S. Samuel
Young Money's Nicki Minaj may have some explaining to do as female rapper Lil Mama has claimed that she inspired the Barbie's image.
When asked whether she copied Minaj’s short ‘do after sporting a similar style at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, Mama set the record straight.
“But my cut is blunt and futuristic and Nicki Minaj started wearing that bob on her head after she came to my show, so at the end of the day I know what I do and I know what I possess and I know who I am. I’m a trendsetter. The biggest form of flattery is imitation so I’m flattered. I understand the universal law. I’m not confused, I don’t feel like a follower. I started so many things that new artists are doing now anyway -my style, the way I’m aggressive on a track, the way I come through, the way my beat bangs. There are so many things that were borrowed, that I influenced that’s happening in music right, so I’m far from discouraged.” (VIBE)
A couple weeks ago, Mama talked about possibly taking a music hiatus and co-signed Minaj’s recent power moves.
“Um, I’m just living my life, you know,” Mama said when asked if she is working on a new album. “I’m about to move to Paris. I don’t even know about music anymore. [Am I serious?] Maybe. I just dropped a new single, ‘On & On & On’ and it’s getting a really good response. So I just want to thank my fans for that — [Nicki Minaj?] She’s talented. She’s doing her thing and she has her path and I wish her the best. God bless her. (Rap-Up)
In 2009, Mama criticized Minaj for representing a sexual image toward younger fans.
“Nicki Minaj is a talented rapper,” Lil Mama said in an interview. “She’s out there, she’s doing her. What she represents, I don’t represent and she’s doing something different, that’s her lane. As the voice of the young people, Lil Mama, I focus on bringing up young girls to respect their bodies, respect theyself, do it up.” (BET)
Outside of Minaj talk, Mama recently dropped her new single, “On & On & On”.
Lil Mama is a busy lil’ lady! In addition to performing her judging duties on “America’s Best Dance Crew,” she’s also been in the studio working hard on new material. On her latest song, “On & On & On,” she displays the same playfulness with language that made her first big single, “Lipgloss,” a hit, while simultaneously stepping up the intensity to something a bit more grown-up and aggressive. (Buzzworthy)
Check out a recent Lil Mama interview down below:
