2006). The Popular Music Studies Reader. London: Routledge
Bradley, Adam. (2009). Book of Rhymes. New York: Basic Civitas
Camacho, KnaLedge (2012) ‘Nicki Minaj—Letter to Lil Wayne’ accessed March 20, 2020 https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nicki-minaj-letter-to-lil-wayne-song.1007157.html
Cherney, Kristeen (2019) ‘Everything You Need to Know About Butt Implants’ accessed March 24, 2020 https://www.healthline.com/health/butt-implants
Cundiff, G. (2013). “The Influence of Rap and Hip-Hop Music: An Analysis on Audience Perceptions of Misogynistic Lyrics.” Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 4(1). Retrieved from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/a?id=792
Denham, Jess (2014) ‘Robin Thicke Scores Best-Selling Single of 2013 with ‘Blurred Lines’’ accessed March 25, 2020 https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/robin-thicke-scores-best-selling-single-of-2013-with-blurred-lines-9034479.html
Dworkin, Andrea (1974). Woman Hating. New York: E.P Dutton
Emelife, Aindrea (2015). ‘‘She’s a Wild Woman, She’s a Shaman’: Nicki Minaj becomes a Feminist Art Muse’ accessed March 26, 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/sep/01/nicki-minaj-anaconda-camille-henrot-feminist-art
Finley, Laura, and Gordon, Nickesia (eds.) (2017). Reflections on Gender from a Communication Point-of-View: GenderSpectives. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Fosbraey, G, and Melrose, A. (2019). Writing Song Lyrics: Creative and Critical Approaches. London: Macmillan International
Frisicks-Warren, B. (2006). I’ll Take You There: Pop Music and the Urge for Transcendence. London: Continuum
Garibaldi, Christina (2014) ‘Jennifer Lopez on the Year of the Booty: ‘It’s about time’ accessed March 28, 2020 http://www.mtv.com/news/1949743/jennifer-lopez-year-of-booty/
Greene, Sydney (2018) ‘Hair Relaxers: What You Should Know’ accessed March 28, 2020 https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/transitioning/hair-relaxers-what-you-should-know
Heep, Hartmut (2014) ‘“Blurred Lines”: Robin Thicke and Madonna Ciccone between Madonna and Whore’ in Cultural and Religious Studies, ISSN 2328-2177 January 2014, Vol. 2, No. 1
Hopps, G. (2009). The Pageant of His Bleeding Heart. London: Continuum
Hunter, Margaret, and Cuenca, Alhelí (2017) ‘Nicki Minaj and the Changing Politics of Hip-Hop: Real Blackness, Real Bodies, Real Feminism’ in Feminist Formations, Volume 29, Issue 2, Summer 2017
Jeffreys, Sheila. (2005). Beauty and Misogyny. Sussex: Routledge
Kaplan, E.A. (1987). Rocking Around the Clock: Music Television, Postmodernism, and Consumer Culture. London: Routledge.
Leith, S. (2012). You Talking to Me? London: Profile Books
Lieb, Kristin J. (2013). Gender, Branding, and the Modern Music Industry. New York: Routledge
McCallum, Jessie F., and Dzidic, Petra L. (2019) ‘Unblurring the Lines: A Qualitative Exploration of Young Women’s Opinions on Popular Music’ in Feminist Media Studies 2019, Vol. 19, No. 3
McIntyre, Hugh (2020) ‘Nicki Minaj Makes History With Her New No. 1 Single’ accessed March 28, 2020 https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2020/02/24/nicki-minaj-makes-history-with-her-new-no-1-single/#2d15a9764748
METRO—Thursday January 12, 2017, page 12—Andrei Harmsworth ‘Dis-Harmony over sexy label’
Nicki Minaj Fandom ‘Letter to Lil Wayne’ accessed March 26 2020 https://nickiminaj.fandom.com/wiki/Letter_to_Lil_Wayne
Nicolas, Niels (2019) ‘Women & Hip-Hop’ accessed March 12, 2020 https://deezer.io/women-hip-hop-e00fb19cc885
No Manifesto: A Film about the Manic Street Preachers. (2015). [Online] Amazon Prime
‘Official Charts: Nicki Minaj’ accessed March 10, 2020 https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6414/nicki-minaj/
