Graphic by Mariam Keita ‘24.
By Jada Jackson ’26
Staff Writer
Content warning: This article references the sexual abuse of a child.
Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, professionally known as Megan Thee Stallion, released her latest single, “HISS,” on Jan. 26, sending the internet into a frenzy, especially on X, formerly known as Twitter. Minutes after its release, stans and casual listeners alike were in shock over Megans’ diss track, especially regarding its references to Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, also known as Nicki Minaj.
Fans have long speculated that Nicki and Megan had ended their working relationship. After their collaboration “Hot Girl Summer,” many assumed that this rap duo would be Hip-Hop’s next greatest collaborators. After “WAP” by Cardi B in collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion hit radio waves, fans were quick to call Megan out for working with Nicki’s ‘rival.’ Since then, tensions have remained consistent between the two.
The 3-minute song starts with Megan explaining that she will be dissing people and laying rumors to rest. In one verse, Megan raps, “(Ayy) These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law.” The law that Megan refers to in this verse is California's Megan's Law, enacted in 1996 to ensure that families are notified of registered sex offenders found to be posing a risk to public safety in their communities.
Despite Megan’s many shots at her rap peers who went unnamed on the track, one person in particular was the most vocal. Nicki, the self-proclaimed “Queen of Rap,” seemingly in response to the Megan’s Law line, ran to X to release, like and retweet a flurry of insulting tweets for over 24 hours aimed at Megan in defense of Nicki’s family.
Nicki’s husband, Kenneth Petty, is a convicted level 2 sex offender who is listed on California’s Megan’s Law database. Jelani Maraj, Nicki’s brother, is also a convicted sex offender, currently serving 25 years to life after repeatedly assaulting his then 11-year-old stepdaughter. Nicki stood behind her brother during and after the trial, making her quick defense of her family nothing new.
During Nicki’s X tirade, one of the tweets read, “Y’all wanna bring up family members???!! And lying on your dead mother?!?!!” Megan’s mother, Holly Thomas, also known by her stage name Holly-Wood, died after her battle with brain cancer in 2019. Megan has been vocal about her struggle with this loss, explaining in a 2022 interview, “I didn’t even have to think about too many things when mama was with me. I feel like it is just recently that it’s clicking to me, like who can I ask anything to?”
The rest of Nicki’s tweet dissed Megan further. “Lied to Gayle,” referencing Megan’s interview with “CBS Mornings” cohost with Gayle King, “Lied on & FUCKED your best friend man?!!!!! Told me to drink & go to the clinic if I was pregnant. All b/c I wouldn’t let your funky butt pour liquor down my throat? B!ch think she a bully cuz she get a Roc Nation brunch every year. Be mad @ PARDI!!!!!!!!!! He told all your tea but u taking shots at my family? Bwahahhhahahaaaaaaa get up on yo good foot!!!!!! #PinkFriday2 PLATINUM go apologize to your mother nasty serpant! REPENT!!!” Nicki tweeted.
This feud was fueled by Nicki’s stans, also known as “Barbz”, who posted pictures of Megan’s feet, referencing her accusations and subsequent trial against rapper Tory Lanez who was tried and convicted for — and is now facing a 10-year sentence — shooting her in the foot after she criticized his rap abilities. Megan being shot in the foot and her deceased mother appeared to be the foundation of Nicki’s insults. What seemed to be rap beef between an OG female rapper and a rising rap star soon became perceived by some as anti-Black.
Nicki’s single, “Big Foot,” was released three days after “HISS” and was poorly received by many on the platform rateyourmusic.com.
With lyrics like, “She like six foot, I call her big foot,” Nicki weaponizes Megan’s height, 5’10,” to associate her with a large beast.
Fatou Barry ’25 expressed, “[‘Big Foot’] was just giving mad Barb energy, like, I think she could have done a little bit better.”
This tactic is one that was easily spotted and called out by the general public, especially Instagram accounts like @darkest.hue and Margaret Ojut ’27, “It's very much giving, colorists going against a Black woman because my thing is, Megan Thee Stallion touched on a situation and she was talking about a situation, but Nicki couldn't bring up a situation, so she went for her looks, knowing how Megan Thee Stallion is already perceived.” It is also not the first time Nicki Minaj has expressed anti-black sentiments.
At the time of this publication, Megan has not commented on Nicki’s song or tweets.