Megan Thee Stallion Opens Up About Beyoncé, Kamala Harris, and Her Fallout with Nicki Minaj in New Billboard Interview

On Wednesday (Sept. 4), Billboard released an in-depth cover story featuring Megan Thee Stallion, where the Houston-born rapper delved into a wide array of topics, including her admiration for fellow Texan Beyoncé, her thoughts on presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, her fascination with Japanese culture, and much more. Alongside these insights, industry peers like GloRilla, Victoria Monét, and Chinara Butler, widow of the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler, showered Megan with well-deserved praise, solidifying her status as one of the hottest names in hip-hop today.

The interview also touched on a more controversial aspect of Megan's career: her fallout with Nicki Minaj. Once collaborators on the summer anthem “Hot Girl Summer,” the two rappers have since exchanged public jabs, leading to speculation about the root of their conflict. Despite the tension, Megan remained confident and unbothered in her response: “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. If people feel like I’m somebody to aim at, then I must be pretty high up if you’re reaching up at me. I must be some kind of competition. That makes me feel good. That makes me feel like I could rap because if I wasn’t the s**t, y’all wouldn’t be worried about me.”

Megan’s relationship with Nicki Minaj initially seemed positive, especially following their 2019 collaboration on “Hot Girl Summer,” which also featured Ty Dolla Sign. However, after Megan’s wildly successful "WAP" collaboration with Cardi B in 2020, tensions began to rise. Minaj, who has a long-standing feud with Cardi, appeared to target Megan through subliminal lyrics on tracks like “Seeing Green,” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” and “FTCU.” These bars sparked rumors of a beef between the two artists, despite Megan having remained largely silent at the time.

That silence ended in January when Megan dropped her fiery diss track “HISS,” which took aim at unnamed rivals with hard-hitting lines like, “These hs don’t be mad at Megan, these hs mad at Megan's Law. I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start.” The track, which quickly topped charts, was perceived by many as a direct shot at Minaj.

Nicki wasted no time in responding, taking to social media with a series of tweets aimed at Megan and following up with her own diss track, “Big Foot,” just days later. Despite the back-and-forth, Megan told Billboard that she remains unclear about what caused the fallout in the first place. “I still to this day don’t know what the problem is,” she admitted. “I don’t even know what could be reconciled because I, to this day, don’t know what the problem is.”

Beyond the drama, Megan used the interview to express her deep admiration for two other prominent women: Beyoncé and Kamala Harris. Megan, who shares her Texas roots with Beyoncé, has often spoken about how the global superstar inspired her to pursue her dreams. In the Billboard feature, she reiterated this sentiment, calling Beyoncé a “guiding light” in both her personal and professional life. The two first collaborated on a remix of Megan’s hit “Savage,” and their relationship has since blossomed, with Beyoncé providing mentorship and support during Megan’s meteoric rise to fame.

On the political front, Megan also touched on her respect for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now running for president. As an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and equality, Megan feels a deep connection to Harris’ platform, particularly as it relates to Black women. “She’s out there representing us, and that’s something I think we need more of — especially in leadership,” she stated.

Another lighter moment in the interview was Megan’s discussion of her love for Japanese culture. As an anime fan and someone who appreciates the intricacies of Japanese art and fashion, Megan spoke passionately about how the culture influences her creative process. Whether it’s her music videos, stage outfits, or personal style, elements of Japan's vibrant and diverse culture are clearly reflected in the rapper’s aesthetic.

Throughout the interview, Megan received well-deserved praise from various industry peers. GloRilla, Victoria Monét, and Chinara Butler, among others, shared their admiration for Megan’s resilience, creativity, and work ethic. As someone who has overcome numerous challenges in both her personal life and career, Megan’s ability to rise above the noise and focus on her craft has been inspiring to many.

Chinara Butler, in particular, spoke fondly of Megan, drawing a connection between her late husband Pimp C, a legendary figure in Southern rap, and Megan’s trailblazing career. “She’s carrying on the legacy of Texas rap with pride, and Pimp would be so proud of what she’s doing,” Butler remarked.

With tensions seemingly still high between her and Nicki Minaj, it’s uncertain if the two will ever reconcile. However, if there’s one thing Megan Thee Stallion made clear in this interview, it’s that she’s focused on moving forward — with or without apologies. From her admiration for political and cultural icons to her unshakable confidence in the face of criticism, Megan remains at the top of her game, continuing to carve her path as one of hip-hop’s most influential voices.

Quiz:

1. What sparked the public fallout between Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj?
2. Which political figure does Megan admire, and why?
3. What is Megan’s connection to Japanese culture?
4. What notable line did Megan use to fire back at her critics in “HISS”?
5. How did Chinara Butler, widow of Pimp C, connect Megan to her late husband’s legacy?

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