By now, most of us have seen the clip of Nicki Minaj bowing down to Lauryn Hill when they met at the 2016 Tidal X performance. I’ve seen some people criticize Nicki for this show of appreciation for Ms. Hill because they think it was over the top.
While I believe that we are all human and equally flawed, I do appreciate Nicki for humbling herself to someone who came before her and helped to pave the way for her entry into the music business. In my opinion, I think that this type of appreciation for those who came before us, especially in the African American community, is often overlooked and frowned upon. Think about it, how many times have you recently heard people criticize the validity of Biggie or Tupac as two of the best rappers? Â To me, Nicki’s reaction was a sign of respect. Kudos to her!
Additionally, I’ve seen people criticize the impact of Lauryn Hill because she only had one solo album – to that, I say that this is a testament to what quality music can do. I grew up listening to Lauryn Hill and I can honestly say that no other album has had as big of an impact on my development as The Misedcuation of Lauryn Hill. That album was very well put together and was filled with so much truth. It was more than an album, it was more than music – it was music to the soul and a guidebook to some of the challenges you face when coming of age, especially as a black woman.
For those who criticize Nicki for paying homage because they believe that she is just as talented as Lauryn Hill, I’ll leave you with this quote: “another woman’s beauty is not the absence of your own”. I am very happy to see that Nicki recognized the meaning of this quote and wasn’t afraid to humble herself to the experience.
A little bit of a lot of things 