Nicki Minaj, the Queen of Rap herself, released “Big Foot” on Jan. 29, the first non-album single since the release of “Pink Friday 2” — the sequel to her most popular album to date “Pink Friday.” “Big Foot” aims to fire back at the Houston-based rapper Megan Thee Stallion in response to one bar that appeared to go after Minaj’s husband on Stallion’s new single “Hiss.” The line, “These h**s don’t be mad at Megan, these h**s mad at Megan’s Law, I don’t know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start,” sent the internet into a frenzy wondering how Nicki would respond.
Following the release of “Hiss,” Nicki spent days taking shots at Megan in a barrage of social media posts on X and Instagram live streams. Even previewing select parts of the eventual track in her home studio on one Instagram Live. She would eventually announce the single hours before the release in a post to X.
There was much anticipation and excitement for this track, with many thinking — well hoping — this track would be just as hard-hitting as “Hiss.” With the commentary online from the Barbs and Minaj herself. This one had to be good and hard-hitting for her sake. The song however turned out to be lackluster at best. The lyrics themselves brought nothing new to the table that wasn’t either already public knowledge or already tweeted or said by Nicki in one of her dozens of tweets or live streams.
The overall vibe mirrored her previous tweets on X, coming across as completely unhinged and crazy. However, not in a strange, alluring, or admirable way, but rather in a disconcerting manner, leaving me wondering how someone as talented and prestigious as Minaj could release something this lacking. It’s one thing to record and write portions of the song referencing X. But it becomes downright ridiculous when every single lyric can be traced back to words that have already come out of Minaj’s mouth.
Certain parts of the song had me questioning Nicki’s state of mind during recording, from the absence of her usual playfulness and animation to the unexpected whispery ASMR session at the song’s end, declaring that if Megan didn’t respond and apologize to her deceased mother she would release five other diss tracks she has ready. But as of Feb. 23 with no acknowledgement from Megan since, we’re still waiting for their release.
It’s quite amazing how Megan has used Nicki’s playbook against her, taking subtle shots and then keeping quiet. That might be the reason she’s so ticked off about this one bar that might not (but definitely is) be about her. In the same song, Megan also took shots at Drake and DaBaby. I just find it such an underwhelming response to something that wasn’t that serious. If anything this song only proves that Nicki needs to get back up on her good foot because this just wasn’t it.
