The recent collaboration of Nicki Minaj with Lil Wayne on the remix of “Banned From NO” has stirred significant interest within the music industry. In the track, Minaj is candidly vocal about her views on JAY-Z, the NFL, and Shannon Sharpe, while simultaneously acknowledging their Young Money beginnings.
The unexpected remix was launched on Tuesday (June 11), following closely on the heels of the release of Wayne’s Tha Carter VI on streaming platforms the previous Thursday (June 6). Notably, the initial release did not feature Minaj, a fact that had led to widespread speculation.
Not only did the remix address this absence, but it also resulted in Nicki Minaj trending at the top of Twitter.
In the song, Minaj’s hook is replete with NBA team name wordplay. However, it was her verse that ignited conversations. Among her lines was a clear jab at Sharpe: “If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe.”
Minaj later provided an explanation for the lyric on Twitter, referencing a February 2024 incident when Sharpe had made a disparaging comment about her. She wrote, “If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that sharp!!!! Yeah n#### you thought I forgot that ‘Nicki who’ s### you did? LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO j/k.”
She continued, “Ochocinco almost caught a strizzy just by being around yo crazy tail self.”
Before concluding her verse, Minaj shifted her focus to the NFL and JAY-Z, criticizing them for not choosing Wayne to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in his native city of New Orleans. She rapped, “NFL, fire some n##### and then call us!”
This remix signifies the first collaboration between Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne since her groundbreaking 2023 album, Pink Friday 2. Minaj promoted the track on Instagram, labeling Wayne “the GOAT” and sharing throwback pictures from their Young Money days.
The original “Banned From NO” is included on Tha Carter VI, which comprises 19 tracks and includes collaborations with several unexpected artists.
