The world of western music has been set aback as rappers, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj, find themselves entangled in a one-sided, bitter feud sparked by a controversial lyric in Megan’s latest track.
The drama began when Megan Thee Stallion dropped her new single, “HISS,” which quickly gained traction for the line, “These *** don’t be mad at Megan, these *** are mad at Megan’s Law.”
Megan’s Law is a federal United States law that requires law enforcements to have information about registered sex offenders available to the public. This law was created after Megan Kanka was raped and murdered in 1994.
The line caught the attention of Nicki Minaj, leading to a feud that has fans left with mixed reactions. The lyric wasn’t targeted at Minaj specifically, but she took the bullet due to her husband, Kenneth Petty.
Kenneth Petty is a convicted sex offender.
Too add fuel to the fire, Minaj’s brother, Jelani Maraj, is currently facing 15 years in prison for predatory sexual assault against his 11-year old step-daughter..
The lyric lit a flame in Minaj. She took her thoughts to Instagram, where she went live. She muttered responses to the lyric, making it obvious that she’s upset with the fellow rapper. In response to “HISS,” Nicki Minaj wasted no time in asserting her dominance with the release of, “Big Foot.” A line in the track, “This little begging ***** talking ‘bout Megan’s Law,” was an obvious remark to “HISS.”
This is not something new with Minaj. Back in 2019, Wendy Williams spoke on the crimes Petty committed on her show. Minaj was quick to defend her husband stating, “Every time you mention him you feel the need to bring up these things… I didn’t know that in our society you have to be plagued by your past. I didn’t know people can’t turn over a new leaf.”
Minaj lyrics from her song were already announced to the public over her Instagram live and X tweets. Throughout the entire song, Minaj criticized Megan and her actions. Minaj criticized Megan’s rap skills although she won a Grammy, accusing her of lying on her mother (who unfortunately passed away in 2019), and claiming things against the Megan and Tory Lanez assault trial.
Minaj later that week went on Space, a live audio feature on X, with Joe Budden. Minaj accused Megan of wanting her to have her “Rihanna moment,” referring back to the 2009 assault case against Chris Brown, an American singer, dancer, and song-writer.
Fans of both artists were quick to pick sides. Comments towards Minaj ranged from, “Oh, yeah, her coke is laced,” to “I’m not sure what Nicki thinks she is doing, but it’s not good for her legacy. It’s all very sad, tbh.”
Minaj didn’t take any of the comments towards the use of drugs seriously.
“Whenever you see the words ‘coke rant’ you know they mad. If y’all hear how loud I’m laughing [laughing emojis]. I’ve never done coke in my life. But if I did, I’d do it proudly.”
Azealia Banks, rapper and singer, spoke on the whole situation as well.
“Girl, if you sniffle one more time on this *********** Live, sis. The Barbz, y’all need to check her on that. No, we have to talk about that sniffling, Nicki. You not low. Please stop sniffling, sis That *** is not even cute no more. Cocaine is not even cocaine no more. Once they locked El Chapo up, *****, the original formula is gone.”
Minaj responded to Banks’ comments.
“I don’t know if it’s just me, but I wouldn’t be embarrassed about any ****** drugs I did. That’s why I talk about the *********** drugs I do in my *********** music. Always have, always ****** will. If I’m off ’em, I’m off ’em, child. But I want to make this clear so open everybody’s ears, clear them ears out. I have never, ever in my life with my hands on Jesus Christ — and y’all know how I feel about my Lord and savior — never in my life, ever, not even once sniffed coke. Ever.”
Minaj’s fans, known as Barbs, had leaked the location of where Megan’s mom is buried. The security has reportedly increased due to this entire situation.
Megan finally broke her silence on social media to the drama.
“Don’t make me call Roc Nation.”
Roc Nation is a entertainment label founded by rapper JAY-Z. It’s also the company Megan is signed under.
The entire feud had helped boost the sales of HISS. Within the first week of release, HISS debuted at No.1 on the Hot 100, 29.2 million streams and over 100,000 downloads were sold. Megan’s fans urged others on social media to stream the song and purchase all the released versions of HISS.
On the other hand, “Big Foot” did not debut within the Hot 100 and even chartered lower than HISS on both Apple Music and Spotify.