If you’ve been keeping up, you know that Nicki Minaj‘s “No Frauds” is her clap back at Remy Ma’s lethal diss song “Shether.” While many found Minaj’s response to be weak tea overall, it was tough to sort out genuine criticism of her bars versus a fatigue with the concept of Minaj as the queen of rap.
She’s been sitting on that throne for what seems like forever and that combined with her full throttle embrace of pop over the years has lead to a growing number of rap fans who were ready to see her taken down a notch…just ’cause.
In the plus column for “No Frauds,” Minaj gets in some very solid shots, plus the hook is insanely catchy. Her decision to bring in back up from her label mates Drake and Lil Wayne was debatable. On the one hand, she further burnishes her reputation as a woman able to stand shoulder to shoulder with two of the games’ greatest, on the other hand, if she’s so badass, how come she needs two guys to back her up?
In her video for “No Frauds” (direct by “Starships” director Benny Boom), Minaj chose to play up those relationships in a visual that features Drake and Wayne throughout. Asserting her place as the crown holder, she and Wayne are shown sitting side by side on gold thrones.
There are other messages contained in the video that are less in your face, but are meant to silently speak to Minaj’s reach and status. For one, it was filmed in London, a location that sends a message showing her popularity as a global artist, but also her access to a budget that enables her to shoot in a foreign city.
It’s worth noting that Ma’s performances since she became a free woman in August 2014, have been limited to North America, a reality that could be connected to her status as a parolee. As such, Minaj’s decision to film in London could be construed as another dig at Ma.
Mianj reiterated her wealth through her wardrobe choices, opening the video in her thrown look, a Charbel Zoe dress with Phillip Plein boots plus a dramatic Rinaldy A. Yunardi caged headpiece (below), which she later swapped out for a House of Emmanuele crown. For the outdoor shots, she wears two different looks from local luxury label Alexander McQueen. In the first, she accessorizes with a dripping-with-crystals headpiece by Demode, and in the second, a yellow fur by Wanda Nylon.
In the club scene she wore a custom red latex Jivomir Domoustchiev dress with a Fanaskii choker (above). The fashion message is not subtle. From beginning to end, it’s a wardrobe that exudes not just wealth but her ability to pull from very high end and exclusive labels. (Further details and images can be found at onikaswardrobe.tumblr.com.)
For added petty points, “No Fraud” included an appearance by Rah Ali, who is referenced as a witness to Ma’s plastic surgery, which is described by Minaj as failing to improve her looks. Ali’s newfound friendship with Minaj is a painful betrayal because she was once a good friend to Ma, a relationship that fell apart during filming of “Love and Hip Hop New York.”
Minaj’s video brings up the question whether we will ever see a “Shether” visual given that Ma has run into problems with use of the “Ether” sample on the potent diss track.
Check out the dope visuals below:
