Nicki Minaj Thanks 'Trendsetter' Eve: 'Women Feel So Much Pressure to Compete' (UPDATE)

UPDATED 9/24, 7:20 a.m. ET: Eve has responded in kind, making sure Nicki Minaj knows “the feeling is mutual.”

Indeed, not long after Minaj initially made headlines for giving the Eve-Olution artist her flowers, she returned the gesture with some praise of her own.

“Dear Nicki, thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it,” she wrote on X, as seen below. “I have nothing but respect and am so proud to have seen you grow from strength to strength over the years as an artist, mom and always stayed true to yourself. Lord knows it’s not easy for us ya’ll. Thank you for all the kind words and blessings to my family. It goes without saying the feeling is mutual.”

Image via Eve

Image via X

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Nicki Minaj is expressing gratitude for Eve having set an example of “emotional and spiritual maturity.”

In an extended message of thankfulness shared to her X account on Sunday, Minaj, who’s currently on the road with her Pink Friday 2 World Tour experience, opened with praise for Eve’s recent “groundbreaking” statements. Specifically, as seen below, Minaj was responding to comments attributed to Eve about the production of the 2016 comedy Barbershop: The Next Cut. Minaj was among the stars new to the franchise for the Malcolm D. Lee-directed film, which also featured Common and Tyga.

“The level of emotional and spiritual maturity it takes to be this vulnerable and transparent is a sign of TRUE peace, happiness, fulfillment, and mastery of self,” Minaj said Sunday. “Self reflection at its height. I always say that I think accountability is the sexiest trait a person can have. I was one of the kids in NY watching Ruff Ryderz on TV. I DEFINITELY remember how when you took the game by storm, that there were some people who couldn’t hide their insecurities.”

Per Minaj, Eve handled this situation with both “grace” and “unapologetic talent and charisma,” all while making it “look easy” to those watching from afar.

“I was so nervous coming onto that movie set every day,” Minaj said when reflecting on the Next Cut shoot with “trendsetter” Eve, whose history with the franchise dates back to the original film in 2002. “You looked like a pro and I admired that so much. Thank you for trying to not do to me what was done to you. Women feel so much pressure to compete and it’s a shame because we usually have so much in common and could really benefit from one another just as human beings. We all share so many of the same experiences as artists, wives, moms, ups and downs, anxiety, etc.”

Minaj continued, “I remember telling a friend of mine that I didn’t think you liked me after our first day on set together. But you know something crazy? I swear. I KNEW that YOU could tell deep down inside that I really liked YOU. So you went easy on me.”

Image via Nicki Minaj

Image via Nicki Minaj

Image via Nicki Minaj

Image via Nicki Minaj

Who’s That Girl, Eve’s memoir with Kathy Iandoli, was released last week. The book, currently a No. 1 bestselling title in the rap and hip-hop biographies section at Amazon, is billed as the “definitive autobiography” of the Grammy-winning Ruff Ryders alum. Read a sample here.

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