Dear Nicki,

Congratulations on the release of your second album. You’re transcending more barriers than probably any female hip hop artist before you. Sure there have been numerous comparisons, but I think it is safe to say that you are truly an original. Your exposure has grown drastically in the past three years and I have to say, folks can barely recognize that girl from Queens with the pink and black ‘do. Speaking of colors…what’s up with all of yours?

See, I was talking to a friend the other day and she mentioned your use of just about every color known to Crayola. While I certainly give you props for being daring, it seems to go past creative expression. Like, maybe you think your use of neon greens, pinks, and blues will make your fans forget the one color that could present an issue: brown. Is that what’s going on? Are you hiding in plain sight? Is the use of vibrancy an attempt to make your fans forget that you’re a black woman?

I suppose I could understand the intent. You’re crossing over into the pop world. You’ve got little blonde girls singing your songs on Ellen for goodness sakes. So maybe you think that your blonde hair and bubble-gum pseudo-Barbie appearance negates that fact that you’re a rapper. A black female rapper from an urban area. Did you forget that you’re a black female rapper from Queens? Because we haven’t. “We” of course being black women. We know what a “kitchen” is, Nicki. You were referring to at least a few black women when you said, “These nappy headed ho’s, but my kitchen good,” right? Oh Nicki, did you forget that blonde mop isn’t yours? Neither is the green one. Or the pink one.

But wait, I get ahead of myself. You haven’t totally forgotten you’re black. You still have that fat ass like a black girl, right? Have you ever heard of Sarah Baartman, Nicki? She got paid to show off her figure too…at the circus. “Pop”-ular culture fans traveled far and wide to see the Hottentot Venus. Do you know what they did with her when they were done, Nicki? Put her in a museum and her vagina in a jar. You get paid a hell of a lot more than she did, but you parade an exaggerated version of the black female form like she did as well. Are you to be put on display in a museum, Nicki? Will you be replicated in the “Hip-Hop” section of the Smithsonian?

Nicki, you are talented. I’ve listened to your mixtapes. I’ve seen you freestyle. You’ve got it. But…what are you doing with it? See there are a lot of young black women in Queens that want to be just like you. They want the money, the figure…they want their “kitchen good” as well. Have you forgotten about them? Fame is addictive. Your label-mate has written quite a few songs about the allure. Far be it from  me to say that you can’t be creative, Nicki. Far be it from me to say that all you are is just some black woman from Queens. But be accountable, Nicki. You have the ability to change the perception of black women and female rappers. You’re no less talented without the blonde hair or the “Barbie” moniker. Barbie was white…Christie was the black one, remember? Is that your goal? To be white, Nicki? If so, you’ve got a long way to go.

Love Always,

Nobody’s Darling