Amanda Ross

Staff Writer

amr8469@psu.edu

On January 26, 2024, Megan Thee Stallion released her new single titled ‘HISS’. The subsequent fallout has not only sparked a myriad of speculations and discussions on who specific verses refer to, but has also elevated the previous rivalry between Megan and industry veteran Nicki Minaj.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Houston-based rapper who rose to prominence through viral freestyling videos on platforms such as Instagram. She would first find success with the single ‘Hot Girl Summer’, continuing her success with her first studio album, ‘Good News’. In the following years, she put out her second album, ‘Tramuazine’, along with winning a total of three Grammys and two other hit singles, ‘Thot Sh*t’ and ‘Sweetest Pie’. During this time, Megan would switch to her own independent label, Hot Girl Productions. Megan is also known for her involvement in the widely publicized trial of rapper Tory Lanez, who shot Megan in the foot during an altercation in Los Angeles. Lanez was convicted of the shooting in December 2022.

The song HISS is a direct response to Megan’s critics. Megan retorts that men will use her name and image for ‘24 hours of attention’, and those who attempt to use her sexuality against her are simply giving her a free promo with which to elevate her career. Many also believe that a later verse about men who discourage plastic surgery for women but get it themselves is a diss at Drake, who received speculation over a possible ab enhancement surgery. Another verse references JPay, a system that allows family and friends to communicate with the incarcerated. This is most likely a reference to supporters of Tory Lanez, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence.

However, the line that sparked the most backlash was the verse, ‘These h**s don’t be mad at Megan, these h**s mad at Megan’s law’. This is a reference to Public Law 104-145, commonly known as Megan’s Law, which requires not only that sex offender registries be open for public viewing but that convicted sex offenders must register with state authorities upon changing addresses. While this line could apply to several different people, it has been mostly interpreted as a jab against Kenneth Petty, the husband of Nicki Minaj. Petty was convicted of attempted rape in 1995 and served 4 years in prison, as well as a year under house arrest in 2020 for failing to register in California.

Minaj responded by starting an Instagram live, where she began workshopping verses for her now-released track, ‘Bigfoot’. The title refers to Megan’s foot injury from the Lanez shooting. She also referred to Megan’s deceased mother, claiming she was ‘lying on your dead mama, on your dead mama’. Minaj was also seen in the comment sections of several popular videos covering the topic, urging her fans to report creators who spoke negatively about her. This has caused a wide-scale shift in public opinion toward Minaj, with many not aware of her husband’s convictions and appalled at her response to the vague lyric. Some worry that this behavior will stain her illustrious legacy as one of the largest female rappers.

Right now, there has been no further response from either side. Megan Thee Stallion’s new album is currently set to drop in the summer of 2024.