Despite DJ Academics previously defending Nicki regarding the ‘Motorsports’ incident, he became upset when Nicki mentioned him during her radio session with Joe Budden. He proceeded to criticize her on social media, expressing personal grievances with Joe. “First of all, who gives her what she thinks,” he exclaimed. Nicki harbored resentment towards Joe for 18 months, especially regarding Drake. “Ask her about Drake,” he urged. “That’s what we want to know about.” He questioned her music’s performance, pointing out how “Megatron” struggled on the charts and suggesting she relies on remixes for chart success. He criticized her handling of Tekashi 6ix9ine’s record and accused her of wanting him to act like he was in a gang. “Stop playing,” he concluded.
I noticed the messages you’ve been sending about me. Take it easy. The most you’ve done is attend that small Joe Bun show and engage with him due to your personal rapport. So, I’ll steer clear and let the chips fall where they may. But let’s get real, Nicki. Since you want to scrutinize every time I drop a song, let’s talk about it. Let’s discuss why your music isn’t hitting the mark, why you’re not delivering anything fresh while riding on the coattails of others. I appreciate the shoutout, Nicki Minaj, because it’s time to focus on your music. From now on, every week, I’ll be on it, just like I did with younger artists. Your song debuts here, it slips there – I’ll be tracking it all. Engage with me, and I’ll have free rein to discuss your musical missteps, of which there are plenty, Mickey. You’re a queen, a legend, I won’t deny that. But currently, you’re drowning in recycled rhymes. That old formula won’t cut it anymore. And don’t rely on Jamaican culture when you’re not even representing it authentically. You might DM me with apologies, but I prefer the energy you show publicly. Don’t slide into my DMs pretending to be righteous after I exposed your chart position. Spare me the prayers; I don’t need them. You hate me? Great, let’s keep that energy alive. But don’t play nice privately after throwing shade publicly. And if anyone tries to spin this, make sure to include part two of the story. I’m not on Team Nicki or Team Cardi; I’m on my own team. I’m the wildcard that wins the game. So, when you think of stirring things up, just leave me out of it. I’ve been minding my own business. Whether it’s Nicki or Cardi, I’m not taking sides. And I’ve made it clear to classic cars—I don’t pick sides. Let the gossip sites handle that drama; I’m not getting involved.
I didn’t appreciate Nicki Minaj even hinting at me or characterizing me as some hater. I’ve been fair with her, seen plenty publicly that I could have called out, but chose not to. That won’t happen anymore. Thank you, Mickey, for bringing this out. When I heard that, I couldn’t wait to respond. Do you know who I am, Nicki? I’m the worst, I’m the pettiest. No disrespect will be tolerated. I’ve got smoke for every side. Drake and I hash things out in private. Even with Cardi, she said some things, and I wanted to see if she’d repeat them publicly. We talked it out, and it’s water under the bridge. But when I see Nicki, the Kim bottom-feeding female rapper right now, she’s not anyway, I have to tell you, Nicki, okay? No, no, really nice. Here’s my thing with Nicki: she’s obsessed with Cardi, and Cardi’s obsessed with her because Cardi wants to remain at the top. Cardi is the top female selling rapper right now, and she wants to stay there without much scrutiny or back-and-forth with Nicki. Nicki’s been running it for a long time, but she blames everything that doesn’t go her way on everybody else. I heard her allude to things like the way academics posts, suggesting he’s on Atlantic’s payroll or something. She shouldn’t do that. When the conversation was about lyrics, I was praising Cardi and saying, “Don’t forget, at least she writes,” because I still cared a little about people writing for themselves. She DM’d me, thanking me for being fair, for acknowledging her skills. This is what I don’t like about these artists.
Nikki, I’m not under your payroll, and Cardi, I’m not on your payroll either. Let’s make this crystal clear: if I’m giving props to you, it’s because I genuinely think the song is good. If I praise Cardi, it’s because I appreciate her work, her music, or any positive moves she’s making. Don’t slot me into some “Team Barb” or “Team Barty” camp. The only allegiance here is to quality.
By the way, Cardi mentioned something to me, unfiltered. She said, “I only know how to deal with disrespect. If people are obsessed with me, the only way I know how to deal with it is to fight.” I told her straight up, “Cardi, fighting won’t do you any favors. If you retaliate, you’ll end up looking bad.” Nicki has this cool, sophisticated aura about her. She might throw some shade your way, but when you throw a shoe, it’s a different story. You come off looking like someone who couldn’t handle it without resorting to drama. Sure, some might cheer for the confrontation, but in the bigger picture, when you’re at a classy event like the Harper’s Bazaar bash, and you’re throwing shoes, it’s a bad look.
Cardi’s coping mechanism is to fight, but she’s starting to realize something—I could see it in her. She doesn’t even need to mention me. It’s the reverse on Nicki’s end. She constantly brings me up, trying to garner sympathy for how she perceives she’s been treated compared to Cardi, to elevate herself back to where she thinks she belongs. Whether Nicki sees herself as number one or number two, she’s a force. She’s legendary. She’s a queen in her own right, just like Cardi. There’s a queen bee, undoubtedly, Little Kim, another legend. But nobody reigns forever.
One thing I respected about my conversation with Cardi is that she’s not deluding herself. I asked her about the future, who’s going to be the next big thing, and she replied, “You think I don’t know that?” She understands the industry. She hopes she won’t be out there, crying foul, claiming everyone’s just hating on her when her time in the spotlight fades. Even with the MotorSport debacle…
When I finally grasped the situation, I was struck by the realization, thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe this.” It’s like I sort of repaid Nicki’s kindness, even though she’s not entirely at fault. But here’s the thing: I can forgive her for that particular incident, but Nicki tends to play the victim card professionally. I don’t sympathize with someone who has taken advantage of others and then cries foul when the tables turn. It’s like, how can you expect sympathy when you’ve been the aggressor yourself? Nicki has a history of trying to intimidate others in the industry, even attempting to have people fired. I believe she was even spreading rumors about me before I even entered the scene. How can she expect fair treatment after all that? She’s not better than anyone else. And her behavior on Queen Radio with Joe Budden? Disgusting. That nasty attitude of hers is a major turn-off. Now she expects everyone to rally behind her? No way.
This situation is messy. DJ Akademiks seems to have a personal grievance with Nicki due to behind-the-scenes issues. But that doesn’t erase the fact that there has been a concerted effort by industry insiders to undermine her and blacklist her, extending far beyond the Cardi situation. Nicki’s recent outbursts stem from her attempt to salvage her reputation publicly. What do you all think about this? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video if you found it insightful. Thanks for watching, and until next time, take care. [Music]