Rihanna vs. Nicki Minaji. Who is (Potentially) the Better Rapper?

Last Saturday I assisted on a Bape story in New York City for my internship. After the shoot, a conversation was struck between members of the crew at a local restaurant. The topics ranged from Lebron James’ legacy, Tupac’s impact in rap, and why is French Montana relevant. But the hottest take that caught my ear came from my manager Mia(Guys you’re welcome). She looked me dead in the eye and without hesitation said, “Rihanna is a better rapper then Nicki Minaj.”

It wasn’t what she said that shocked me, it was the blind acceptance of this as some sort of Rare Hip Hop Fact by everyone else at the table. Some how members of this table allowed a discussion over who was a better rapper Jay-Z or Tupac (Tupac can’t hold a candle next to Hov), to completely distract them from this anomaly. Before I completely lost it I paused. She wasn’t completely wrong. We have a history of singers giving bars from Frank Ocean, Trey Songz, and Beyonce . Some “singers” have given classics for rapper to prosper. Clearly Rihanna doesn’t have a true body of work to compare to Nicki’s, so this can’t be a bar to bar comparison. So everything is going to have to be based on her potential. Could Rihanna be a better rapper then Nicki? Let’s find out.

*Ghostwriting will not be included in this discussion.

Styles

Rihanna‘s rapping style goes along with many mainstream rappers, flash your money and talk about sex. Many will say Rihanna has based her whole career off this model, but it truly reigns supreme in her raps. Just look at her song “Pour it Up”, when she raps,

Valet cost a hundred bill and I still got mo’ money
Gold all up in my grill, I still got mo’ money
Who cares how you haters feel and I still got mo’ money
Call Jay up and close a deal, I still got mo’ money

This type of rapping isn’t going to get you on the BET Cyper anytime soon. While these types of songs turn into club banger, they simple lack the depth to truly be sustainable on their on. Lack of depth makes it impossible for a rapper to connect to a fan base.

Rap Style Comparison: 50 Cent

Nicki’s fashion style has gone from “you’re just biting off Lady Gaga” to “Shout out to the camera man”. As her fashion choices evolved, so has her style of rap. She begin with a Caribbean sound before it was hijacked by her label mate Drake into the mainstream for the masses to use and abused. She later teamed up with Young Money’s own Lil Wayne to create her style of swag rap that would put MC’s to shame. Her braggadocious rapping put the rap game on notice. During her feature on B.O.B.’s “Outta My Mind” she raps,

You know, I graduated summa cum laude
That’s why they thinking I’m Illuminati
And matter fact, let’s kiss and make-up
I’ll help you escape on my blue Ducati
Hallelujah!

Nicki has the ability to slow down her flow on slower tracks like Beyonce’s “Flawless”; however Nicki shines when she attacks on a uptempo feature were she is able to switch her speeds at any even moment. The same issues of “depth” plague Nicki as well, though she does open up on songs where she isn’t actually rapping.

Rap Style Comparison: Drake/Lil Kim/Jay-Z

Flow:

On what could be considered Rihanna’s best rap song, she present her best rap flow. In the past she’s used the melodic flow on tracks like “Hard” and “Cake”, but Loyalty is on a whole different level. Rihanna stays in the same tone the entire time and is able to change speeds as the song plays. Rihanna stunting on this track is one to be re-conned with.

Bad girl RiRi now
Swerve, swerve, swerve, swerve, deeper now
On your pulse like it’s EDM
Gas in the bitch like it’s premium
Haul ass on a bitch all in the fast lane
Been a bad bitch way before any cash came
I’m established
Hundred carats on my name
Run the atlas, I’m a natural, I’m alright

I’ve played that song at least 50 times this year and my face still looks as if the New York Knicks won the Draft Lottery (they didn’t). RiRi’s ability to change her flow is something full-time rappers can searched for their entire careers, and she did it with Cornroll Kenny on the beat.

Rap Flow Comparison: Kendrick Lamar/Future

To go last on a song featuring multiple artist is the ultimate sign of respect. Lil Wayne spoke about how on every song he wanted his verse to either be first or last every single time. So for Nicki to be last on the remix with a rookie sensation (YG), a raising star (Meek Mill), and a establish veteran (Lil Wayne) is impressive. Nicki’s flow on this track is perfect, she plays into the concept of the song and is able to leave a lasting impact on it.

You nig, you niggas ain’t got no joints
Like a injured Chris Paul, you ain’t got no point
I just come through with a couple bossy bitches
They get money too, they some “don’t cross me” bitches
Flossy bitches, Sergio Rossi, bitches
And if we at the game then it’s floor seat, bitches!

The only issue is that Nicki has never changed her flow up. The only real change Nicki does to her voice is when she changes her pitch; however,s he never sustain that for an entire song. Her ability to sing on hooks helps, but she isn’t able to produce a melodic flow like other artist. This lack of range hurts when Nicki has to go on slower tracks and can’t just use the energy from the beat.

Best Flow Comparison: Lil Kim/Nelly

Pop Cross-Over:

Rihanna has dominated the Hot 100 charts with crossover music since the mid-2000’s. Her one crossover song that she rapped on was a guest feature for David Guetta back in 2011. Guetta was the hottest thing going at the time and the marriage between the two should have worked. The song topped at #51 on the Hot 100, and has mostly been forgotten. But RiRi still gives a few lines to have the pop fans going crazy.

Back on the dancefloor bad enough to take me home
Bass kicking so hard blazing through my beating heart
French kissin’ on the floor, heart is beating hardcore
Everybody’s getting a little tipsy off the crazy Goose
This will end up on the news

Rap Pop-Cross Over Comparison: T-Pain

Nicki’s flirtation with the pop world didn’t come with out it’s detractors in the beginning; however, she was able to press on and create moment in the pop world to make her a star. Now this is the video that some people wanted to see, but the video above has some jewels as well. This one pop song is just the latest in hit from the New York MC.

Rap Pop Cross-Over Comparison: N/A (Nicki has no comparison she is the standard)

Result:

At the beginning of this the question was “Could Rihanna be a better rapper than Nicki Minaj?” The answer is no. Though rap has changed to be more melodic, Rihanna simply doesn’t have the tools in order to compete with Nicki. Rihanna has a feature on Mike Will-Made-it album “Ransom 2”. Read one of the verses from her song “Nothing is Promise”

Goin’ to France (yeah)
We gon’ vacation in France, nigga (yeah!)
Advanced niggas
Can’t nobody stop me, I’m past niggas
I’m past my limit
I’m drunk and I’m blowin’ a whole lot of gas, nigga (yeah)
Ten million in cash (cash)
Put up in a stash, it’s under my mattress (yeah, yeah)
Ayy, I put the money in the ground like my nigga Frank Luke

It really makes you think who’s writing a verse for a song that’s suppose to be about life being short. “Put up in a stash, it’s under my mattress?” Why am I saving money if life is short? Do I not trust banks? Will someone know where to find this money? Without the chorus of this song, which is just Rihanna repeating the same refrain, this song falls on death ears. And to actually call what Rihanna’s doing on some of these songs as “rapping” is a stretch. Maybe with the right people in the right situation RiRi can give a solid EP, but she can’t come for Nicki. It’s easy to take shots at the thrown when all your business is out in the streets; but Nicki still running this and has for the past seven years. She still got home court advantage.

Winner: Nicki Minaj