John Parra/WireImage; ABC/TODD WAWRYCHUKNicki Minaj might have said she'd be down to duet with fellow American Idol judge Mariah Carey, but we know one song they probably won't be harmonizing on: "Hell Yeah," one of the tracks off Nicki's The Re-Up, a re-release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded that hit stores today.
Ms. Minaj discussed the American Idol incident and, more so, the subsequent involvement by Barbara Walters on Nicki Minaj: My Truth, but breaks it down in this rap—which, by the by, also features a shout out to E! Thanks, girl!
Click play on the track and proceed for our rap analysis. (Warning: This clip contains language that may be offensive to some listeners.)
The lyrics: "But you're boring as f--k, though./Why these bitches in the game so cutthroat?/Why they can't just let young Nicki live?/Why they gotta feel the wrath to know Nicki is?"
The meaning: That first line is a Nicki quote taken verbatim from the now infamous leaked video of the judges going at it: "Well then go see them now," Nicki berated Mariah after the songstress complained about being away from dem babies. "You're boring as f--k!"
A sentiment that may prove true, as Idol promos have heavily fallen on the animated Minaj to garner viewers. Given that connection, it would make sense that the "cutthroat" bitches are mainly just one diva: Mariah. Nicki claimed on My Truth, "It's another ploy to get me off the show," referring to the rumor that Mariah wanted to be the only female on the panel.
The lyrics: "Not playin, boss for real/When they go against the kid it's gon' cost for real/Came straight from the hood with the cross appeal/That's why these big names wanna toss the deal."
The meaning: In these couplets, Nicki breaks down the aforementioned "wrath," of which Mariah evoked. On set, Nicki promises to go shot for shot with Ms. Carey, which may have fueled the fire of rumors that Nicki threatened to actually shoot Mariah and Carey beefed up her security (the former of which Nicki herself denied, the latter of which appears to be dramatically true).
Though speculation of violence may have blown over (though was discussed seriously for far longer than it warranted), the question lingers whether Nicki has indeed earned a spot on the prestigious judging panel. Despite hailing from Southside Jamaica, Queens (aka "the hood," in this verse) Nicki dominated the rap world and Top 40 too with "Starships" (aka the "cross appeal"). Our vote? She earned it.
The lyrics: "I'll take it, sign on the dotted line/But I'm quick to the check a bitch if she outta line. Shout out Mike Darnell and Nigel/Why these bums so mad that the queen on Idol, huh?"
The meaning: Nigel refers to Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of Idol, and Mike Darnell is president of Alternative Entertainment for Fox, the duo that set Minaj up on the panel. The "bum" in question most likely refers to Carey, a nickname that probably won't fly when it comes to the live shows.
"Why would I want to have a rift with someone that I've looked up to my whole life? I loved her. I even told her at the meeting," Nicki said on My Truth during the fallout from the their fight. "Actually, I'm happy that Mariah's on the panel...You've got one of the best singers that's ever sang, ever, in the world!"
The feeling was not mutual. There's been talk on both sides of what went down before the outburst (Nicki attributes it to "passive aggressive" comments from Carey), but either way Minaj clearly thought Mariah was out of line: "Think I'm playin? Think this s--t is a f--king joke?" She snaps in the video. "If you say one more disrespectful thing to me—off with your head!"
Rolling heads or a diss track and an over-analyzed essay about said diss track, as it may be. Oh, and for those who love that last regal line ("Off with your head!"), you can find that phrase-turned-lyric on another track, "Up In Flames."