Typically, when we listen to a rapper boast about being the pioneer of something, it’s often Soulja Boy; however, recently it was Nicki Minaj who made a bold claim.
On Wednesday, October 16, during a discussion at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion event in New York, Nicki asserted that she was the first musician to create a name for her fanbase.
Nicki Minaj discusses how the Barbz, Beliebers (fans of Justin Bieber), and the Little Monsters (devotees of Lady Gaga) laid the groundwork for stan culture on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/uppRMOGued
— Stats of Minaj (@statsofminaj) October 16, 2024
“Prior to signing a record deal, my fans were already creating a significant presence on Twitter,” she elaborated. “I had already given them a name. Did you know that all these artists who name their fans now, when I started referring to my fans as the Barbz, there were no rappers designating their fans … I didn’t foresee it becoming a trend in the Hip Hop industry. But that’s irrelevant, because the Barbz will always reign supreme.”
The catch is, Lil’ Kim dubbed her followers the beehive back in 2003 with her track “Tha Beehive,” from her La Bella Mafia album.
You can observe some of Kim’s supporters reminding Nicki of this fact below.
She’s utterly delusional 🤦♂️ — as if Lil Kim hasn’t been calling her fans The Beehive since La Bella Mafia came out in 2003. I genuinely hope Kim releases one more album before all is said and done because folks really need that Reminder… https://t.co/Pav1KQfg2Y
— KrisOnTheGramTV▪︎ (@KrisOnTheGramTV) October 17, 2024
Nicki Minaj was not the first female rapper to start naming her fanbase. Before we had social media and Stan culture, Lil’ Kim branded her supporters the Beehive. No disrespect to NM, but she didn’t originate that concept. pic.twitter.com/ArbTEpnkkM
— The Introverted Joy ♏️ (@joyalana_) October 17, 2024
The way this girl seeks acknowledgment for EVERYTHING Lil Kim accomplished first is absolutely wild 😂 https://t.co/uOCAfFeZ58 pic.twitter.com/kYrCN1VQDw
— Big Bag (@BigBlanco_1) October 17, 2024
She’s utterly delusional 🤦♂️ — it’s not like Lil Kim hasn’t labeled her fans The Beehive since La Bella Mafia dropped in 2003. I sincerely wish Kim puts out one final album before everything wraps up because people really need that Reminder… https://t.co/Pav1KQfg2Y
— KrisOnTheGramTV▪︎ (@KrisOnTheGramTV) October 17, 2024
What do you think motivates Nicki to assert that she was the first artist to name her fanbase?