Nicki Minaj is back in the spotlight with her latest collaboration on Sexyy Red’s viral hit “Pound Town,” now remixed as “Pound Town 2” with production by Tay Keith. The original track quickly rose to popularity on social media, especially through the #PoundTownChallenge, which brought it over 15 million on-demand streams. With Nicki’s high-energy verses and her undeniable star power, the remix has fans buzzing, bringing even more attention to Sexyy Red, the rising St. Louis rapper.
Nicki’s Co-Sign of Rising Female Rappers
Sexyy Red, who has also received praise from big names like Post Malone and Cardi B, expressed her excitement on Instagram, writing, “@nickiminaj I appreciate you so much for blessin my track.” This is far from the first time Nicki has embraced and uplifted upcoming female artists. Earlier this year, she collaborated with Ice Spice on the chart-topping track “Princess Diana.” That track made history, helping Nicki Minaj secure her record-breaking status with the most No.1 hits on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart for any rapper.
Minaj’s Dedication to Supporting Female Hip-Hop Artists
Nicki has long been vocal about her desire to see more authentic rap from female artists. In an interview with JT from the City Girls for i-D Magazine, she explained that she wants to hear women “just rap.” She’s demonstrated this commitment by working with rising female rappers like Katie Got Bandz, Maliibu Miitch, BIA, Akbar V, and JT herself on the remix of her 2022 hit, “Super Freaky Girl.”
“I wanna hear girls rap again. Like, just rap,” Nicki said, referencing her own experience of performing in a BET Cypher where she focused solely on her lyrical skills rather than her image.
New Album on the Horizon
In a recent Twitter Q&A, Nicki teased fans with a big announcement about her upcoming fifth studio album, promising it will be the “best thing that comes out of 2023” and will be regarded as “genius.” This highly-anticipated album marks Nicki’s return since her 2018 album Queen, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Queen included collaborations with Eminem, Foxy Brown, and Future and debuted with 185,000 album-equivalent units.
Nicki’s continued influence, both through collaborations and her solo career, keeps her fans excited and on their toes as they await more music from the Queen of Rap.