Ordanini, Andrea, Nunes, Joseph C., and Nanni, Anastasia (2018) ‘The Featuring Phenomenon in Music: How Combining Artists of Different Genres Increases a Song’s Popularity’ Published online on 17 December 2018 in Marketing Lettershttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-018-9476-3
Oware, Matthew. (2018). I Got Something to Say: Gender, Race, and Social Consciousness in Rap Music. London: Palgrave Macmillan
Pearce, Shelodon (2017) ‘Rick Ross Isn’t the Only Rap Label Head Not Signing Women’ accessed March 23, 2020 https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/rap-label-gender-breakdown-by-the-numbers/
Plitt, Amy and Time Out editors (2018) ‘The Best Feminist Songs for Any Playlist’ accessed March 23, 2020 https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/10-great-feminist-anthems
Ramirez, Erica and Anderson, Trevor (2019) ‘Nicki Minaj’s 20 Biggest Billboard Hits’ accessed March 24, 2020 https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/6406562/nicki-minaj-20-biggest-billboard-hits
Redfern, Catherine, and Aune, Kristin. (2010). Reclaiming the F Word. London: Zed Books
Richards, Claire. (2012). All of Me. London: Sidgwick & Jackson
Riotta, Chris (2016) ‘8 of the Most Empowering Nicki Minaj Songs and Verses to Bring Out Your Inner Diva’ accessed March 26, 2020, https://uk.news.yahoo.com/8-most-empowering-nicki-minaj145000594.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGO8gnaZGmNevP2gTelbsZLe8sXywowp7xhy0hCK-JhmLJCAairHXj0jfHsT7gJMjaDw86b_gLj-nxV8TQ5x6lbTx6bzWF93phYBv7YQzMbHzlcZC2AvD2Bz2ZhgnMvkZGjP7WPnSMoYk8935x4ZIYBr4eOurV0bpsoOc8o3zw0o
Robin Thicke (2013a) ‘Blurred Lines’. In: Blurred Lines [CD]. Star Track. Interscope.
Rossi, William A. (1989). The Sex Life of the Foot and Shoe. Ware. Hertfordshire. Wordsworth editions.
Segal, Marcia Texler and Demos, Vasilikie (eds). (2019). ‘Gender and the Media: Women’s Places.’ Advances in Gender Research volume 26. Bingley: Emerald Publishing
Shuker, Roy. (2008). Understanding Popular Music (third edition). Oxon: Routledge
Snapes, Laura (2019) ‘New Rules: The Destruction of the Female Pop Role Model’ accessed March 19, 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/25/destruction-of-female-pop-role-model-decade-in-music
Stitchbury, Tom (2017). ‘Una kicks off solo career… and her killer heels go too’. Metro—Thursday January 19, 2017, page 12
Trier-Bieniek, Adrienne (ed.). (2015). Feminist Theory and Pop Culture. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers
Tyson, Lois. (2001). Learning for a Diverse World. NewYork: Routledge
Urban Dictionary “Bad’ Definition’ accessed March 25, 2020
Urban Dictionary ‘‘Freak’ definition’ accessed March 25, 2020 https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Freak
Young, Sarah (2018) ‘The Seven Most Common Sexual Fantasies, Revealed’ accessed March 26, 2020 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/common-sexual-fantasies-threesomes-bdsm-public-american-a8438566.html
Zeisler, Andi (2016). ‘Music Business ‘feminism’ is Little More than Branding. Just Ask Kesha’ accessed March 21, 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/26/feminism-music-business-branding-beyonce-kesha
Songs
6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj, and Murda Beatz (2018) ‘Fefe’. In: Queen [CD]. Young Money. Cash Money
Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj (2016) ‘Side to Side’. In: Dangerous Woman [CD]. Republic
B.o.B featuring Nicki Minaj (2012) ‘Out of my mind’. In: Strange Clouds [CD]. Grand Hustle/Rebel Rock/Atlantic
Beyoncé featuring Nicki Minaj (2014) ‘Flawless’. In: Beyoncé: Platinum Edition/More Only [CD]. Parkwood/Columbia
Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj (2011) ‘Dance A$$ (remix)’ (iTunes). GOOD Music/Def Jam
Birdman featuring Lil Wayne, Mack Maine, Nicki Minaj and Future (2013) ‘Tapout’. [Spotify]. Cash Money/Young Money/Republic
