With Nicki Mania taking over the country this week, debate was rife on our Facebook page about the hip hop star’s allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago where she was born. Some people argued that she does not do enough to promote, comparing her to Bajan singer Rihanna, who never lets the world forget where she is from. We asked our fans if they felt Nicki only used T&T as a spin to her celebrity.
Neka Morris: I would agree that she doesn't do much to promote Trinidad... I believe as a star coming from the Caribbean, you should really be an ambassador for your island... I more hear about Rihanna and Barbados. She may use the name Trinidad in a couple of songs but is that enough?
Jiselle Gilliard: She lived here till she was 6, what does she KNOW about Trinidad? What more is she expected to do? It's not like Rihanna who grew up in Barbados. I think Nicki does enough...really...
Thaiz Gulston: I don't consider Nicki as a Trinidadian. She lived here till she was 5 and this is probably her 2nd visit back here. What does she really know about us? She can't be any ambassador for a country she barely lived in. With Rihanna its different, Rihanna grew up in Barbados.
Sherma James: It does not matter she putting Trinidad out there on the map.
Kelisha David: I just wish that people will include Tobago when we're talking about our country.
Dennis Allen: She mightah born in Trini, but growing up in Queens ain so far removed from the West Indian Diaspora that she TOTALLY doesn’t know about her Trininess. FACT is, she does rep for the 868. What people gottah accept is that she belongs to the WORLD. What she supposed to do? Interpret a Barackpore accent and channel ah Vessigny Beach lime? steups
Sharon Murray: Come on my Trini people, yes Nicki was born in Trinidad, keep in mind she left at age 6, obviously you can't compare her to Rihanna who grew up in Barbados, at the end of the day they are both Caribbean ladies and doing their thing. We need to focus and continue to support our Soca artiste so they too can do their thing on the international market.
Candice Desouza: Is it really her business to promote the country? She is a celebrity whether you want to admit it or not. She is doing her thing.
Eve Singh Maharaj: Sure if given the chance she would rep Trini in any way she can...give her ah break
Alicia Funkylicous Farmer: She do represent.... her peeps know about Trini.
Masheru: I think We always expect too much from our People. What? Allyuh Want Nicki to walk around with the national Flag stickin out her back pocket? At the end of the Day even though Nicki Grew up in New York, she is 100 percent Trini Blood and have instilled in her Trini Values from her mother, her father and her family from Trinidad. Because she migrated does not mean that she doesn’t know about us and our culture... she didn’t move to the states by herself and grew up by herself... Her both parents were born and grew up in Trinidad.....do your research. I’ve seen interviews where Nicki talks about burning sugar to stew chicken and how she can cook curry and she knows about wining, she knows about Destra, Machel, Mighty Sparrow and loves the song Congo man ETC ....ETC.... Hell Nicki maybe more Trini than some of us fresh water yankees residing here..... however it does not mean that you all must hate on her cause she doesn’t paint her face red white and black. She has been to Trinidad several times before fame, even when her grandmother died..... She always rep Trinidad as her homeland over the years. Just look at her Twitter. She mention Trinidad in her songs more than two times even in her new album on the track Beautiful Sinner (Which I love). She has actually done a lot, the biggest thus far is such a publicised video shoot for what is one of her hottest songs on her album that will be an international hit, especially after winning best female hip hop and such a remarkable performance on bet awards on Sunday.. I admire Nicki for that. How much have you heard Rihanna talk about BIM? Or shot videos in BIM? For the little time Nicki has lived here as a child, she shows a lot of respect and it’s best we all appreciate that and the fact that a HISTORIAN in the Music Industry is representin us, be it part or fulltime us. Y’all just bein ungrateful!!!
