Entertainment | May 15th, 2020

Billboard Hot 100 History will Change the Industry

By: Erika Pierre

In this op-ed, Florida A&M University junior Erika Pierre discusses how the Billboard Hot 100 chart combats the lack of solidarity within the Black female music industry. 

Black women are taking over and killing the music industry. Billboard recently announced that Doja Cat’s “Say So,” featuring Nicki Minaj, has reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Following right behind are the Texas beauties Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé on the “Savage” remix track.

We stan this girl power and support between these Black female artists, but it is important to say that it wasn’t always like this. Seeing artists in the same genre supporting each other so openly hasn’t always been the status quo. 

We all have seen the industry collisions between female rap artists. Most notably, we all vividly remember the Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim scandal. As the “Super Bass” artist climbed her way up the charts, Lil Kim claimed that Nicki Minaj was trying to steal her title as the Queen of Rap. 

On Birdman’s Grindin’ Making Money track that also featured Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim took the opportunity to voice her opinion, stating in her lyrics “There’ll never be another me, What? You out your mind?”

In response to the diss, Nicki Minaj called out Lil Kim on air with Hot 97’s Angie Martinez stating the 90s rapper was “insecure” and a “sore loser.” Later in her Billboard cover story, she stated that she quickly had to learn the business in response to her unprecedented feud. Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim are both black female artists hailing from New York, so it seemed for a while in the industry that you couldn’t even be from the same place and support one another. 

But, this has all quickly changed when Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé came together and created the “Savage Remix.”

Many were glad to see the two Houston hotties joining forces and representing where they’re from. In her verse, Beyoncé states “Texas up in this thang, Put you up on this game” — alluding to their hometown pride and solidarity. 

The Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, even plans to give the two amazing women their own day to honor their contributions to the community. Though being from the same city, they continue to support one another, and watching them represent girl power while making history is a sight to see. 

Disputes between female emcees are riddled throughout rap history. A major one happened to brew as Cardi B’s rap career began to blossom. 

There were many indirect comments between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B as the industry pitted them against each other but the feud soon turned physical at a Harper Bazaar’s ICON party when Cardi B claimed that Nicki Minaj commented on her child. The “Yikes” rapper denied the allegations. After the brawl, Cardi B and Nicki Minaj’s official rivalry developed, with fans quickly taking sides.

Unsurprisingly, when Megan Thee Stallion made her way into the rap game everyone automatically predicted that she would have issues with the female rappers as she emerged around this time of hostility. But that quickly changed when she and Nicki Minaj came together for the “Hot Girl Summer” anthem.

The two have continued to support one another while making history. Nicki Minaj wasn’t only happy for herself and Doja but also showed Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé love. The rapper tweeted: “Man I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be a part of history. I love all the girls involved.” Megan Thee Stallion soon after quoted the tweet and acknowledged her appreciation.

And despite not making number one on the Hot 100, Megan continues to show gratitude. “I’m happy to be apart of the history that was made today,” tweeted the rapper.

Even celebrities that are not on the Hot 100 are sending out love and uplifting words. JT, one of the City Girls, shouted out Megan Thee Stallion on Twitter stating that she was happy for her. JT even wondered if there was any way that Doja and Megan could both go number one at the same time. 

With history being made, it shows that women can come together and support one another. There’s no need to be crabs in a barrel. There is room for us all to succeed and show off each other’s talents and accomplishments. Especially in the female hip hop industry, we know how hard it can be. Why not execute together and continue to make history?