Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a six part pancocojams series on Black Barbie dolls and/or some songs that refer to Barbie.
This post showcases the 2018 song "Black Barbies" by Nicki Minaj and focuses on the controversary about non-Black people singing the lyrics to that song on the Tik Tok social media site.
WARNING- This song contains profanity, the n word, and other Parental Advisory content.
Because this is a family friendly blog, the lyrics for Nicki Minaj's song "Black Barbies" and its YouTube video aren't included in this post.
**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/black-representation-in-barbie-doll.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases three videos of Black representation in the Barbie doll line and presents excerpts from two online articles about Black Barbie dolls.
**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/lil-jackies-2008-black-barbie-song.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post focuses on the 2008 song "Black Barbie" by Lil Jackie.
**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/barbie-world-by-aqua-1997-barbie-world.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases the 1997 official YouTube video of "Barbie World" by Aqua and the 2023 official YouTube video of "Barbie World" by Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (with Aqua). This post also includes an excerpt about Barbie dolls and Black girls.
WARNING: The 2023 song "Barbie World" by Nicki Minaj featuring Ice Spice contains profanity.
**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/lil-kims-black-barbie-aesthetic.html for Part V of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Lil Kim, an article excerpt, and discussion thread comments about Lil Kim's Black Barbie aesthetics.
**
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/nicki-minajs-black-barbie-aesthetic.html for Part VI of this pancocojams series. That post focuses on the Barbie aesthetics of Nicki Minaj.
**
The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Nicki Minaj for her music and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Because pancocojams is a family friendly blog, no Nicki Minaj videos (except for "Barbie World") and no Lil Kim videos are included in this pancocojams series.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT NICKI MINAJ
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicki_Minaj
"Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (born December 8, 1982), known
professionally as Nicki Minaj (/ˈnɪki mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian-born American
rapper, singer, and songwriter. Often referred to as the "Queen of
Rap", she is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her
rapping, alter egos, and influence in popular music. She first gained recognition
after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009.
[...]
Minaj is one of the best-selling music artists, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide.[4] Billboard ranked her as the top selling female rapper of the 2010s and the greatest female rapper of all time.[5][6] She has twenty-two top 10 singles on the chart, the most for any female rapper, with six of those being solo songs
[...]
Artistry
Musical style
Minaj is known for her animated rapping style and "unique" flow.[288] Her rapping is distinctive for its speed and the use of alter egos and accents, primarily British cockney.[289][290] She often both sings and raps in her songs, and has made use of metaphors, punch lines, and word play. The alter egos are incorporated with her lyrics in British accents (Roman Zolanski) or soft-spokenness (Harajuku Barbie)."...
****
ARTICLE EXCERPTS & COMMENTS ABOUT NICKI MINAJ'S SONG "BLACK BARBIES"
Article Excerpt #1
From https://www.songtell.com/nicki-minaj-mike-will-made-it/black-barbies Meaning of Black Barbies by Nicki Minaj & Mike WiLL
Made-It, June 25, 2023
" "Black Barbies" by Nicki Minaj & Mike WiLL
Made-It seems to be a song about female empowerment, with Nicki Minaj asserting
her dominance and celebrating her success as a black woman in the music
industry. She talks about how men try to please her but she's not interested in
their lies or material things. She also references her own beauty and
confidence, describing herself as a "black barbie."
The lyrics go on to address the lack of respect and
recognition that many women in the music industry face, as well as the constant
comparisons and competition. Nicki acknowledges that some women may try to
imitate her success but they can't replicate her unique talent and style.
Throughout the song, Nicki highlights the importance of staying true to oneself
and being confident in who you are, even in the face of adversity."...
****
Article Excerpt #2
From https://www.songfacts.com/facts/nicki-minaj/black-barbies
"A re-work of Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles," this
song turns the track around to reference the ideal thick body shape of black
women.
[…]
Minaj has helped curvy black girls embrace their body type
on number of her songs, most notably on her hit single "Anaconda."
In the second verse Minaj references her Trinidad roots and Donald Trump's negative opinion of immigrants in America:
Island girl, Donald Trump want me go home
Still pull up with my wrist lookin' like a snowcone.
Minaj was born in Trinidad and Tobago and migrated to Queens when she was young. Despite Trump's stated wish to deport huge amounts of Latinos, the MC won't be affected as she's not an illegal immigrant.
