Nicki Minaj praises her 'Barbz' fanbase for bringing stan culture to hip-hop

Nicki Minaj gushed about her devoted audience, The Barbz, which she credited with influencing "stan culture" in hip-hop. On Wednesday, October 16, the Young Money veteran spoke at Vogue's Forces of Fashion event in New York City, explaining how she established the standard for rap artists' ability to connect with their fans.

Nicki Minaj.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

"Before I had a record deal, my fans were creating a buzz for themselves on Twitter. "I had already given them a name," she explained. "When I first started calling my supporters the Barbz, there were no rappers naming their fans. There were only two persons at the time, and I'm not sure who arrived first: Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. They had Beliebers and Monsters. "That was it!"

She said, "Now, every single person who becomes an artist gives their audience a name. Even artists from different countries. When I researched some of the African musicians I admire, I discovered that they have names for their fanbases. And I was like, 'Wow.' I didn't expect it to extend to the Hip-Hop community. But it doesn't matter because the Barbz remain superior."

Speaking of movements, she also promoted her Pink Friday 2 Tour, which has become the highest-grossing tour for a female rapper. "Honestly, I didn't expect that! But whether or not I had the highest statistics, the moments with the Barbz were healing for me," she told moderator Eva Chen, Meta's vice president of fashion. "They said it's healing for them too, but trust, it's been a vibe for me, as well."

She continued to express her affection for her Barbz, saying, "I feel quite grateful. "The way they ride for me always gets me in the feels." The Barbz will go to any length to protect their queen.

Earlier this year, Minaj took to X to reflect on when the following originally started in the early 2000s, sharing some of what she's learned about her fans over the years. "I'm trying to tell you that nobody is exempt. "#ACGI ANYBODY CAN GET IT!" she wrote at the time. "It doesn't matter who starts it; the barbz will always finish it. I've been doing this sh*t for a long time, and every time I attempted to warn people that the barbz are different, they learned the hard way."

She listed her revelations, saying: "1. They NEVER Forget. 2. They don't mind how long it takes to get an OPP bakk. 3. They never stop once they've started. They'll be in that a** #ForLife (moment for Life voice). 4. They defeated everyone in their own game while laughing and cheering for Onika. 5. They enjoy giving others a taste of their own medicine. So, if you do something, they'll patiently wait their turn and chiiiiiiii. WooWEE 6. Never do business with the barbz. Once people believe the line has been crossed, it becomes personal.

She concluded, "Read #6 again. It was not a typo. I am not their favorite; I am their family. Recognize the difference and then... Play at your own risk. #PinkFriday2 #GagCity WORLD TOUR starts in 10 days."