Nicki Minaj Apologizes For Controversial Malcolm X Single Cover

Nicki Minaj’s new single “Lookin’ A– N-ggas” has landed her in boiling water today!

Yesterday, she dropped the brand new track to create some buzz for her upcoming album, but the negative publicity was definitely not what she was aiming for. The track already had a few folks uncomfortable because of the repeated use of the N-word, but after the single cover was released, fans were in an uproar.

The cover featured a 1964 photo of civil rights activist Malcolm X holding a rifle while peeking out of the window, which was originally published in Ebony Magazine. As soon as the picture was uploaded, folks took action and a petition was launched asking for her to remove the picture from her social media immediately. Surprisingly it worked, and Nicki deleted the pic before posting the following statement on her Instagram:

“What seems to be the issue now? Do you have a problem with me referring to the people Malcolm X was ready to pull his gun out on as Lookin Ass Niggaz? Well, I apologize. That was never the official artwork nor is this an official single. This is a conversation. Not a single. I am in the video shooting at Lookin Ass Niggaz and there happened to be an iconic photo of Malcolm X ready to do the same thing for what he believed in!!!! It is in no way to undermine his efforts and legacy. I apologize to the Malcolm X estate if the meaning of the photo was misconstrued. The word “nigga” causes so much debate in our community while the “nigga” behavior gets praised and worship. Let’s not. Apologies again to his family. I have nothing but respect an adoration for u. The photo was removed hours ago. Thank you”

The original photo of Malcolm holding the gun was to express that he would protect his family “by any means necessary.”  Over the years, this very photo has been recreated several times, including Bilal’s Airtight’s Revenge album cover and on the cover of KRS’ Boogie Down Productions By Any Means Necessary album.

Facebook user Real BlkGypsy commented:

Bilal and a number of others have recreated this image, as a way of making a statement about Black manhood, which is what the original image profoundly reflects. Nicki Minaj’s statement with the use of this image, however, reflects her commitment to pillage, exploit and debase Black culture at all costs. Myself and many others consider Malcolm to be our spiritual and intellectual father. We’re not going to sit idly by and allow somebody to blatantly disrespect our father. Period. George Lincoln Rockwell showed more respect for Malcolm than Nicki Minaj has. How sad and pathetic.

While activist Kevin Powell added:

Completely different context! KRS-One was clear his music was about elevating people, which is why he labeled it “edutainment.” And this was in the middle of the Golden Era of hip-hop when pretty much every artist had at least one political song on their album, if not a whole album full of political stuff. NWA, for example, to this day, have the greatest hip-hop song ever about police brutality (“F___ Tha Police) while LL Cool J’s “Illegal Search” captures racial profiling perfectly, but they were not considered political hip-hop acts. So it is one thing to appropriate Malcolm X in a cultural movement and era that was political. It is another thing to use Malcolm’s image completely out of context, without any real explanation and in complete opposition to who Malcolm X was.

Kevin Powell also added in a discussion on his Facebook page:

The problem is the industry culture that has taken the balance out of the music, slanted it all to one side. So a year ago it was Lil Wayne putting Emmett Till and the word vagina in the same sentence, and now this. As I said on this page the other day it is really about power and who ultimately makes the decisions that these things are okay to say and do. But because so many do listen to Weezy, to Nicki, we do have to respond and see these things as teachable moments in addition to voicing our great disgust.

If you can recall, Lil’ Wayne was boycotted last year for using Emmett Till in his rap lyrics, and Russell Simmons even found himself under fire last year after his Def Digital Network released a “Harriet Tubman” parody video.

Some will argue that these moments can be used to start a conversation around historic figures.  Do you agree or do you think it’s blatant disrespect?

You can catch the lyrics to “Lookin’ A– N-ggas” over at Rap Genius.