Minaj gives a nod to the remix of "No Flex Zone,"
her first collaboration with Rae Sremmurd, by interpolating its title during
the song.
Like Rae Sremmurd's original, this was produced by Mike WiLL
Made-It.
The outro is Swae Lee's original hook on "Black
Beatles."
Minaj became only the second female to achieve 70 Hot 100
entries when this debuted on the chart. She was close behind Aretha Franklin,
who at the time had a record-breaking 73 Hot 100 hits.”...
****
Article Excerpt #3
From https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/black-barbies-tiktok-sound/ Black TikTok creators try to reclaim ‘Black Barbies’ sound
Nicki Minaj's 'Black Barbies' sparked debate around who it's
for. published by Audra Schroeder on
Jun 21, 2021
"Black creators on TikTok are pushing to reclaim Nicki
Minaj’s 2016 single “Black Barbies”
from white creators who’ve co-opted it and
boosted the sound.
Over the last week or so, several accounts attempted to break down the issue: The song “Black Barbies” is for Black women, and there have been calls for white creators lip-syncing it on TikTok to cease and desist.
The audio in question is from the account @bhadbhabierussia, which appears to be a “Russian fan account” for rapper Bhad Bhabie, aka Danielle Bregoli, who has previously been accused of blackfishing—when someone alters their skin and/or hair to appear Black.
The lyrics in the snippet of audio are “I’m a f—king* Black Barbie/Pretty face, perfect body/Pink seats in the ‘Rari/Always f—k* him like I’m sorry.” Some creators attempted to circumvent the idea that the song isn’t for them by only lip-syncing the part that “applies” to them, like “Pink seats in the ‘Rari.”
There were a few parodies of white women defending the use of the audio, but there were quite a few Black creators who didn’t see the issue, or said it’s “just a song.” There were also questions about whether Barbz—the name for Nicki Minaj’s massive fandom—are allowed the use the sound.
[…]
Last year, Sheldon Pearce wrote about the “whitewashing” of Black music on TikTok, and how the app can quickly obscure origin and ownership when popular white creators become linked with a sound:
The idea of gentrifying a sound may seem odd, but it is less so when you think about TikTok as a space where sound is one of the greatest assets and how that asset is being mined to widen a gap between white poachers and Black originators, marginalizing those that it should be centering.
This is an issue not just for hip-hop, but also dance trends. Earlier this year, Addison Rae performed several popular TikTok dances on The Tonight Show, but drew criticism after failing to credit the Black creators who came up with them.
Some creators tried to come up with new lyrics for the song in the comment section of one TikTok, and “White Barbie” was created.
[…]
As of now, the top video under the sound is from a Black
creator. Ironically, the line in “Black Barbies” just before the verse going
around on TikTok is “New day, new money to be made/New things for them to
imitate.”
It doesn’t appear Minaj has publicly addressed this trend
yet."
-snip-
*These words are fully spelled .out in this article.
Article Excerpt #4
From
"Black creators on TikTok are hanging up their dancing shoes
until further notice.
The hashtag "BlackTikTokStrike" has been viewed more than two million times on TikTok, with users sharing videos of less inspired dances that have popped up in the absence of Black creators. The hashtag has taken off on Twitter as well.
[…]
The situation called to mind the recent TikTok controversy
surrounding the Nicki Minaj song "Black Barbies." With lyrics like,
"I'm a f****** Black Barbie. Pretty face, perfect body," the song was
used on the app to showcase videos of Black beauty. But white users soon began
using the song as well, kicking off a debate about cultural appropriation on
the app."...
-snip-
This is the way that article was given online.
Online Excerpt #5:
From the discussion thread of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36fezPt7v78 i
published by Oscar Kip, Jun 19, 2021 #nickiminaj #blackbarbie
black barbie tiktok
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: Numbers added for referencing purposes only. All of these comments are from 2021.]
1. @user-vq3ui2yx5h
"remember when white girls were doing this trend knowing that
there were 10000s of other songs that have to do with barbie, yea that was
clown sh-t*"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
**
Reply
2. @miaanderson8842
"And when I went to the sound people where like it’s just a
song chill"
****
Online Excerpt #6
From the discussion thread of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj6RbO7bz7Y Nicki Minaj Black Barbies + TikTok Barbz - LIVE discussion
on white creators using black Rap lyrics, published by Blessing Mukosha, Jun 24, 2021
We are back with our weekly live! This week we are looking at the Black Barbies TikTok controversy, where white creators are rapping over Nicki Minaj's Rap record "Black Barbies". TikTok is notorious for appropriation, but are people too sensitive about Black Barbies?
