The Beautiful Chaos of Nicki Minaj Fans During an Election

This story is part of the KQED series The Fandom Vote, exploring the election-year concerns and voting preferences of pop culture fanbases.

W

hen we began planning to talk to pop culture fandoms about this year’s election, we knew we couldn’t overlook the Barbz.

Nicki Minaj fans come from all walks of life, unified in their fierce loyalty to the Queen of Rap. As a pivotal figure in music who blew open the doors for today’s female rappers, Nicki is an icon — one whose fanbase has as many different political leanings as she has alter egos.

Nicki’s own politics don’t exactly fit into a box, either. She’s expressed admiration for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but has also decried being told what to do by Democrats, including getting COVID vaccines. In trademark chaotic style, she once dedicated her ass-centric hit “Anaconda” to both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, “in the spirit of unity.”

So it wasn’t too surprising that outside Nicki Minaj’s show at the Chase Center in San Francisco, just over a month before Election Day, we found Barbz for Trump, Barbz for Harris, Barbz who didn’t care — as well as Barbz who flat-out hate both candidates.

You already know in advance what political opinions you’ll get at a Ted Nugent concert. Or a Phoebe Bridgers concert. Nicki, though? It’s all over the place.

“I’m voting Trump all the way, and anybody that got a problem can fight me,” said Elissa Amin, from Reno. “When he was president four years ago, everything was better, prices were lower. He’s even said he’s gonna lower all the prices.”

Amin praised Trump’s foreign policy as well. “I feel like we’ve just been at war with a lot of countries. You can just make peace with someone in a phone call. That’s what he does,” she said.

As for other issues, like abortion, Amin said that she was “definitely learning more about that stuff right now. I’m trying to extend my knowledge on that. But I’m definitely all about pro-choice, whatever a woman wants to do with her body.”

Her friend, Jeremiah Gage, just turned 18. “I’m not really big on politics,” he said. “But I feel like it’s cool. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone’s opinion can change the world, you know? Definitely, next year, I will be voting.”

Domi Nhan came to the show from Modesto with her friend Anecia Brown.

“Go Kamala,” Nhan said, planning to vote for the candidate who “can actually have a difference and not go backwards.”

“I mean, look at the presidential debate. It was a mess. You can’t spit false information 24/7 just to save your ass,” Nhan said. “And women’s rights mean a lot to me. That’s something, at least, and I’d rather go forward with something than nothing.”

Sierra Northcutt, from Sacramento, was blunt about her stance on the candidates.

“They’re both evil. They both fuckin’ suck,” she said. “I don’t think any one of ’em would be a good choice. We need somebody who’s actually for the people.”

Her friend Leanna Taylor agreed.

“Either one, they’re just not ready for the White House,” Taylor said. “’Cause [Kamala] stands with how Joe Biden stands. I feel like Joe Biden hasn’t really done as much as other presidents. And Donald Trump, people say he’s crazy and everything, but there’s also just his age. We need somebody a little bit younger, who sees more of the younger generation’s perspective on things.

So what qualities would their ideal candidate have?

“Somebody who doesn’t come from privilege, obviously,” said Northcutt. “And under 70. Actually, under 50.”

Siena Starr was just one year old when Nicki Minaj’s debut album Pink Friday was released. Hailing from San Jose, Starr plans to start voting when she turns 18, but for now, at the age of 15, she’s already paying attention.

“I mean, if I could vote, I’d vote for Kamala Harris,” Starr said. “I feel like she’s very woman-empowering. I feel like she’d be a good representative for our country.”

Starr added that she doesn’t like Trump, stating it plain: “He used to be our president, and I didn’t like the ideas he had.”

Kiera Baldwin and Nikaiyah Williams, both from Hayward, are that rare breed of Bay Area voter: undecided about whether to vote for Harris or Trump. And it’s not that they don’t participate in elections.

“I vote,” Baldwin said. “But right now, I’m still thinking about it.” Baldwin cited the economy, homelessness and women’s rights as issues that are important to her.

Williams said her concerns in this election cycle include “homelessness and low-income families.”

As for any issue that Nicki fans are united on, “I would probably say women’s rights, most likely,” Baldwin offered, noting that Nicki Minaj is a mom.

Trini, a recording artist from Oakland, did not hesitate in her opinion.

“Vote Kamala,” she implored. “Please get Trump out of my face. I don’t want to see him no more. And I just hate the fact that he’s even an option. If a felon can run the country, then why can’t felons get jobs?”

An advocate for reproductive rights, Trini worries about what could happen if Trump wins and assumes the role of a dictator, especially since he’s given a lot of leeway already, she said.

“As far as the debate, he didn’t answer no questions directly. Just tiptoein’ around. I’m just over it. It’s like a theatrical performance at this point,” Trini added.

Ronnie Punani came from Stockton for the show to celebrate her four-year anniversary with partner Nate — but was decidedly not celebrating her choices at the ballot box.

Each candidate “kind of sucks ass, you know, at this point,” she said. “It’s like, what the lesser evil is.”

Still, Ronnie encouraged people to vote anyway. “There’s a lot of people that are not registered, whose voice does matter. Every voice matters, wherever you come from, no matter your skin tone or who you are. Your voice matters.”

Neither Nate nor Ronnie wanted to say who they’d be voting for. But Nate offered an array of issues on his mind this election cycle.

“Everyday middle-class American jobs are always an issue,” Nate said. “Pay is always an issue. Living situations are always an issue. Groceries, everything from eggs to milk to bread and butter, are an issue.” He added that taxes, high rent, poverty and crime create poor living conditions.

“If you come in to the city, here in Frisco, it almost looks like a third-world country,” he said.

As for solutions? “I think we need to bring American jobs back to the states. I think taxes need to be lowered, I think police need to be reinforced, and I think that local government needs to step up.”

Ronnie said she’s not very concerned with Nicki Minaj making an endorsement of one candidate or the other.

“If you look in an interview, she always makes sure that her Barbz go to school. She’s encouraged people to make sure that they get their college degree. But when it comes down to politics, it’s like… you’ve seen the meme of Nicki Minaj with the American flag, right? Nicki for President, honestly. Period.”

Ally Thomas came for the show from Chico with her friend Cordé Faafiu. And while the three-hour drive proved her passion for Nicki Minaj, Thomas doesn’t have the same interest the election.

“I try to avoid it, to be honest. It’s just a mess,” she said.

Asked about any issues that concern her in Chico, Thomas said, “I mean, wildfires are always a concern, up in Chico. I was evacuated twice this year.”

Lakayla Shelton, from San Francisco, said that with her background as a prosecutor, Harris would be a firm but fair president.

“She’s just a strong, independent woman, and that’s what we need in the office right now,” Shelton said.

Her friend Loretta Stanberry, also from San Francisco, acknowledged some good in the Trump administration, like the stimulus checks authorized during the first year of COVID. But she plans to vote for Kamala, and “it’s not just because she’s a woman or she’s an African American,” she said.

“I feel like the direction Trump’s going, we’re not going to make it too long. And I also feel like if you could be a felon, indicted on felonies, and still run? I don’t think that’s fair.”

Stanberry went on to praise Harris’ mindset. “Even when working with Biden, she’s on our team, all the issues, she’s working for us. She’s for all minorities. No matter what descent, what you identify as, she’s equal to everybody. I feel like she’ll be a great president.”

Read more stories of pop culture fandoms and the election in the KQED series The Fandom Vote.