Nicki Minaj has been on a roll lately, breaking records and reuniting with stars like Drake. But during her recent show in London, she decided to up the ante by bringing out none other than the King of Dancehall himself, Beenie Man.
Nicki Minaj welcomed Beenie Man with all the respect and admiration he deserves. Upon his entrance, she asked for a hug and then bowed down before him and the audience. Beenie Man responded by calling Minaj the queen of hip-hop, if he is the king of dancehall.
The two artists then collaborated on Beenie Man’s classic track ‘I’m Drinking / Rum & Redbull,’ with Minaj showing a notable deference that stood out given her typically outspoken persona. She later shared her excitement about the onstage collaboration on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her admiration for Beenie Man. ‘I just performed with the KING OF DANCEHALL,’ Minaj tweeted. ‘One of the most talented musicians that I looked to for inspiration my entire career. I can’t believe this is my life sometimes. Wow. One of my heroes. I love this man so much. @KingBeenieMan.’
While Nicki Minaj may have been raised in New York, she was born in Trinidad and has consistently incorporated dancehall influences into her music. This is evident in tracks like ‘Forward from Trini’ on her album Pink Friday 2, which features artists such as Skillibeng and Skeng. She has also been vocal about her love for the genre, even addressing fans on Stationhead who aren’t as keen on her dancehall cuts. ‘Y’all, some of them don’t like it, but it’s okay,’ she said. ‘They’re gonna have to get with it… I’m sorry if y’all can’t understand this kind of music.’
Nicki Minaj isn’t the first Young Money artist to collaborate with Beenie Man. Drake featured the dancehall legend on his 2016 album Views, where Beenie Man provided the outro for the track ‘Controlla.’
Nicki Minaj’s London show was a memorable event, highlighted by her collaboration with Beenie Man, a nod to her dancehall roots and her admiration for a long-time inspiration.