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: Numbers are added to these comments for referencing purposes only]
Unless otherwise noted, these comments are from 2021.
A number of these comments mention "Barbs", the referent for Nicki Minaj's group of fans.]
"Sing the song all you want but stop undermining how black
people feel. The issue here is that you are not a black Barbie and you’re taking away from the attention
actual black barbies would get because of your white privilege. There is a
larger issue at hand, yes you’re correct it’s just a song, but there is a
message behind it that you are not truly acknowledging. The argument that there
wasn’t a lot of complaints in 2016 of white people singing the song is irrelevant.
As time progresses, people should adapt and progress as well. To devalue others
proclamations is insensitive and immoral.
2.
"Right cuz they always take our stuff and when we say
something they wanna turn around and say we "sensitive" or
"soft" and try to gaslight us"
**
3. @lolhi3207
"Its tiring always having to fight just to keep something to
ourselves cuz they always take it"
**
Reply
4. @lolhi3207
"And instead of them trying to be understanding on why we
dont like it, they wont listen and continue to do it just to offend us"
**
5. @bhadj1285
"I'm white and I never had an issue with singing along to
this until all of this happened because I knew the line isn't meant for me. Now
I totally understand where people are coming from because these lil white girls
and boys are really calling themselves black Barbies as if it's meant to
include them. I've always thought the song was meant for empowering black woman
and that's how I took the line and thought that it was obvious but I can see
now that it's not for a lot of people. As a white person, I really don't
understand why it's so hard for most white people to just accept that
everything doesn't have to include them. Sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to
be woke but I'm really not, this whole fiasco as me blown tf away"
**
Reply
6. @lolhi3207
"@bhadj1285 I'm really glad you actually took this into
consideration instead of mocking us like the others"
**
Reply
7. @lolhi3207
"@bhadj1285 and you're right idk why they cant accept
that."
**
Reply
8. @bhadj1285
"@lolhi3207 I don't even understand how they can mock you
because they really just make themselves look dumber and dumber by the moment.
Like look at the name of the song, look at who wrote it and that's all that's
needed. Also thank you for understanding me because I made a post somewhere
else and all these other white people were so mad at me for saying the same
thing."
**
Reply
9. @lolhi3207
"@bhadj1285 they really do. And ignore those other yts
they just mad and tryna silence u"
**
Reply
10. @no-one00
"@lolhi3207 that’s so true . They never listen to black
people only other races. It’s time to stand our ground and keep complaining and
also attack by not supporting the people who constantly offend us and ignore
us. Black people are the majority when it comes to consuming so we have power.
We do it for certain things so why don’t we do it more often so that people
take us seriously and don’t mess w us"
**
11. @cassiopeiathew7406
"I think that it’s important to draw a line between yourself
and a culture you aren’t a part of if you enjoy that culture. You can listen
Nicki’s music, but there are things that you can’t do while being a fan of hers
if your white and that’s okay. Very obviously is that you can’t say the N word
and for good reason. You can get some of the empowerment from her music and
other musicians but for songs like Beyoncé’s formation and the song mentioned
in this video, these songs are not meant for white people and it’s abundantly
obvious. Formation and Black Barbie are meant for black women and I think it’s
important to remember that. I can like Formation as a song and I can sing the
lyrics to myself but that empowerment isn’t meant for me. Also for songs like
Black Barbie how I feel (which could be wrong) is that it’s something that I
have no right singing it when it’s so thoroughly intertwined with a culture
that I’m not a part of. There is a
middle ground but more people need to take that middle ground instead of
embracing it for their own advancement in any way. Also the mockery thing is
disgusting because in some ways it reminds me of so much history that white
people have in relation to black people. With cartoons that either created
racist stereotypes or reinforced them and minstrel shows, white people
throughout American history and always mocked black people and I don’t like
that on a somewhat smaller scale (still disgusting in spite of being smaller)
that is repeating itself (If anything I said was wrong please tell me so that I
can learn from it)."
