Nicki Minaj & Megan Thee Stallion Feud: From 'Hiss' to 'Big Foot'

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

The hip-hop world is abuzz with the escalating feud between superstar rappers Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion, a rivalry that has taken a sharp turn with the release of new tracks "Hiss" and "Big Foot." What began as a seemingly friendly professional relationship has devolved into a bitter public dispute, marked by a barrage of social media accusations and thinly veiled lyrical attacks.

The Genesis of the Conflict: 'Hiss' and Minaj's Furious Response

The latest chapter in this high-profile contention ignited on Friday when Megan Thee Stallion dropped her highly anticipated song "Hiss." In the track, Megan criticizes individuals who engage in constant negative talk for "twenty-four hours of attention." While no names were explicitly mentioned, fans and critics alike quickly speculated that certain lyrics were directed at figures such as Drake, Minaj, and Tory Lanez. Notably, Lanez was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan in the foot, an incident that remains a sensitive point in the rap community.

A particular line in "Hiss"—"These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law"—sparked immediate controversy and was widely interpreted as a direct jab at Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty. Petty is a registered sex offender, and "Megan’s Law" mandates law enforcement agencies to inform the public about convicted sex offenders. Kenneth Petty was convicted of attempted rape in 1995 and, more recently, was sentenced to three years probation in 2022 for failing to register as a sex offender. He and Minaj share a child born in 2020.

'Big Foot': The Explicit Retaliation and Personal Attacks

Minaj's response was swift and aggressive. Within minutes of "Hiss" being released, she took to Instagram Live to preview snippets of her own upcoming track, "Big Foot." Lyrics like "she like six foot, I call her Big Foot" were shared, widely seen as a direct taunt regarding Megan's height and the infamous shooting incident involving Lanez. This marked the beginning of an intense social media campaign by Minaj, who unleashed a torrent of posts on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Megan of being a "pathological & manipulative liar" and a "horrible ACTOR that can’t cry on cue." In one post, Minaj directly tagged Megan, accusing her of attempting to provoke a fight while being "scared" of Minaj’s potential retaliation.

On Monday, Nicki Minaj officially released "Big Foot" across all streaming platforms. Despite her initial denials to pop culture update accounts like Pop Base that it was a "diss track," Minaj explicitly names Megan multiple times within the song. In "Big Foot," fans contend that Minaj insinuates Megan fabricated aspects of the Tory Lanez shooting, critiques Megan’s lyrical abilities, and even makes several references to Megan’s mother, who passed away in 2019, adding a deeply personal and contentious layer to the feud.

Silence, Streaming Success, and the Unfolding Drama

Megan Thee Stallion has maintained a notable silence on social media regarding the direct specifics of the feud. Following Minaj’s initial Instagram Live, Megan posted a picture of herself laughing on her Instagram story, a subtle acknowledgment, but has refrained from directly naming or addressing Minaj online. However, Minaj has warned of unleashing "every receipt known to man" and having five more songs ready should Megan "so much as BREATHE wrong."

This escalating conflict, while personal, has undoubtedly captured public attention and translated into significant streaming numbers for both artists. "Hiss" swiftly ascended to No. 1 on U.S. Spotify, accumulating over 1.6 million streams within a day. "Big Foot" debuted at No. 10 on the U.S. Spotify chart with 1.1 million streams, and both tracks hold the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, on the U.S. Apple Music chart, highlighting the commercial impact of this high-stakes rivalry.

The relationship between Minaj and Megan was once amicable, starting in 2019 with a complimentary Instagram Live session where Megan expressed her long-standing admiration for Minaj. They even collaborated on the hit song "Hot Girl Summer" with Ty Dolla $ign, which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, tensions reportedly began to surface when Megan collaborated with Cardi B, a known rival of Minaj, on their viral hit "WAP" in 2020. Despite Megan denying any change in her relationship with Minaj, the two unfollowed each other on Instagram months later. Previous album lyrics from Minaj's "Pink Friday 2" and an incident described on "Queen Radio" without naming Megan, further fueled speculation of underlying animosity. This dramatic turn marks a significant moment in contemporary hip-hop rivalries, underscoring the fierce competition and intensely personal stakes involved.

For more entertainment news, visit Ekhbary Portal.