Nicki Minaj v. Cardi B - Rap Queens at War

This week’s episode is about breaking down one of hip-hop’s fiercest rivalries. I start at the beginning with Nicki’s rise and her precedent-setting clash with Lil’ Kim, then trace how Cardi B broke out and opened the doors for a new generation of women in mainstream rap. From “MotorSport” and the Harper’s Bazaar altercation to years of subliminals, memes and chart wars, I bring you right up to the release of Cardi’s second album and the explosive new wave of posts, taunts and eagle-versus-crow metaphors that followed. Finally, I explore the deeper themes behind this beef — jealousy, gatekeeping, stan culture, and the role of social media and blogs in keeping this feud alive.