Birdman featuring Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne (2011) Y.U Mad’. [Spotify]. Cash Money/Universal/Republic
Busta Rhymes featuring Nicki Minaj (2013) ‘#Twerkit’ [Spotify]. Cash Money/Republic
Ciara featuring Nicki Minaj (2019)‘I’m Out’. In: Ciara [CD]. Epic
David Guetta featuring Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj (2011) ‘Where them girls at’. In: Nothing but the Beat [CD]. What A Music/Virgin/EMI
David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj (2011) ‘Turn me on’. In: Nothing but the Beat [CD]. What A Music/Virgin/EMI
David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne (2017) ‘Light my body up’. [Spotify] What a Music/Parlophone/Atlantic
David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack (2015) ‘Hey Mama’. In: Listen [CD]. Parlophone/Atlantic
DJ Mustard, Nicki Minaj, Jeremih (2016) ‘Don’t Hurt me’ (Google Play Music). Roc Music
Drake featuring Nicki Minaj (2011) ‘Make me proud’. In: Take Care [CD]. Young Money/ Cash Money/Republic
Future featuring Nicki Minaj (2017) ‘You da baddest’. [Spotify]. A1/Freebandz/Epic
Juicy J featuring Nicki Minaj, Lil Bibby and Young Thug (2014) ‘Low’ [Spotify]. Kemosabe/Columbia
Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj (2012) ‘Beauty and a Beat’. In: Believe [CD]. Island/RBMG/Schoolboy
Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, & Bon Iver (2010) ‘Monster’. In: My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy [CD]. Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj (2017) ‘Swish Swish’. In: Witness [CD]. Capitol
Little Mix featuring Nicki Minaj (2018) ‘Woman like me’. In: LM5 [CD]. Syco
Major Lazer featuring PartyNextDoor and Nicki Minaj (2017) ‘Run up. [Spotify]. Mad Decent/Because
Nick Minaj featuring Drake, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne (2014) ‘Only’. The Pinkprint [CD]. Young Money/Cash Money/Republic
Nicki Minaj (2010) ‘Did it on ‘em’. In: Pink Friday [CD]. Young Money. Cash Money
Nicki Minaj (2012) ‘Letter to Little Wayne’ accessed March 29, 2020 https://www.last.fm/music/Nicki+Minaj/Pink+Friday:+The+Lost+Tape
Nicki Minaj (2018) ‘Barbie Dreams’. In: Queen [CD]. Young Money. Cash Money
Nicki Minaj (2014) ‘Anaconda’. In: The Pinkprint [CD]. Young Money; Cash Money; Republic
Pop Smoke featuring Nicki Minaj (2019) ‘Welcome to the party’ [Spotify]. Republic Records
Rae Sremmurd featuring Nicki Minaj and Young Thug (2014).‘Throw some mo’. In: SremmLife [CD]. Ear Drummer/Interscope
Robin Thicke (2013b) ‘Blurred Lines’. In: Blurred Lines [CD]. Star Track/Interscope.
Usher featuring Nicki Minaj (2014) ‘She came to give it to you’. [Spotify]. RCA
Waka Flocka Flame featuring Nicki Minaj, Tyga and Flo Rida (2012) ‘Get Low’ [Spotify]. 1017 Brick Squad/Brick Squad Monopoly/Asylum/Warner Bros.
Wale featuring Nicki Minaj and Juicy J (2013). ‘Clappers. In: The Gifted [CD]. Maybach Music/Atlantic
YG featuring 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Nicki Minaj (2018) ‘Big Bank’. In: Stay Dangerous [CD]. 4Hunnid/CTE/Def Jam
Yo Gotti and Mike WiLL Made-It featuring Nicki Minaj (2017) ‘Rake it up’. [Spotify]. Epic/EMPIRE
Young Money (2009) ‘Roger that’. In: We are Young Money [CD]. Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown
Young Money featuring Lloyd (2009) ‘Bedrock’. In: We are Young Money [CD]. Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fosbraey, G. (2021). Chapter 2: Featuring…Nicki Minaj. In: Fosbraey, G., Puckey, N. (eds) Misogyny, Toxic Masculinity, and Heteronormativity in Post-2000 Popular Music. Palgrave Studies in (Re)Presenting Gender. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65189-3_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65189-3_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-65188-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-65189-3
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)