Nicki Minaj Admits There’s “A Lot Of Female Rappers” That She “Actually Love”: “It’s Female Rappers Right Now That Are Even Inspiring Me”

Nicki Minaj acknowledges that there are numerous female rappers whom she loves and finds particularly “inspiring.”

During a recent conversation with Joe Budden, Nicki delved into her latest album, Pink Friday 2, and openly admired several women in the music industry. This discussion took place amid intense speculation suggesting that Nicki might have targeted fellow female rappers like Megan Thee Stallion and Latto in PF2.

“There are a lot of female rappers that I really, really, really actually love — as an artist and as a person,” she stated. “What I don’t want this to turn into honestly — even though I like being funny and stuff — I don’t want this to turn into bashing female rappers, to be honest.”

Nicki continued, “So, let me reel back for a second because it’s female rappers right now that are even inspiring me. You know what I’m saying? Like I’ll hear bars and be like, ‘Woah, woah,’ — even their delivery and cadences and flows, I be like ‘Woah.’ And the girls that I like as a friend too. So, I don’t want to make it seem like that because people always think that I’m serious.”

However, Budden interjected and came to Nicki’s defense, recalling, “There was a time when you were highlighting the women that inspire you.”

“Yes. The women that inspired me before and the girls that I like now are in the game that inspire me,” Nicki responded. “So when I say stuff about rappers I’m not talking about the female rappers I fuck with and that’s the truth and I’m going to keep it all the way real.”

Though Budden and Nicki appeared to have a cordial discussion, their history reveals a less harmonious relationship. In a 2019 episode of Queen Radio, the platinum-selling rapper and Budden sat down, and tensions quickly escalated. The two engaged in a heated exchange over the alleged falsehoods Budden had purportedly spread about Minaj over the years. The situation took a sharp turn when, in response to Budden’s insinuation that she took drugs, which resulted in Nicki unleashing a verbal barrage on her guest.

Nicki Minaj praising the new generation of Female Rappers in a new interview with joe budden.
“There are a lot of female rappers that I really love and that are even inspiring me.” pic.twitter.com/nDeZqwNc72
— welp. (@YSLONIKA) December 23, 2023