Recently, Chuck Creekmur, the owner of entertainment site AllHipHop.com, penned an open letter to American musician Nicki Minaj, taking a swipe at her for her displays. Know what? TATTLES agrees with all the points he made. We’ve got the letter here; though some portions have been edited, due to space constraints:
Dear Nicki Minaj,
I own allhiphop.com. [The website] has been historically uber supportive of the rapper Nicki Minaj. That’s you, homie! When I say historically, we can take it all the way back to when you had to stand in line to get into parties or those grimy underground videos you once pumped out on the streets (you know, that period of time before Lil Wayne and Young Money). Along the way, something changed.
This isn’t the change everybody wants to talk about, though. No hate there. AllHipHop had published an old image for some reason or another some years ago. You remember the one of you licking a lollipop and evoking the now-classic image of Lil Kim in all of her crotchiness? Of course, you remember your version of that image, because you asked us to take it down through a member of the team. The team member let us know that “Nicki is no longer on that and is doing a lot to promote a new image” – blah, blah, blah.
But, guess what? Not only do I run allhiphop, I’m a father, too.
For a moment there, I felt like I had briefly peered into the deepest recesses of Nicki Minaj’s true inner self, a being that cares how this ratchet s**t affects my kid. I said to myself, “Self, how cool is this? Nicki is already evolving into somebody that my daughter may get to listen to on my watch. Maybe.” I’ve been in the music game a minute now, so I know how it goes. So, when I peeped the artwork for your latest single, I wasn’t even shocked, I was just disappointed. The song: Anaconda. The art: your booty in a thong. As a man, I can appreciate the virtues of your perfect posterior. The dad guy is not a happy camper, particularly now that his lil’ girl is transitioning into a young lady.
I’m trying to raise a young girl who will eventually grow into someone greater than the both of us. I know that this requires great parenting, great education, great luck and an assortment of great influences. I’m sure you know the influence you wield, but now, if you told the ‘barbs’ to scratch my eyes out, some would attack without thinking about it. I’m sure some will also replicate the Anaconda image without thinking about it too. Your original image already has 256,817 (and counting) ‘likes’ under the original Instagram picture you posted, so I venture that your average girl could strive to get a couple hundred ‘likes’ from her friends. Is this the path you want to lead impressionable kids down? Make no mistake about it, you’re a leader now.
I can’t lie. My kid barely knows who you are and if she does, it’s rooted in American Idol or something like that (she does like your bars on Shanell’s song Cupid’s Got A Gun.) I’ve sheltered her on purpose, though, all the while letting her read about heroic females in music and culture. As she gets older, it will be harder for me to limit her exposure to you, especially if you continue to do headline-grabbing moves like the Anaconda cover. I don’t want to ever see her posted up one day emulating you the way I “fought the power” like I was Chuck D’s little brother back in 1989, or the way you emulated Kim.
For a moment, forget my daughter and let’s talk about you. My interactions and observations tell me you are this sweet, kind person at heart. When you get a quiet moment, answer the following questions;
How is Onika Tanya Maraj doing?
How does she truly feel about Nick Minaj right now?
What is your higher purpose with young girls (and boys)?
What is the message you are sending when you determine how you will inspire these young people?
How will boys, already conditioned to sexualise girls at a young age, internalise this big booty of yours? Where does the gimmick end and you begin?
All in all, this is a letter born from love; a love of my kid, a love of Hip-hop and a love for the potential that lives in one Onika Tanya Maraj aka Nicki Minaj.
Well, it won’t be much of a gain-say to say Mr Creekmur’s letter was spot on!
No comments:
Post a Comment