There are lots of interesting sorts of things going on with this imbroglio (which, not ‘being on the net’ for a week I totally missed (yet sort of didn’t miss, too)) not the least of which are Flex’s 100% assholery. I think it’s easy to gloss over the fact that a product has to please. There are always super users who think the product needs to please them because of their role. I said as much when I rreviewed Roman Reloaded and called half the album terrible.

I think misogyny is an easy sell, though, and this is just another isntance of split personality capitalism driving our culture.

The 3 million girls that are Minajs’s fans could give Hot 97 a lot of money, and they probably will because of the patriarchal norms coded into listening behavior and cultural performance (eg, listening to TDE Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q even when they’re just talking about fucking bitches and hoes).

It’s entirely unfair that some cultural engines get to make money off both sides of the equation - patriarchy and empowerment - whereas others have to try half-assedly (I think, sorry) to get what’s left over. It’s interesting (that really is a useless word) that Minaj is the perfect touchpoint for this conflagration. So many expectations, so much talent, so much money to be made by and for her. The whole ‘Roman’ thing and the fact that “Stupid Hoe” is such (such) an amazing song is already just a re-iteration of the (really massive, structural) problems facing her, in a meta sense.

I’m glad that Minaj has dropped out, even though I’m not glad for her or that she’s having to put up with this bullshit.