Nicki Minaj often makes headlines for her revealing outfits, sexual lyrics and "bad b---h" attitude, but there's so much more to the rapper than what meets the eye. On Wednesday night at the A&E Network's benefit concert, "Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America," we saw an inspirational side of Minaj; a side of her that makes her one of the most powerful and fearless women in the industry.
During the event, Minaj, 32, stunned on stage in a black and gold embellished Balmain dress as she did her own rendition of the late Maya Angelou's significant and well-known 1978 poem "Still I Rise," according to the New York Daily News. As a provocative artist, you could tell that the words of this poem, which are all about preserving in the face of oppression and discrimination, really hit close to home.
"Does my sexiness upset you?" Minaj recited to a cheering audience. "Does it come as a surprise, that I dance like I've got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?"
Minaj was joined at the benefit by John Legend, Sia, Alicia Keys, Ed Sheeran, Zac Brown Band and Miguel, according to The Guardian. The concert was a way to address the ongoing racial conflicts and inequality in this country and to help raise money for the nonprofit organization United Way Worldwide. For Minaj, there was no better moment than this night to deliver such a powerful version of this poem.
"Thanks for having me Ken!" Minaj captioned a photo from the event. "Great cause. Honored to have been a part of it."
The concert will broadcast across the network's cable channels during a three hour special on Friday night. Watch Minaj's performance below.
