Hey, take a seat because things just got heated between Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj. Nicki went off on Ice for teaming up with Cardi B, sparking a nasty feud. It turns out Ice and Cardi have been secretly close while Nicki was dubbing Cardi the “princess of rats.” Feeling betrayed, Nicki thought she and Ice were tight, having supported her rise when others doubted her. But it seems Ice had other motives, using Nicki for clout and now cozying up to Cardi. This drama began when Cardi clashed with TikTok star Rayon, who criticized the double standard between how Cardi, a non-black artist, is celebrated for being “ghetto” while black creators like himself face backlash for the same behavior. Rayon’s frustration stemmed from being labeled ghetto despite not fitting that stereotype. He noted the disparity in treatment based on race, contrasting it with Cardi’s acceptance despite not being visibly black.
We’re discussing colorism and related topics, and she comes across as very ghetto. In fact, she’s even more so than I am. Despite mingling with the Bloods, she’s not labeled as ghetto or deemed unmarketable. It seems like anyone can be considered ghetto and black, except for those who are actually from those backgrounds. No disrespect intended toward Cardi B; I’m simply drawing a comparison. My content has consistently aimed at uplifting women. I’ve always strived to empower and inspire them, occasionally injecting humor into discussions about relationships or men. Yet, I’m unfairly stereotyped as a gangster or a thug, which I find perplexing. My content is predominantly positive, devoid of profanity, and resonates with diverse audiences of various ethnicities. So why am I pigeonholed into this negative portrayal of a sad black stereotype? Yes, I come from the hood, but I’m multifaceted. I can engage in deep, articulate conversations. Stop scrutinizing me. Furthermore, I’ve always advocated for higher education, supported students financially, and encouraged them to pursue their degrees. I’ve praised the hardworking individuals with 9-5 jobs and championed body positivity, among other topics. So why reduce everything I say to mere lyrics about shaking one’s behind or turning on the music? That’s not the entirety of my message. One of Cardi’s zealous fans shared the video on Twitter, prompting Cardi’s response. She expressed surprise that I would use her as an example, recounting her own experiences of being labeled as ghetto and facing criticism for her accent, intelligence, appearance, and upbringing. Despite her accomplishments, she continues to be subjected to such unfair judgments simply because of her background.
People often misunderstand me because of my outspoken nature and what some perceive as “ghetto” behavior. Even during discussions with influential figures like Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, I’ve been labeled as such. Why do people feel the need to compare me to others? They only see the successes, not the constant scrutiny I face. Just let me be and stay out of your drama.
But Rayon wasn’t backing down. He confronted Cardi B, suggesting that her success might not have come as easily if she were a darker-skinned black woman behaving the same way. He argued that Cardi’s lighter skin tone might have made her more marketable and given her opportunities that darker-skinned individuals from similar backgrounds struggle to attain. Many agreed with Rayon, citing examples of other black artists who exhibit similar behaviors but don’t receive the same level of recognition.
Cardi remained defensive, failing to grasp Rayon’s point. Their exchange continued, with Rayon reminding her of a previous conversation where she had brought up another artist, Ice Spice, in a similar context. He emphasized that he wasn’t the one introducing other women into the discussion and expressed admiration for their talents.
“It wasn’t my intention to offend or hurt you in any way,” Cardi replied. “But the same reason you felt at ease calling me Mexican when I’m Dominican, and I questioned why you do that when Ice Spice, Derell Jerome, Zoe Salana are Dominican too, yet you don’t refer to them as Mexican. You do it to me because you know it’s a hurtful stereotype, just like using my name in the video, fully aware of the implications.” I see Cardi’s point here, but there’s a distinction between her and those she mentioned in the tweet – they all have at least one black parent, which Cardi does not. Furthermore, she herself denied being black in an interview years ago, so it’s ironic to see her flip-flopping on this now. “But you don’t date Spanish guys at all, right? First and foremost, I’m attracted to dark complexions. And it seems like every dark-skinned guy I’ve liked is African American or Jamaican. I don’t want people to assume it’s about race; I’m drawn to different cultures.” So, it’s clear that Cardi didn’t identify as black before, but now she conveniently wants to claim that identity, especially when it suits her. And she’s also trying to throw Ice Spice under the bus, which Ice wasn’t having, promptly checking Cardi with a response.
She expressed, “No offense, B, but it’s because I have one Dominican parent and one black parent, darling. I don’t think anyone anticipated such shade.” This is where the real drama unfolded, as Cardi swiftly retorted to Ice, asserting that she was merely clarifying that her ability to speak Spanish doesn’t equate to being Mexican. However, she slyly reminded Ice Spice of their joint photo from Vanity Fair, requesting her to share it. Cardi clarified, “Let’s clear things up. I questioned why you’re so comfortable labeling me as Mexican. I don’t have Mexican roots. My mom hails from Trinidad, a proud black woman. My father is Dominican. I’m Dominican, just like you. I cited other Dominicans as examples because, as you know, we’re often lumped together due to language. Also, could you send me that Vanity Fair photo? Thanks. Let’s keep it cool.” Cardi B’s maneuvering was quite cunning. Sensing Ice Spice’s subtle distancing, she cleverly slipped in that last sentence to let everyone know about their connection. Ice responded by sharing the photos they took, prompting a swift influx of Nicki Minaj fans in the comments, hurling accusations at Ice for allegedly betraying Nicki and colluding with adversaries. Cardi foresaw the backlash Ice would face, hence why she encouraged her to post the photos.
It was clearly a setup, and Ice walked right into it. What worsens the situation for Ice is that Nikki and her fans were already skeptical after she was exposed for submitting her verse to Kanye to replace Nikki on “New Body.” So, this incident was the final straw for Nikki and her supporters. Adding to the drama, there’s been talk of a collaboration between Ice and Cardi set to drop soon. While Cardi had previously remixed Ice’s breakout hit “Munch,” the track never saw the light of day. Now, rumors suggest they’re working on another song, fueling speculation that this whole ordeal was a PR stunt to tease their collaboration. Nikki has kept quiet since her tour began, but her reaction to this is predictable. She might not speak out now, but expect some serious shade to be thrown Ice’s way soon. Predictably, opinions are split on the matter. Some argue Ice was asking for trouble by aligning herself with one of Nikki’s biggest rivals. Others question the constant defense of Cardi, suggesting that her actions, like this Twitter rant prompting Ice Spice to post the photo, often go unchecked. Now, it’s over to you. What’s your take on Ice collaborating with Cardi, and do you think Nikki’s reaction is justified? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to check out this other juicy video.