Behold, A Lady

britticisms:

(via sexartandpolitics)

Stills from “Stupid Hoe” by Nicki Minaj

Dir. Hype Williams

I’m increasingly interested in Nicki Minaj’s imagery as she progresses and grows as a performer. Not as a rapper or as a singer, but as a performer. The longer she has been in the game, the less she participates in the tropes of the Black woman in music. But she’s moving further towards something that turns her into a character devoid of “human” qualities. Meaning, I can’t identify with her on a base level. I often feel kinship with Black female performers on the basis that they’re Black and women, and that is enough for me. Nicki seems to not want to, or need to be a part of that game. It’s rare that a Black woman in the mainstream can experiment, dress up, or manipulate her image so fantastically. I don’t know if I like all of her choices, but they fascinate me.

i feel like this is a backhanded compliment