Last week Nicki Minaj's highly anticipated fourth album, Queen, came in second on the Billboard charts, selling 185,000 copies, with 78,000 from traditional sales. Since she's extremely talented, and this is her most critically acclaimed album ever, you'd think "Chun Li" would spend the weekend celebrating. But instead, she went on a bizarre, cringeworthy Twitter rant, fuming about not being number one.
Travis Scott's Astroworld took Billboard's number one spot for the second week in a row, selling 205,000 copies, with 78,000 from traditional sales. However, Nicki accused him of artificially inflating his numbers by selling "season pass" bundles for his Astroworld tour. "Travis sold over 50K of these," wrote Nicki. "With no requirement of redeeming the album! With no dates for a tour, etc. I spoke to him. He knows he doesn’t have the #1 album this week." (He did.)
It's true that Travis used online bundles to increase sales. However, Nicki did the same thing. On her website, she launched a 48-hour bundle deal to purchase her album, a poster and a three-month subscription to Tidal for only $5. (Sorry, Barbz, this deal is no longer available.)
As Nicki went on, she shaded Travis for getting a promotional boost from his super famous girlfriend, Kylie Jenner. "I put my blood sweat & tears in writing a dope album only for Travis Scott to have Kylie Jenner post a tour pass telling ppl to come see her & Stormi," wrote the number two rapper. (Is she implying Travis didn't put "blood, sweat & tears" into his critically acclaimed album? That's rude.)
It's true that Travis may have benefited from the so-called "Kylie stimulus plan." However, when Kylie was dating Tyga, she promoted his album, The Gold Album: 18 Dynasty, and it sold a paltry 5,000 copies. So, Kylie may not have the Midas touch after all. Also, what Nicki doesn't mention is that she pulled some extra promotional tricks of her own.
Recently the 'Queen' guest appeared on red-hot newcomer Tekashi 6ix9ine's smash single, FEFE. Despite this being his song, she added it to her album on Spotify, in an apparent attempt to siphon streams. (This collab created some controversy, since 6ix9ine pled guilty to using a 13-year-old child in a sexual performance when he was eighteen years old.)
The rollout for Queen may have been a mess, but last week Nicki did a lot of promo - radio interviews, TV interviews, the hilarious song Barbie Dreams, where she playfully dissed half the rappers in the industry, plus a nasty Twitter feud with her ex-boyfriend, Safaree, in which he alleges she cut him with a knife. Not great publicity, but kept her in the news, and trending on social media. But really, Travis and Kylie went too far for promo?
Twitter users ragged on Nicki for looking insecure, and not very regal. One person joked she was acting her "brother's victim's age." (Nicki's brother, Jelani Maraj, was found guilty of predatory assault on a child younger than 13 years old. Savage!)
Nicki went on to accuse Spotify of discrimination, claiming the streaming service didn't support her. A Spotify representative issued a response, explaining the extensive promotion they gave to her new album.
"Spotify supported Nicki Minaj with a Times Square billboard, a host of the largest playlists, New Music Friday and the new music release shelf,” the rep said. “Her song ‘Bed’ actually saw an increase based on the promotions put behind the campaign. The company continues to be big fans of Nicki."
A lot of Twitter users thought it was hilarious that Nicki was calling out Stormi Jenner. Who blames a six-month-old baby for sabotaging their sales?
Some people noticed the MTV Video Music Awards are tonight, and Kylie and Travis were assigned seats behind Nicki Minaj. Talk about awkward!
According to TMZ, Travis and Kylie asked to be moved to seats on the opposite side of the room. So, unfortunately, we won't get to see Stormi kick the back of Nicki's chair like that clip from Rugrats. However, all three parties will be at the event, and Nicki is scheduled to perform, so maybe there will be some drama? (Fingers crossed.)
Anyway, apparently Nicki's management stepped in, because she tried to claim the whole meltdown was "sarcasm" and "dry humor." I was just kidding, guys! It was just a prank, bro! Gotcha!
People weren't buying it, but sure. Whatever you say, Queen!
Well, hopefully Nicki Minaj will learn to appreciate what she has: a critically acclaimed album that sold a lot of copies. You know, back in April, Cardi B, a rapper ten years younger than Nicki, sold 255,000 copies of her debut album, Invasion Of Privacy, with 105,000 coming from traditional sales. Do you think Nicki's upset about that? Nah, that's crazy. I'm sure they're BFF's.