Rappers Nicki Minaj and Cardi B’s rivalry has painted a demeaning image of women for society. Ever since I would yell every word to Nicki Minaj’s hit song “Super Bass” on the way to school in fifth grade, I have always been a big Minaj fan. She was the only female rapper anyone talked about for as long as I could remember. In 2017, rapper Cardi B dropped her hit song “Bodak Yellow” and she instantly became popular to many. As Cardi B started to drop more hit songs and on to her album “Invasion of Privacy”, people began to see her as a threat to Minaj due to her success.

The back and forth banter between these two artist disappointed me from the beginning. The two would say shady statements that the public would assume were about each other. When Minaj made a statement about Cardi B’s daughter at a New York Fashion Week party, Cardi B was held back from becoming violent. It wasn’t until this moment that I became completely let down by the two rappers behavior.

The biggest female rappers right now are setting a terrible example not only to women but the whole world. Young girls who once loved Minaj like myself, are now completely frustrated that the rap generation has turned into a constant competition between women. The fights between two successful rappers sets a degrading image for women. These public figures set the tone for how young women should be treating each other. With the direction it is going in now, they are not setting a very positive image.

Back in the early 90’s there were several female rappers who easily got along. From Queen Latifah and Lil Kim to Salt & Pepper—female rappers had an equal chance to thrive. These two big stars of today are changing the culture of female rap for the worse. Women in the public eye need to support each other so the female society can continue to prosper.

This is not only present in rap. Women are putting other women against each other in all aspects of society. There are definitely enough men, especially in the media, that demonize women. As for Minaj and Cardi, for the sake of women and the future of the female rap industry, each should take the higher road and understand there is room for two “Queens” of the rap industry (as Nicki calls herself).

Women feeling as if they have to one up another has become far too common in today’s society. Women rarely take the opportunity to uplift each other for their success but instead become jealous and feel as if they are behind. This starts as early as elementary school and never seems to go away, it is instilled into women’s lives. But in reality, it doesn’t have to be seen as losing but that another women is uplifting the female community.  

The derogatory comments that men give towards women, stems from women. Women feel jealous and threatened of one another so they feel the need to not support each other. This behavior gives men an easy pass to do this to women as well. Having a supportive female society starts with women. Women can show each other that they care and that they want to see each other do well. Instead of fans being entertained by Nicki Minaj and Cardi B’s arguments, they can come together as women and show them this behavior is damaging to the female community. We should encourage each other to be our best and strive to achieve our goals. We should understand that the world is big enough for all women to be successful in all aspects of life.