**
Reply
12. @fictionalcharactermov7471, 2022
"you can sing it no big deal"
**
13. @alexanderslytherin1949
"I'm an Italian barb since Nicki came to the scene with Pink
Friday, I've been singing every song, every lyrics, every word. Since English
it's not my language, i didn't know many things like the N word being an insult and offensive, cause when
you're foreign and you hear that word in songs the last thing you think is that
it's a derogatory word, I thought it meant friend. I've learned and I stopped
saying it in songs, but still could relate to many many many things in her
songs in spite of being white because of bigger topics or other circumstances.
I've been supporting Nicki since forever, and if I love her songs and the
messages, why can't I sing and rap her songs? What if I like the fact that it's
a black girls empowering anthem? Thru music I can feel stuff, then since I'm
broke I can't listen to songs about money, lambos, luxury hotels? And if I'm a
guy I can't listen to songs that are for girls or from a female prospective? I
swear I'll stop singing along to "If I Were a Boy" by Beyonce because
I'm a boy. Music is higher and deeper than that, and remember that there are
many many Barbz over ocean that are f--king* white like me, I don't feel less
Barb than you just because of my skin color and I won't feel devaluated as a
white Barb just because of the different position of white people in your
Country."
-snip-
*This word isfully spelled out in this comment.
**
Reply
14. @BlessingMukosha
"You can definitely appreciate without being disrespectful!
Thank you for your comment!"
Reply
15.
"@Alexander Slytherin Nobody ever said you couldn’t sing a
song. And singing about material things and a persons color are two different
things. You CANT compare being broke, lambo to color of someone skin if it
doesn’t apply to you. What horrible logic is that. . It’s so simple to
understand. And I would advise anyone to research a name if you’re not sure what it means before spitting it
out( regardless of the language barrier. Yes, we have reclaimed words that were
once & still used by racist people).
Again, all we are
saying is don’t purposely make a tiktok video to join in a trend when the
lyrics are specifically for Black women. Imagine being white participating in a
trend singing James Brown “Im Black & I’m proud with a fist up”😂.
Songs have meaning! Out of all the song lyrics in the world, why make a video
using lyrics that clearly do not apply to you. Honestly, I can’t believe y’all
don’t feel strange while doing it lol. Again, sing all day long, but don’t join
in the trend. Again, nobody said you couldn’t “feel stuff through music, but
how does making a video stating youre a “black Barbie” make you feel when
you’re white. It’s weird."
**
16. @terrestrial9622
"i read a comment on a different video that said "nobody
said white people cant sing, lip sync or dance to the song, but dont hop onto
the tik tok trend, its for the empowerment of black people" and i 100%
agee with that, as long as its not said to mock or hop onto the black people
black barbies trend, thens its absolutely fine because it isnt offensive to say"
**
17. @rollingray3005
"lets get one thing straight, RAP MUSIC WAS MADE BY AFRICAN
AMERICANS, we have every right to gatekeep, second nicki said " new things
for them to Imitate" she is talking about white people stealing blacn
culture and passing off as there own, nicki as talking about it before in an
interview. Black women has had a problem with NON black people using the audio
cause it was made for them. Nicki was uplifting black women and it makes us
uncomfortable then it does and respect it"
**
18. @terrestrial9622
"everyone should be allowed to sing it, not everyone should
be allowed to join the trend unless theyrr black and not everyone is allowed to
mock black people because of the lyrics"
**
19. @barbzkendoll110
"Some of these people commenting during the live seem to have
this idea you HAVE to be experiencing certain things to be able to sing along
to a song? Like okay if you were born in America you can’t sing the Donald
Trump line. If you’ve never lived in the streets or been in a gang, don’t rap
to songs about that. See how ridiculous that argument is? My position on the
whole black barbies thing is if a white person sings a long to it who really
cares? I feel like ppl being pressed for no reason. Now if there’s white people
doing dark makeup or really emphasizing BLACK in black Barbie then yes let’s
say hey that’s wrong but songs are not to be gatekept."
**
Reply
20. @lolhi3207
"Because the song is uplifting BLACK BARBIES not white
barbies"
**
21. @angel-qe1pi
"The problem is that people are just saying it to piss us
off. Sing it if you want but don’t f---king* do it just to mock."
-snip-
This word is fully spelled out in this comment."
****
This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.
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