Apart from being one of the most prominent figures in music, Nicki Minaj has established herself as a woman who is relentless and fearless in the face of adversity. A few years ago, the Nicki Hate Train was a trend that swept through the entertainment industry, inspiring grown men to go on radio stations and attack Minaj’s character and luring celebrities, several YouTubers, and clout chasers to get on the “let’s hate Nicki” bandwagon. Although the Minaj’s fans, aka The Barbs, stood by their fave, the trend continued until it eventually came to a screeching halt. While this type of public vitriol would have ended the careers of others, Minaj stood firm. Here are a few things that we can all learn from her.
Always Stand Firm
At a certain time, it seemed as though many people were attacking Minaj’s character non-stop; she stood firm and stayed grounded. There were obviously difficult moments for the “Anaconda” rapper; she stood unwaveringly and held her head high. Maybe it’s the New Yorker in her, but this is something that we can all aspire for.
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Believe In Yourself
As cliche as this sounds, we all saw Minaj hold her own when it seemed like the industry had it out for her. Instead of cowering under pressure and going into hiding, she put out her music and kept holding herself down. It may have been difficult to keep believing in her art and her purpose when it seemed like even those she considered friends turned on her, but she continued to persevere.
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The Truth Always Comes To Light
In her song “Seeing Green,” Minaj addresses the difficult time by rapping:
‘It’s corporate giants and machines that went against me.”
Despite the experience and the numerous attempts to tarnish her name, she stood in her truth and knew that the truth would come to the forefront.
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They Always Peddle Back
When people can’t destroy a person, they peddle back when it is obvious that their target continues to thrive despite the odds. Many of The Barbs were stunned to observe that many people who typically showed Minaj the utmost love and respect got on The Nicki Hate Train. After the tide of the Minaj Hate Train fell off, many people began to peddle back by professing their undying love and admiration for the rapper. It points to a jarring reality that when your conscience is clear, and you have nothing to hide, people will ultimately back peddle (with or without an apology) after they see you continue to thrive and succeed despite the odds.
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Have Your Own Back
Although many people seemingly turned their backs on her, Minaj held down her own. Even when it seemed like she had lost a lot of industry support and her career was in jeopardy, she stood firm. There are difficult situations that present themselves in life, but the reality is that sometimes we have to stick it out on our own.
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Forgive Strategically
Sometimes it can be easy to be guilt-tripped into forgiving aimlessly. This can make a person become reacquainted with the people who intentionally hurt them at their lowest. From what we have observed from Minaj, just because a person back peddles and apologizes does not necessarily mean that you should blindly forgive them without a strategic plan to interact with them moving forward.
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Speak On It When Necessary
For the most part, Minaj remained silent during the “Nicki Minaj Hate Train” era, but when certain people would state mistruths about her character, she would address it. In a world where Black women can be labeled “angry,” “bitchy,” and “confrontational” for standing up for themselves, it can be easy to cower under pressure. Minaj showed us that sometimes, it’s okay to advocate for yourself no matter what.
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