Before “TROLLZ” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, people were chastising Nicki Minaj for collaborating with Tekashi 6ix9ine due to his soiled reputation in the music industry.
Not only did 6ix9ine enter a guilty plea for the use of a child in a sexual performance in 2015, he was also arrested in 2018 on racketeering charges and quickly turned government witness, earning the nickname “Snitch9ine” in the process.
But on Monday (June 22), the #NICKISTILLREIGNS hashtag became a trending Twitter topic as Nicki’s ever-loyal Barbz defended their queen for the collaboration. Many of her fans were quick to point out she’s now the first female rapper to land in the coveted spot since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” ruled the chart in 1998. Some also noted “TROLLZ” marks her second No. 1 in the last six weeks, following her “Say So (Remix)” collaboration with Doja Cat.
Nicki, on the other hand, marveled at being able to pull in the “highest pure sales of the year of every song released” without radio or playlists.
View this post on Instagram? ?♥️??‼️??
Released by Create Music Group, “TROLLZ” is the first leader on the list for an independent label since 2018 when Bad Vibes Forever put out XXXTENTACION’s “Sad!” The video has racked up over 133 million YouTube views to date.
Nicki Minaj Hit With Onslaught Of Criticisms For Partnering With Tekashi 6ix9ine Again
6ix9ine rubbed the victory in his haters’ faces shortly after the news broke, while Nicki thanked her fans for making it possible. Meanwhile, the Barbz are blowing up with celebratory tweets in honor of Nicki’s accomplishments.
Check out some of the reactions below.
I WISH ANOTHER FANDOM WOULD TRY THE BARBZ TODAY. ILL WAIT. NICKI STILL REIGNS pic.twitter.com/CTZfP6qMhW
— GOATS-ONLY (@iGOATTALK) June 22, 2020
Those r@ts dragged my sis for years now ‘cause she didn’t have a #1 record in the US, now she’s finally getting them, they have the guts to discredit her work or her fans. Y’all just delusional.
— NICKI STILL REIGNS. ?
— Nicki Stats (@statsofminaj) June 22, 2020
First it was Nicki dont have a number one now it's she doesn't have a solo number one… Chile hunny we are coming for that ..just sip some wine and watch how nicki get her solo number one this year ????️?.
"NICKI STILL REIGNS" pic.twitter.com/UqBTmiMSyy— Honest Barb (@barb_honest) June 22, 2020
I know someone was cancelled & that person isn't Nicki Minaj.
Nicki Still Reigns pic.twitter.com/IijwCUiFLn
— ?BarbCinery?️ (@Hersmilesohot) June 22, 2020
At this point she's just extending them records, she already broke them
Nicki Still Reigns https://t.co/udrXawa9io
— ?BarbCinery?️ (@Hersmilesohot) June 22, 2020
NO RADIO, NO SPOTIFY SUPPORT, NO APPLE SUPPORT, MORE THAN 7 FANBASES TRYING TO BLOCK THE SONG. BUT WE ARE #1. NICKI STILL REIGNS ?? pic.twitter.com/vkkmJ01v0Z
— TUSA MINAJ (@tusaminajtrollz) June 22, 2020
So Trollz went number one with no radio play but they said nicki was done #Nickistillreigns NICKI STILL REIGNS ♥️♥️? pic.twitter.com/UviosNpqHk
— Yesenia Tav (@YeseniaTav_) June 22, 2020
records nicki Minaj broke today with Trollz going #1. Nicki Still Reigns ?
– FIRST female rapper to debut at #1 this century AND debut at #1 w/a RAP song
– Passed Elvis Presley for most Hot 100
– Largest streaming era debut with 100K
– 5th black female w/most Top 10 entries pic.twitter.com/lttFnINOWd— TROLLZ TAKEOVER?? (@NICKIBC20) June 22, 2020
We showed that we can do this alone sksksk we don’t need no other fan base Nicki still reigns pic.twitter.com/vMjQuc15se
— ityy bitty piggy (@biccpizza) June 22, 2020
Imagine being blackballed on streaming platforms and still manage to debut at #1 and sell 356,000 units. What a time to be alive. Whew.
— NICKI STILL REIGNS. PERIOD. ?
— Nicki Stats (@statsofminaj) June 22, 2020
the barbz watching people try to cancel Nicki for the 2927181994848483888th time:
NICKI STILL REIGNS pic.twitter.com/leCN4px4iM— hi (@iamkulturek) June 22, 2020
the way the barbz are coming for blood this year omg i never thought y all gon be that revolutionary !!!!!! we are currently on track to reintroduce pure sales era after YEARS !!!!!! ?????? NICKI STILL REIGNS pic.twitter.com/rAsjLIwaCH
— Nickiana till da death ? (@oussminaj2) June 22, 2020
They said she would never get a #1 & that her career was over & now 2 years later Nicki making history by topping the charts & becoming one of the best selling artists of 2020 in less than 43 days.. I just know her haters are seething
– NICKI STILL REIGNS pic.twitter.com/EaXky2iUaP
— ONIKA4BARBZ ?✨ (@Onika4Barbz__) June 22, 2020
NICKI STILL REIGNS if we look at the charts, the total units sold, & all the hard work @NICKIMINAJ puts in. The facts have been presented & the case is closed.. Who better for da rap game than Nicki. pic.twitter.com/KffW4vnTok
— Da Big Kahuna ? (@DaKhiddo) June 22, 2020
Trollz fighting Rockstar & The Bigger Picture for the #1 spot on billboard ???‼️ Nicki still reigns pic.twitter.com/JdpncH3ZNV
— Lavish Jayy ? (@iamlavishjayy) June 22, 2020
Nicki Minaj joins Lauryn Hill as the only female rappers to debut at Number 1 in Billboard chart HISTORY. ?NICKI STILL REIGNS? pic.twitter.com/195ofpgDhz
— ONIKA (@hardwhiitte_m) June 22, 2020