Nicki Minaj has been a dominant force in the rap industry for nearly 15 years, establishing herself as the wealthiest and most followed female rapper globally. With this immense success and fame, Minaj has faced her share of competitors. The Pink Friday rapper has had public feuds with multiple artists, including Remy Ma, Lil Kim, Latto, and Megan Thee Stallion. Recently, her rivalry with Ice Spice has come into the spotlight.
In 2023, Ice Spice collaborated with Minaj on several tracks. However, in May 2024, their relationship reportedly soured after leaked text messages from Spice criticized Minaj. Here’s a detailed look at the history between these two rappers.
2023: Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice Team Up on “Barbie World”and “Princess Diana”
Ice Spice, born Isis Naija Gaston, had the chance to work with Nicki Minaj early in her career. Following the release of her debut track, Bully Lifestyle, in 2021, she teamed up with Minaj for the remix of “Princess Diana” in April 2023. This collaboration reached no. 4 on the Billboard chart shortly after its release and proved to be a commercial hit.
Two months later, their next collaboration, “Barbie World,” was released. During the film’s world premiere on July 9, Minaj shared insights into the creative process behind “Barbie World.” She stated:
“There were a couple songs that I didn’t love. This ‘Barbie’ sample, I loved it. I just wanted it to have a dope drum, and so the one that they sent me, I loved! And I jumped on it right away.”
She further expressed that being part of this project was a “full circle moment”for her. The song peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking it as the highest-charting track from the movie’s soundtrack at the time.
2024: Ice Spice’s Texts About Nicki Minaj Leaked by Baby Storme
In May 2024, Baby Storme, a former friend of Ice Spice, leaked private iMessage screenshots in which Spice discussed Nicki Minaj. The texts were sent from a number saved as “Isis 2nd Phone.”
One of the leaked messages allegedly from Ice stated her sentiment about including Minaj in the Barbie project:
“[The song] is an opportunity I brought [to Minaj because the] Barbie [producers] invited me to do it alone, but since that’s her brand, I invited her on, and she doesn’t even see that as me bringing her something.”
In another message, she expressed deep frustration about her relationship with Minaj:
“She’s kinda like my mom: ungrateful and delusional. I cut her off by the way. [I’m] not speaking to her ‘til January.”
Ice Spice Discusses Her Relationship with Minaj in Rolling Stone Interview
On July 5, Ice Spice was interviewed by Rolling Stone, where she spoke about her debut studio album, Y2K!, collaborating with Taylor Swift, and dealing with her critics. During the interview, she addressed her relationship with the Super Freaky Girl rapper:
“We don’t have the closest relationship, you know? But we’re definitely good… We’re mutuals. We had smash records together. I love us together. I think the world does too.”
When discussing the leaked texts from two months prior, the Munch rapper clarified that her comments were born out of frustration over contract negotiations, stating:
“What I said in those texts was just in a moment of frustration around contract negotiations… I could have chosen different words. But at the end of the day, regardless of how I felt in that moment, [Nicki] is still somebody I respect as an artist, and I’m always going to admire everything she’s done for me and the culture.”
Nicki Minaj Unfollows Ice Spice on Instagram in August
Despite Ice Spice’s explanation in her interview, Nicki Minaj remained silent on the matter. However, her actions spoke volumes. As reported by HipHopDX, fans discovered that Minaj unfollowed Ice Spice on August 21, indicating a potential deterioration in their relationship.
In contrast, Ice Spice continues to follow Nicki Minaj despite the latter’s decision not to reciprocate. Additionally, Minaj unfollowed JT at the same time.
Currently, both Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice are on their respective tours. Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 World Tour is set to conclude on October 11, while Ice Spice’s Y2K! World Tour will extend into January 2025.
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