Bay Girl In NYC: Nicki Minaj "Anaconda" single art work and why I am not here for it

When Nicki Minaj released her new visual promo for her upcoming single “Anaconda” there was major backlash for her reverting to her old image after making conscious efforts to try and separate her from the overtly sexual image she once portrayed. Her reaction was to call it racism. Alluding to the fact that the black woman’s body is viewed as too racy, too abrasive, instead of as art like a white woman’s body. While racism clearly exists in entertainment, especially when talking standards of beauty and the fashion world, it is also a case of taste. Nicki instagrammed pictures of white or fair skin high fashion models in shots with their butts to the camera labeling them “acceptable” while then posting her own single art work with the word “unacceptable.” I have several issues with all of this.

First, in the world of art an image can send such a strong message based off things as simple as angles, lighting, facial expressions, and more. The difference between arching ones back and con caving it delivers different emotions in a still shot picture. Even scenery plays a huge part. Nicki posted a bunch of slim, high fashion models in bikinis on beach shoots. Only one was in an actual thong and one model was Chrissy Teigen of Thai descent. Nicki is squatting, spread eagle, looking back at the camera in a g string in front of a white backdrop. Though I can agree that black women’s bodies have been hyper sexualized and at times this culture has shunned and bashed curvy shapes, I do not think race played a major part in the opinion of this single art work. The taste level was non-existent. Venus Williams, a voluptuous black woman just posed fully nude butt to camera in the ESPN: Body Issue and there was no uproar from anyone. It’s not just a bunch of white or “non-black”

people having an issue with this, it is the people that look like Nicki as well. (or what she looked like pre-op)

Though black women do tend to have more voluptuous bodies than a white or Asian woman, we live in a world where ANY woman can achieve the body she desire and a lot do. So now women as a whole are overly sexualized which makes the details much more important. The details being the context, the poses, the scenery, the faces, lighting, angles, etc. If Nicki had been slightly hunched, face forward, with her arms behind her in a black and white shot even that would have portrayed a more sensual image versus sexual or raunchy.

It is no news to know that hip-hop, and now even r&b, promotes overtly sexual images. I do not see any of them raising their hands to volunteer as role models for young kids and I don’t believe they should censor their selves because parents do not monitor what their children see. However, most are not even role models for young adults of age.

Nicki and her team made it a point to draw her away from the raunchy image she portrayed in her early years that garnered her attention. She crossed over taking on a pop like persona in outrageous clashing layers and colored wigs galore reflected in her music. From there the only option was to become her, which brings us to 2014 Nicki with simple hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Possibly the best she has ever looked. Just when it seems she may have transcended the need for gimmicks she takes a leap back and drops (literally) the anaconda visuals.

Where a second issue arises, IF she is so concerned with preserving the value of the black woman’s body why is she selling back into the less known stereotypes. Ever since hip-hop became another form of consumerism the black woman has been a hyper sexualized image. So when a black female rapper pursues a career in music she is often primped into a sexual being, from lyrics to visuals.

At this point in Nicki’s career she is such a major influence that if she chose to just exemplify how a black woman (and any woman) should hold and respect themselves the industry would have no choice but to let her. This is without even saying or addressing the issue, letting her actions alone speak.

Then again she has never seemed to truly control her own image since she signed her 360 with young money, and I am sure this was very much a decision made by the whole team. None the less, it seems she has decided to go back to her rap roots as far as the music goes, and sadly the visual has too. Perpetuating the image that black female rappers must expose their bodies and sexuality to maintain a brand and success.

I am not and have not really been a fan of Nicki, but I was admiring the turn in her career. I enjoy the moments where she has seemed genuine in her moves. I am not giving up faith and I hope she sees through the jaded support her fans will provide to the bigger picture of why this image alone was unnecessary. If her goal is to be a voice for demanding respect for black women as a whole she may want to remember the hiphop emcees of the early 90s who used their music to express messages to their community. And lay off the photo shop if the point was to embrace the black womans body.