Nicki Minaj Brings Out Beenie Man During London Tour Stop: “One Of My Heroes”
Dancehall heavyweight Beenie Man is the second Jamaican artist to perform at Nicki Minaj’s sold-out Pink Friday 2 tour.
‘The Doctor’ touched down in Gag City for the rap star’s London performance on Tuesday to the delight of Minaj, a longtime fan.
“I just performed with the KING OF DANCEHALL,” the FTCU hitmaker wrote on X . “One of the most talented musicians that I looked to for inspiration my entire career. I can’t believe this is my life sometimes. Wow. came to #GAGCITYLONDON yall!!!!!!! One of my heroes. I love this man so much @KingBeenieMan.”
The ‘King of Dancehall’ and the ‘Queen of Rap’ vibed as he made his way down the main stage with his 1997 hit Who Am I.
His musical treat continued with songs like Dude (2004), which Minaj gladly supported by singing Ms. Thing’s chorus. The Super Bass pop star was also seen dancing as he ignited the crowd.
Before exiting the stage with Rum and Redbull, Beenie expressed his appreciation for the Trini-born act.
“Nicki, I love you baby,” he said. “You got one more song for me?”
In her own version of patois, she responded, “No, mi nuh have nothing else fi you. I just have a hug, and I just have to,” she said before bowing before the seasoned entertainer.
Dancehall act Stylo G was also at the show, performing the remix of his 2018 Touch Down hit.
Hours before the show commenced at the O2 Arena, Minaj promised her Barb fanbase a special show. “#GagCityLondon this will be the best, most magical, memorable, BEAUTIFUL, fun, emotional, joyful, exciting, perfect experience ever. See you soon.”
The entertainer’s reverence for the Girls Dem Sugar artist is longstanding. The tour, named after her fifth and December-released album, interpolates Beenie’s Wickedest Slam on the Drake collab Needle. The platinum-selling album also features Just the Memories , inspired by Beenie’s Memories (taken from a Johnny Bristol original).
The pair previously collaborated on Gun Shot in 2012 for Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded album. She has also played his music in numerous livestreams and shouted him out during award shows, the most recent being the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards show.
Nicki Minaj: ‘I Want Gag City to Come to Jamaica’
Beenie’s performance comes weeks after Pamputtae became the first Jamaican act to grace the Gag City stage. In a recent Stationhead livestream, Minaj said she hopes to take the tour to Jamaica.
“Of course, I want Gag City to come to Jamaica,” Minaj responded to a fan.
A history-making tour for female rap, Pink Friday 2 commenced on March 1 and is currently in Europe after selling out its first North American leg. During the early promotion for the accompanying album, Minaj assured fans that they’ll be in “Gag City” upon listening to the tracks, inspiring the nickname for the tour.
Days before launching the tour in the United States, Minaj expressed interest in taking the show to the Caribbean, considering her own Trinidadian heritage and longstanding love for Jamaican culture. In the latest livestream, the Barbie Dangerous artist insinuated that the regional leg will feature Caribbean female artists.
“You guys, I told you that my desire is to do ‘Gag City: Caribbean Girls Run It’, and come through the Caribbean islands, like what?”
Minaj famously used the “Caribbean girls run it” line on Skeng’s Likkle Miss (Remix), and again on the Fine Nine Remix – an all-female take on Skeng’s 2022 track. Pamputtae, who is featured on that track, performed her verse after opening for Minaj on a tour stop in Toronto, Canada, last month.
As for the possible “Caribbean girls” who could be rocking the stage, Spice, Dovey Magnum, Destra Garcia and Patrice Roberts also featured on the Fine Nine Remix. Minaj previously did an all-female takeover during one Boston tour stop, which saw a special performance of Super Freaky Girl (Queen Mix) with JT, Bia, Maliibu Mitch, Akbar V and Katie Got Bandz.
It’s not often that the region is included in the world tour of a major international artist. The last heavyweight to do so was Chris Brown who included Jamaica in his Under the Influence tour in 2023. Afrobeats star Burna Boy included Jamaica, Trinidad and Antigua in his Love Damini tour in 2022.
Needless to say, several local netizens are psyched about Minaj adding to the list.
“She needs to just set this date because I’m already there,” one user wrote.
“If it’s starting at 4pm, I’ll be there from 7am with a blanket n card board spread out right at the gate,” another commented.
“Ok so how much of a hole this gonna put in my account?”
“A the fuss show this mi ago go. Nicki Minaj me deh deh pon me eyelash.”
“Somebody tell me di date now su mi can gu sell mi next kidney.”
“Listen, talk the date from now mek start save.”
Others questioned which venue could facilitate such a crowd, but the National Stadium has become the go-to space for such concerts, as was the case for Chris Brown’s and Burna Boy’s.