Remember Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” video? Of course you do.
Yup, those bootylicious visuals for the rapstress’s on-wax nod to Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” rounded up the world’s attention by way of Nicki’s voluptuous backside. The nearly five-minute clip prompted a wave of parodies and memes, set a Vevo record for most views in 24 hours with 19.8 million, and still was not nominated for Video of the Year at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. And Barbie – you guessed it – is not pleased.
In a mini Twitter rant, Young Money’s first lady chalked MTV’s memory loss up to the fact that she’s a different “kind” of artist:
READ: And The 2015 MTV Video Music Award Nominees Are…
If I was a different “kind” of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well.
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Ellen did her own anaconda video and did the #choreo lol. Remember her doing that kick . Even mtv did a post on the choreo @MTV remember? — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
READ: 20 Questions About Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’ Video
U couldn’t go on social media w/o seeing ppl doing the cover art, choreo, outfits for Halloween…an impact like that & no VOTY nomination?
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
When the “other” girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination. — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
At the height of its controversy, “Anaconda” raised eyebrows with the accompanying cover art and music video, and Nicki used a similar defense. Comparing the praise of the barely-there attire of Sports Illustrated models to her a**-tastic g-string photo, the rapper alluded to the unfair treatment of women of color with regards to nudity.
Does Nicki Minaj have a point? Was “Anaconda” worthy of that Video of the Year moonman?