It’s well known in the industry that Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj are hella close. The two have done a few songs together for both of their albums and continue to show each other endless love and support both on and off social media.
So, when Nicki Minaj got into some new drama with Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner, people were waiting to see if Ariana Grande would get involved and side with her girl. It turns out–she did.
Let’s back-track and give you some historical facts. Nicki Minaj launched an attack on Twitter towards Travis Scott and his girlfriend/baby-momma Kylie Jenner.
I put my blood sweat & tears in writing a dope album only for Travis Scott to have Kylie Jenner post a tour pass telling ppl to come see her & Stormi. lol. Im actually laughing. #Queen broke the record of being number 1 in 86 countries. Thank Jesus & thank you to my fans.
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
The photo that Minaj is referring to, of course, is the one Kylie Jenner posted on her Instagram, captioning it: “me and storm ready for tour.”
Nicki basically got angry that Kylie helped her boyfriend sell merch linked to album sales, boosting his numbers to beat hers.
Travis sold over 50K of these. With no requirement of redeeming the album! With no dates for a tour, etc. I spoke to him. He knows he doesn’t have the #1 album this week. I love my fans for the #1 album in AMERICA! I’ll explain on #QueenRadio 4 albums in, #1 in 86 countries ♥️ pic.twitter.com/CiYEuczgm3
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
Many artists have begun linking album and merchandise sales, as more people have switched to streaming apps and services over purchasing whole albums. Therefore, they can still lock in high album sale numbers, even if people aren’t buying the album outright.
I looked at the numbers the Carters, Kanye, Nas, etc recently did. Travis sold 200K in his first week of clothes alone. I spoke to him last night & he said he’s been selling clothes b4 the music. Billboard says they’ll change the rules cuz of this, so it should be changed now!
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
At the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, Grande and Minaj were seen whispering about something–which, fans of course assumed was Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner.
Ariana and Nicki were def talking mad shit about Travis omg look at the way they were side-eyeing him at the end I’m weakkkk ???? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/wNB5rYUyeb
— marty (@ilsanspjm) August 21, 2018
Nicki hopped on her radio show to throw even more shade at Scott, saying:
“What we’re not gonna do is have that Auto-Tune man selling f*cking sweaters telling you he sold half a million albums, because he f*cking didn’t. You stupid f*ck. You got your f*cking homeboy talking for you and you got your girlfriend selling tour passes. Stop it. Knock it the f*ck off.”
Damn, girl–that’s cold-blooded. While Nicki continues to drag Travis Scott, Ariana Grande threw her own shade in the mix at her Sweetener Sessions in Chicago this week when people were talking about her album going number one.
Ariana Grande shades Travis Scott after manager Scooter Braun predicts confidently that ‘Sweetener’ will debut at #1 next week:
‘We have three days left, you don’t know what Travis could pull.’ pic.twitter.com/r8YJlAi4IW
— Music News Facts (@musicnewsfact) August 23, 2018
And Twitter couldn’t hold back.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ariana Grande shading Travis Scott after being told her album “Sweetener” could go #1 pic.twitter.com/2QHseFsT1H
— vincent van hoe (@pettyreligion) August 23, 2018
ariana said "we got three days left we don't know what travis is gonna pull". ????
— sweetener. (@sweetenersource) August 23, 2018
ARIANA SHADING TRAVIS IM LAUGHJING
— tash (@Iustrem) August 23, 2018
Okay Ariana WE SEE YOU WITH THE TRAVIS SHADE . @NICKIMINAJ this yo whole sister a real sis pic.twitter.com/vtgIzRix8F
— Good Form . Periodt (@CloudyNickii) August 23, 2018