Did Rapper Nicki Minaj Make Female Gay Rappers Cool?

March 14th, 2010 @ LJ Knight

15


You Might Think I’m Hating But…

I find it interesting that novice Rap star Nicki Minaj has came on the scene with all of her Harajuku Barbie flavor and self proclaimed bisexual (even though she says she likes girls more) antics and suddenly it is perfectly acceptable for a female rapper to be out of the closet. In fact, you can be so out of the closet with it that you can also go around signing boobies. While other equally talented (or even more so talented in some cases) female rappers like Missy Elliot, Da Brat, Mc Lyte, Queen Latifah have been suspected of being trapped in that symbolic closet for years in fear of committing career suicide. In fact Queen Latifah, so far, is the only one brave enough to come out of the metaphoric closet. Nicki Minaj pops out on the scene and makes being a lesbian a gimmick and suddenly it is acceptable.

The fact that there are real rappers who are members of the LGBT community and are not allowed the same freedom seems unfair and discriminatory.

I’m trying to wrap my brain around it. So it is acceptable to be a female rapper and be gay as long as you are not masculine in any way. You can’t be a gay female rapper and come out wearing Army fatigues, Timberland boots with braids down your back. Even if you have skills, you still won’t be as successful as your more sexually charged feminine counterpart. That seems to be the angle. If you are gay then you must be a sex kitten. Down for any position, any new trick and inviting anyone in you bed. Nicki Minaj’s persona is sexual and voluptuous. She is the aggressor, the seducer. If you listen to her lyrics then you assume that Nicki Minaj is a freak. She is also very feminine. Her image is that of a woman who is sexually free, so it is okay that she is gay/bisexual. In fact it is almost natural that she should be. Right? For some being sexually free goes hand in hand with being bisexual/gay.

What kind of backwards concept is that?

A few years ago I interviewed Nicki Minaj for AllHipHop.com before she was the Harajuku Barbie that she is now. Back then she did not have a clan of young female followers reciting every word to her songs with their pink wigs on. I clearly remember her stating that she was not very comfortable expressing her sexuality and being so feminine. She went on to state that she was more comfortable in baggy jeans and sneakers. I also recall her saying that her management at the time instructed her that the sexy look and talk was the best route and the image that she WOULD be taking. I got the sense then that she was being guided and at the time did not have much control over her image. Well, a lot has changed in the 2 years since that interview. It looks as though Nicki is finally comfortable with her sexuality. It might be safe to say that she is extremely comfortable. At what cost only she knows.

I am not blaming Nicki Minaj.

The system was set up before she arrived in Rap and chances are will be in place long after her popularity dies down.
What evades me is how the Rap world has created these unspoken rules where gay and sexy is okay but gay and tomboyish is a big unattractive “Hell No”. No matter your talent. If you are a androgynous or gay female Rapper, then don’t expect to have much of a career if you are completely out of the closet. In fact you better think of having on a strappy pair of Stiletto’s before you step one foot out the closet.

Let The Nicki Minaj Cult Start Their Attack In 5.. 4…3..2..1..

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