Two Minutes in Nicki’s Head

Stupid Hoe landed as a direct response to Lil’ Kim—not coded, not deniable, just Nicki Minaj stating her position in the clearest available language. The video is assault-by-color: rapid cuts, animal prints, Nicki in what appears to be every wig she owns worn simultaneously across six different setpieces. BET refused to air it unedited, which probably told you more about BET than about the video. The song itself is thin as a premise—a diss track stretched to two minutes—but as a provocation it lands exactly where it’s aimed. You don’t need to enjoy it to recognize that it does precisely what it intends to.