Nicki Minaj’s 2018 Criticism of Drake and Spotify Resurfaces Amid Legal Battle with Universal Music Group
Nicki Minaj’s 2018 comments about Drake benefiting from Spotify’s preferential treatment have resurfaced amid the rapper’s ongoing legal disputes with Universal Music Group (UMG). The comments, made on Twitter (now X), came after Drake’s release of Scorpion, when Spotify featured his face on numerous editorial playlists, including those not directly related to his music, such as “Best of British,” “Massive Dance Hits,” and “Fresh Gospel.” The move occurred as Scorpion garnered 732,000 units in its first week, a monumental achievement in streaming.
At the time, Nicki vented her frustrations with Spotify and what she felt was unequal treatment. “Spotify put Drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 minutes early on #QueenRadio,” she wrote, adding, “Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.”
The Resurgence of Her Comments Amid Drake’s Legal Filing
Nicki’s 2018 tweet has found new relevance following the recent legal filings by Drake against UMG. The Canadian rapper has accused the label of using streaming bots and payola to inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which targeted Drake. One of Drake’s legal documents claims that UMG granted Spotify a 30% discount to license the track and that a connection within Interscope, Kendrick’s label (which is under UMG), paid for the fabrication of 30 million streams for the song.
In light of Drake’s legal battle, fans have started to reference Nicki’s earlier comments, praising her foresight. One fan on X wrote, “This woman never lies about what’s going on in the music industry. Ever.” Another pointed to the apparent hypocrisy of Drake, who had long benefitted from streaming platforms’ preferential treatment. “And this why idgaf bout Drake feelings !! Bitch you let my sister BURN,” the fan added.
Drake’s Legal Battle and Its Unintended Consequences
Drake’s legal actions against UMG have raised eyebrows within the hip-hop community. His filings claim economic harm due to the alleged manipulation of streaming numbers, positioning the lawsuit as an attempt to expose industry practices that benefit certain artists while sidelining others. However, some critics believe Drake’s motivations are self-serving, now that he may no longer be receiving the same type of streaming boosts he benefited from earlier in his career.
Since the legal documents were filed, the sales and streams of “Not Like Us” have surged significantly. The song’s sales jumped by 440%, and streams increased by 20%, according to Talk of the Charts. Additionally, Kendrick Lamar’s latest album GNX has seen a significant boost, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 319,000 first-week units—well above initial projections.
A Divisive Situation
Nicki Minaj’s past remarks about Spotify’s preferential treatment towards Drake have taken on new significance as the rapper’s legal disputes unfold. Her criticisms, which once seemed like industry grumbling, now appear prescient in light of the current legal battles and the streaming controversies surrounding Drake.
While Drake remains silent on the issue, and tensions continue to rise within the hip-hop community, fans and industry insiders are closely watching how this story develops. For now, it’s clear that the legal filings, along with the drama that accompanies them, have only added more layers to the complex relationship between streaming platforms, record labels, and artists.
