By: Tricia Grannum
The heavily anticipated debut album, PinkFriday, released on Monday, November 22, to swarms of avid Barbz and KenBarbz in Times Square to catch even the smallest glimpse of the 25 year old, blond haired Barbie, known to her fans as Nicki Minaj. The Queens-born rapper has been the talk of the year, with her vividly colorful lyrics, and her even more vibrant attire, multi-hued tresses, and animated facial expressions. She’s been in the headlines for her lack of verbal homage to the Queen Bee, her rumored marriage to Young Money constituent Drake, and for her not-so-natural body enhancements.
But is there more to this Barbie than what meets the eye? I have to admit, the first time I heard lyrics spewing out of those bubble gum pink lips, my nose wrinkled and mouth turned up with disgust, as I quickly reached for the radio dial to turned to another station, only to pick back up in those same bars that I just left. I adamantly refused to acknowledge that Nicki Minaj, reeking of sex, was the new age woman. For months I continued on my rampage, continuously stating that she was a mis-representation of a woman, and is setting unrealistic expectations for how young women should look and act.
That, I stand by but my view has changed ever so slightly, it may have started around the “Your Love” era, when I found myself singing along to the catchy chorus. But somehow I find myself listening to the radio pick of the hour, containing a cameo, verse or chorus by Nicki Minaj. The only female rapper in the Young Money camp, Minaj has definitely put her best 6-inch heel bound-foot forward and broken to the forefront of the music industry.
She has taken her image and successfully managed to market it to her advantage (for example, the limited edition MAC lipstick endorsement that she snagged in honor of her beauty, stature and prowess as a financially, and socially influential figurehead). In an day and age where a large bank account, beauty, a big bust, small waist and round derrieres are on everyone’s Christmas wish lists, Nicki Minaj has given minority women who cannot be classed with the likes of Michelle Obama, someone else to relate to. So can I really hate on her anymore? Honestly, I am going to have to change my answer to no, I can’t, especially when I believe (contrary to popular belief) that she outdid at least one of her male counter parts on, MONSTER.
My only issue currently with her image is that hundreds of thousands of young impressionable girls are looking to her as a role model. When, according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others. From this perspective, my heart beats a little harder, knowing that the wide eyed, raunchy pseudo-senile raptress is laying the foundation for a generation of pseudo-senile imitating young women, to assume this role into their everyday lives. The catchy lyrics of Nicki Minaj, are just lyrics. Whether or not she actually lives the meaning of everything she spits from between her Colgate smile, she has done nothing but come up in a way that very few before her have.
For now I cannot give her a standing ovation, but I will keep a side eye to see what this Barbie has hidden in her plastic shoes for now.
