The Queen of Rap is back in her battle bag. On Tuesday night (June 10), Nicki Minaj surprised fans by hopping on the remix to Lil Wayne’s “Banned From NO,” a track from Tha Carter VI—and she didn’t hold back.
Reuniting with her longtime Young Money mentor Lil Wayne, Nicki brought both nostalgia and heat, reminding everyone why their chemistry still reigns supreme in hip-hop.
A Nod to Wayne and a Flashback for the Barbz
Mid-verse, Nicki saluted Wayne by flipping one of his most iconic bars from Yes, rapping:
“Weezy F Baby and the F is for Phenomenal.”
With her signature bravado and clever wordplay, it was a full-circle moment for fans who grew up on Young Money’s golden era.
Shots Fired: Shannon Sharpe and Jay-Z in the Crosshairs
Nicki didn’t stop at homage. She came for Shannon Sharpe, referencing his wavering commentary with a slick jab:
“‘Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop, if I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe.”
Later clarifying on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote:
“Yeah n**** you thought I forgot that ‘Nicki who’ sh*t you did? LMFAO… j/k. Ochocinco almost caught a strizzy just by being around yo crazy tail self.”
The NFL and Jay-Z weren’t spared either. Nicki voiced her frustration over the league’s snub of Lil Wayne for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in his hometown:
“NFL, fire some n****s and then call us.”
It was a pointed critique of how the league handles diversity while ignoring hip-hop legends like Wayne when it matters most.
A Powerful Reunion on Tha Carter VI
Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter VI officially dropped on June 6 with 19 tracks and features from Kodak Black, Machine Gun Kelly, Bono, Jelly Roll, Big Sean, and more. But it’s the “Banned From NO (Remix)” with Nicki Minaj that fans can’t stop talking about.
This remix marks the duo’s first collaboration since 2023’s “RNB” off Pink Friday 2, and once again proves that Nicki and Wayne remain one of rap’s most lethal lyrical pairings.
What’s Next for Nicki Minaj?
Fresh off her Pink Friday 2 run and with a new album in the works, Nicki is moving strategically—taking her time, staying sharp, and choosing her moments to strike. And with bars like these, she’s keeping everyone on notice.
