Rappers Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj have revived the classic hip-hop beef.
When Meg dropped the track “Hiss” on Jan. 26, seemingly calling out Nicki Minaj, the internet went wild and the latter didn’t take too kindly to it. The “Harajuku Barbie,” who hails from Queens, immediately took to social media calling out the Houston Hottie and eventually released a song of her own “Big Foot,” on Jan. 29.
Meg released “Hiss,” with the lyrics, “These h–s don’t be mad at Megan, these h–s mad at Megan’s Law. I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start,” Megan Thee Stallion raps.
Megan’s Law refers to the U.S. legislation in honor of Megan Kanka, requiring law enforcement authorities to make information about sexual offenders available to the public.
Nicki Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty was convicted for the attempted rape of Jennifer Hough in 1994 and served over four years in prison. Recently, Petty was sentenced to house arrest after failing to register as a sex offender in a new state.
After taking to social media to respond to the track, Nicki Minaj clapped back with what she has denied as a diss track, titled “Big Foot,” although she calls Megan out by name – a lot, in fact.
“This lil’ beggin’ wh—e talkin’ ’bout Megan’s Law. For a free beat, you could hit Megan raw. If you a ghostwriter, party in Megan’s jaw. Shots thrown, but I still ain’t let Megan score. Bad b—h, she like six foot. I call her Big Foot. The b—h fell off, I said, ‘Get up on your good foot,” Nicki Minaj raps.
In addition to the language insinuating Megan is an easy woman and targeting her height, Nicki is referring to the Houston rapper accusing Tory Lanez of shooting her in the foot in July 2020. Tory Lanez was found guilty of the shooting in December 2022 and began serving time in jail last September.
Nicki Minaj also mentions Tory’s name in the rap and even refers to Megan’s late mother repeatedly saying “lyin’ on your dead mama,” and other references to her mom being gone.
Shots were fired for sure, and we’re not here to break down flow or who won (although the Internet contends Megan did and Minaj is just being a schoolyard bully), but rather lift up the pros and cons of this classic beef.
Hip-hop beefs have birthed great music and evolution within the genre. From the general East Coast vs. West Coast, to the Notorious B.I.G. vs. 2Pac beefs, to more recent feuds such as Drake versus both Meek and Pusha T, have emerged bopping music, interesting dialogues and sometimes reunions.
While some women such as Foxy Brown and Lil Kim and even Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, have had famous feuds, this Megan and Nicki beef has many people talking, taking to social media and streaming their singles. As of Jan. 30, “Hiss,” was no. 1 on Spotify.
Though it’s cool to see these Black women revive a classic part of hip-hop culture, and gain two new tracks to the canon, it’s a bummer to see how low some people can go. Nicki Minaj’s comeback was pretty harsh – talking about a case in which Megan was a victim of violence and bringing up her mama, but her fans are coming even harder.
Fans on both ends are showing support for their respective rap queens, but the Hotties, Meg’s fans, are a lot friendlier than the “Barbs,” Nicki fans, some of whom have teased her appearance, questioned her honesty, posting “Free Tory,” and even threatened her safety.
From crazed fans like Mexican-American singer Selena’s murderer, Yolanda Saldívar, we know what can happen when obsessed fans go too far. We also have seen the violence associated with tense moments in hip-hop.
Further, let us not forget that hands were thrown at a New York Fashion Week party in 2018 when Cardi B and Nicki Minaj got into a physical altercation.
This Nicki vs. Megan feud has been entertaining, for sure, but when threats of violence get involved, it’s time to cool it.
It’s time for the “Hot Girl Summer” collaborators to bury this beef and come together for another girl power anthem, as opposed to a track tearing other women down.
Kudos to Megan and Nicki for reviving the classic beef and giving us something new to listen to and talk about, but now it’s about time to say, “Can’t we all just get along?”