Nicki Minaj and Cardi B have been at one another's throats via their music, social media, or
in-person snubs.
If they didn't despise one another so much, imagine what these two talented emcees could
do together!
But unfortunately for rap fans, it's unlikely that Minaj and Bardi will collaborate on anything
more than petty drama.
This beef seems like it's going to keep cooking until it's beyond well-done, even though it
appeared at one point that the ladies had squashed it.
Here's everything we know about Nicki Minaj and Cardi B's nasty feud.
The public set it up
It initially seemed like the rivalry between Minaj and Cardi was just some drama cooked
up by fans.
Minaj rapped in Katy Perry's "Swish Swish" in 2017:
"Silly rap beefs just get me more checks."
But Minaj also name-dropped Cardi's now-husband, Offset, in the track.
Soon after, Billboard reported that Cardi was lamenting the dark side of the music industry,
and many speculated that her relationship with Minaj was part of the problem.
She posted on Instagram:
"When somebody used to be fake to me it was cool because I could approach a b---- and
punch her […] Now that I'm in the industry […] you gotta see people play you and just
say nothing."
But both ladies denied feuding.
Cardi even called Minaj a "legend" in 2017.
"Why wouldn't I be compared or confused to somebody that is so, such a legend, like you
know?"
The following month, Minaj congratulated Bardi on "Bodak Yellow" hitting Number 1, tweeting,
"Congratulations to a fellow NEW YAWKA on a RECORD BREAKING achievement.
Bardi, this is the only thing that matters!!!
Enjoy it."
Cardi replied, "Thank you!!
This means sooo much coming from you!!"
But that sweet sentiment didn't last for long…
Clash over "MotorSport"
Just a month later, more alleged trouble ensued over their joint collaboration with Migos
on "MotorSport."
When the track dropped in October 2017, fans immediately got to work decoding each woman's
lyrics as a diss directed at the other.
And there was also a lot of gossip about why Bardi wound up on the track in the first place.
In November 2017, Cardi revealed to Capital Xtra,
"Quavo told me to get on the song, and I just felt like it was a perfect opportunity for
me to be on a track that's big like them."
She claimed Minaj's lyrics weren't finished when she first heard the song, but Minaj tweeted
that she was the one who encouraged Migos to put Cardi on the track.
It may have appeared that these emcees' egos may have been fishing for credit, but that
was only the beginning.
The simmer-down
Whatever went down with "MotorSport" seemed to have been resolved by the Met Gala in May
2018, where Minaj and Cardi B were photographed with mutual friend, Moschino designer Jeremy
Scott.
Following the Gala, Cardi discussed her convo with Minaj on The Howard Stern Show, saying,
"I never was feuding with anybody; there was a misunderstanding.
[…] I'm not gonna talk about it, but I really feel a certain type of way.
My feelings was really hurt."
It definitely seemed like they were friends in July 2018, when The Blast reported that
Minaj gifted Cardi a $5,000 gift basket for her baby girl, Kulture.
Red-bottomed weapon
Whatever peace was made between the rappers was dead and gone by September 2018, when
the ladies got into an all-out brawl during New York Fashion Week.
"Our insider at the Harper's Bazaar Icon party says Cardi lunged at Nicki, and was shouting
and even threw her shoe at Nicki."
But it's unclear what exactly sparked the attack.
TMZ reported that Cardi approached Minaj's entourage "aggressively," while a source told
Page Six the fight started after Cardi was pushed from behind.
Minaj reportedly was uninjured, with an insider telling TMZ that Minaj remained quote "cool
as a cucumber" the entire time.
Don't poke a mama bear
So what pushed Cardi over the edge at Fashion Week?
She apparently believes Minaj has been dissing her skills … as a mother.
She posted shortly after the fight:
"I addressed you once in person, I addressed you a second time in person, and every time
you copped the plea!!
But when you mention my child, you choose to like comments about me as a mother, make
comments about my abilities to take care of my daughter is when all bets are f---in off."
Cardi also alleged Minaj tried to sabotage her career by threatening to blackball other
artists who collaborate with Cardi.
Whatever her motive, witnesses say Cardi went overboard.
A source told People,
"The aggression obviously came from Cardi.
Nothing seemed to start the fight other than Cardi seeing Nicki up close."
Nicki's fightin' words
Sources say that Minaj didn't attack Cardi B at all, at least not physically.
One source told People,
"Nicki was very calm.
She was shouting from behind the bodyguards but she didn't move."
Sources told TMZ that Minaj doesn't plan to get law enforcement involved, but she did
issue a warning on Queen Radio the week after the attack, saying,
"You put your hands on certain people you gon die.
[…] And y'all sitting here making this s--- a joke?
I'm not the b----es in the strip club and I'm not a b---- on a reality show.
My money is very f---ing long."
Yikes.