By: Izzy Rosales
*note: this review is purely based on music and is not related to the nature surrounding Megan and Nicki’s feud*
While the beef between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion has been ruminating for a couple of years now, both artists wasted no time in starting off the new year right. That is… with a diss track. On January 26, 2024, Megan independently released her single “HISS” in an attempt to speak her piece and clear her name once and for all. The track serves as a message to all her haters and opps (including Nicki Minaj). Nicki, however, did not tolerate this and clapped back with the release of her diss track “Big Foot” three days later.
I was completely unaware that this feud had come about, and it wasn’t until I passed by a whiteboard in my dorm’s hall labeled “Team Nicki or Megan?” that I was introduced to this debate and their complex relationship. As I headed back to my dorm, I looked up “Nicki and Megan feud” and was greeted with the two diss tracks. Truly, I am not the biggest fan of either artist; I would not consider myself a Barb nor a Hottie, and this gave me a very neutral stance when it came to listening and analyzing each song. After my initial listen to both songs there was one that I found myself playing on repeat—and that was “Big Foot.”
I couldn’t bear to listen to more than 10 seconds of “HISS” after her targeted and abrupt introduction saying, “I just want to kick this s*** off by saying, “F*** y’all!” It was quite the unappealing start and surely did not set up the rest of the song for success. Nonetheless, I persevered through and after listening to it multiple times and going back and forth with “Big Foot,” it is clear that Megan’s does not compare to Nicki’s – and not in a good way. Her lyrics are incredibly generic, filled with a couple of name drops here and there and meaningless jabs making it sound like an elongated rant about people using her name for clout. Almost as if she were afraid to say what she wanted to, she tiptoed around her claims. Unlike Megan, Nicki’s lyrics carried more substance through their specific references. Her lines were much more thought out and well written, taking hits at Megan’s mother, and her interview with Gayle King. Regardless of whose side you’re on, you have to admit that Nicki’s line, “The b**** fell off, I said, ‘Get up on your good foot’” (referencing the incident when Tory Lanez shot Megan’s foot) was very clever and reflexive of her lyrical talent. Even her decision to have her album cover an image of her stepping on Megan’s foot shows Nicki’s attention to detail.
If we take away the lyrics, the instrumental versions for both are quite good. Their strong undertones and varied usage of musical elements and instruments made for a strong foundation, making the sound catchy, but not obnoxious. The variety and range of technical structures used, also made both engaging to the listener.
However, in all honesty, there’s no doubt that both tracks do have their flaws. Nicki’s ASMR sections completely throw off the song’s flow and were comically uncomfortable to listen to. Megan’s track is overwhelmed with lyrics being sung too quickly to understand, making it a messy jumble of her thoughts and emotions. Additionally, nothing about “HISS” seems very different from her previous work. I was not impressed that most of the material sounds recycled and all too similar to older tracks.
After forming my own opinion about each song, I asked many of my friends for their opinion and researched what the public thought about it as well. I was surprised that “Big Foot” had received such strong negative criticism online, when the majority of people whose opinion I asked for also expressed that they preferred Nicki’s song over Megan’s. Neither song is well reflective of these artists’ best work. Ultimately, though, when it comes down to which song has stronger, more complex beats and lyrics, I would definitely vote Team Nicki.
