Kanye West is an extraordinary artist. No other rapper would believe someone so firmly and then criticize them. No rapper has ever revived so many careers and then derailed his own. This is a fascinating and unpredictable story. West’s relationship with Nicki Minaj perfectly encapsulates these bizarre twists and turns. Minaj’s verse on West’s classic single “Monster” was a turning point in his career, and West said the same thing in a 2015 re-release of the video.
“One of the most memorable things about My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is Nicki Minaj,” he said in a speech. “She actually kicked my ass on one of my songs. On one of the best albums… the best albums.” The latter remark drew laughter from the audience, but it was West’s position over the years. He sent flowers to Minaj multiple times because she wrote the best verses for the song. In 2023, however, that praise has become more complicated. West and Minaj had previously appeared to be playing it cool, but later got into an online spat over licensing issues. West wanted Minaj to clear the lyrics from her song “New Body,” but she refused.
Kanye West claims he asked Minaj to rewrite her poem
Kanye West responded, referring to the poem “Monster.” “I had the girl rewrite the verses for ‘Monster’ three times,” he claimed. “I support her career. So I don’t know what that is.” The rapper also made no attempt to hide his displeasure with Minaj. He posted screenshots of their text conversation on social media for the world to see. Probably hoping to bully Nicki Minaj into clearing her throat. Yet she did not bend. The young money icon persisted, and “New Body” was never officially released.
However, Nicki Minaj did explain why she doesn’t want her “new body” cleared. She addressed the issue on Instagram Live, blaming the song’s controversy on the fact that it’s been around for years. “Now when it comes to Kanye, that train has left the station,” she asserted. Why would I put out a song that’s been out for three years?
About the author
Elias is the music writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined the site in 2024 and covers a wide range of topics including pop culture, movies, sports, and, of course, hip-hop. You can find him publishing for HNHH from Monday to Friday, especially coverage of new albums and singles. His favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808 Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He likes L.A. hip-hop, but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he bought was Will Smith’s “Big Willie Style,” which he thinks still sounds great.
