In a rare moment of sincerity from a typically animated personality, Nicki Minaj decided tackle some big topics in her acceptance speech at the BET awards last night (June 29). Winning "Best Female Rap Artist" for the fifth year in a row, the Young Money signee spoke on her near-death experience, why authenticity in hip-hop is important, and being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Read the full speech below:
This is always very very emotional for me. Because this is my fifth year winning this award and I don’t take it for granted, I really don’t.
I thank God that I’ve been placed in a position to do something and represent women in a culture that is so male-driven. and I want you to know this — I want you to know that I have an album The Pink Print that’s coming out before the year ends. That’s not a plug, but it’s a plug. But my point is, what I want the world to know about Nicki Minaj is, that when you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it.
No, no, no shade...I used to sit in the studio with Wayne and I would literally take sometimes three, four days to write a verse. And he was like, 'No, you can’t be taking days to write no verse, you gotta write your verse right here in the studio.' And that’s why I love him till this day. Because he pushed me to push my pen, and I’m still one of the only emcees that’s out here spitting metaphors and making you think. And I really don’t even care if I get my credit or if I don’t. I don’t look at myself as a female rapper, because I know what I do. And I thank my fans because they…
…They might cut me off. This is so big. At one time black people was getting blacked out on the TV now they own their own network. This is big. This is different…
…I just wanna say that, the other day, literally I didn’t tell anyone this, I really thought I was about to die. Like I was saying my prayers to die. And I didn’t even wanna call the ambulance because I thought well if I call the ambulance, it’s gonna be on TMZ. And I would rather sit there and die…and it made me realize, I don’t care what anybody gotta say. I’ma do me, I’ma do me. And I hope and pray that BET continues to honor authenticity. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that. Stephen I love you. It is what it is. Young Money till the death of me.
Fans have begun speculating that Minaj's quote "when you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it," was taking aim at fellow nominee Iggy Azalea, who is known to use songwriters to help pen her hit singles. It should be noted that Minaj writes her music alongside other artists and, while her verses may be authentic, her chorus work may not be. "Pills n Potions," for example, credits Ester Dean and Dr. Luke in its liner notes--explaining the radio-ready chorus.