Nicki Minaj was THE breakout artist of the last year. Pink Friday finally hit number one; "Super Bass", "Moment 4 Life" and "Fly" were everywhere, as were her guest spots on singles by Sean Kingston, Big Sean, Birdman and others. She comes back with a new album performed by her alter-ego Roman Zolanski, and "Stupid Hoe" is the second song and first video to be released from Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
I wanted to love it. Roman was responsible for some of the best rhymes Nicki has done, from "Roman's Revenge" to the guest rap on "Bottoms Up." And the rap isn't bad, even though the use of "hoe" is tired and slightly misogynistic. However that epitaph is nothing compared to Hype Williams' awful sexist direction on the video.
If it had just been a video ripping off giving homage to Lady Gaga's giant eyes, Jessie J's oversized chair, Shakira's cage dancing and Grace Jones' stretch pose I would have been amused. But I am disgusted by the naked large bootied Barbie-style doll that doesn't even show her head (Junior talked about this misogynistic trend a few years back) and Nicki's utterly joyless stripper dancing. I don't have a beef with strippers or ladies who want to shake what their momma gave them. But when they don't even seem to enjoy what they are doing, then it's not sexy, it's sad.
Nicki is a brilliant rapper, miles ahead of her competition. She doesn't need to resort to the tacky flesh market moves of the average rap video. She should be doing videos like many of OutKast's and Kanye's clips, visual insanity that matches her talent. She isn't a stupid hoe, she shouldn't sell herself short like one.
Nicki Minaj plays the king of her own fairy tale in her new video for "Moment 4 Life" Nicki's solo videos have been sleek, brightly colored affairs with thin but pretty plots. Her samurai warrior in "Your Love" and the angry girlfriend in "Right Thru Me" showed the soft side of Nicki but "Moment 4 Life" allows Nicki to play both her girly Barbie role and that of her Fairy Godmother. It's a delight. Watch:
