Despite Obscene Lyrics, 8-Year-Old Performs Nicki Minaj Song On National TV
8-year-old YouTube sensation Sophia Grace Brownlee has hit 21 million views of her rendition of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass”. The video became so viral, that it even attracted the attention of Ellen Degeneres, who brought Sophia and her cousin onto her television show, and surprised the two with a special meeting with Nicki Minaj herself.
While it was certainly a touching moment that made for great television, let’s add some context here in order to complete the story:
Dirty Girl
The official video for “Super Bass” has well over 180 million views on YouTube, at least one of which came from Sophia. If you haven’t seen the video for “Super Bass”, I encourage you to watch it to get an idea of the explicit nature of the song.
If you were unable to grasp any of the lyrical content during the video, here are some excerpts:
- “…he cold, he dope, he might sell coke…”
- “…that’s the kind of dude I was lookin’ for, and yes you’ll get slapped if you’re lookin’ ho…”
- “…when he give me that look, then the panties comin’ off, off, unh…”
The 8-year-old told Ellen that she did not know what the song's lyrics meant. However, during the show Minaj requests Sophia to sing the bridge section of "Super Bass" because “people need to hear the bridge”. What Minaj (and her PR folks) are actually doing is directing us towards the least offensive parts of the entire song – which talks about how her “heartbeat is running away” and has all those catchy “boom, boom, boom” parts.
It's hard to imagine that a high cute-factor is enough to excuse the performance of such raunchy and explicit lyrics on national television. However, that certainly seems to be the case in this particular instance.
Not-So-Sound Advice?
Towards the end of the segment, Minaj offers the young diva a bit of career advice: 
“Music is beautiful, but I want you to stay in school. Put your books first and singing second.”
I don’t know about the rest of you readers, but that’s not the kind of advice I’d want to hear from one of my idols. That’s the kind of advice you’d hear from a distant relative who has no idea what you’re capable of, who has no idea of who you are uniquely, and knows nothing of what dreams you'd like to accomplish. After all, kids admire pop stars and athletes because they followed their dreams – not because they played it safe.
Nicki Minaj didn’t stay in school. She harnessed and nurtured her talent, while believing in herself and her capabilities the entire time while ignoring any and all doubters. She took a chance, and it paid off tremendously. So why did she play it safe by advising this hugely talented young girl to put her dreams second?
Perhaps Minaj and her PR people recognized the delicate nature of what was going on with this young girl performing such a raunchy song. This situation had all the right ingredients to be highly controversial, yet they chose to frame the story in a way that appeared to be totally harmless.
What do you think? Was the song too inappropriate? Was Nicki Minaj right in telling Sophia to put her dreams second?
This post is by regular Hypebot contributor, musician, and independent music business professional - Hisham Dahud (@HishamDahud)
Relax. You’re overthinking the whole thing.
Limpy – Thanks for reading.
In writing this, I was actually in the midst rethinking everything. I saw the video, watched the Ellen show, and thought the whole thing was warm and cuddly. Then I decided to follow up on the song itself (because I thought it was catchy). Upon watching the music video, it dawned on me that this cute 8-year-old has no idea the kind of things she’s talking about. What’s more worrisome is that the adults encourage her purely for the cute factor of the performance.
Do you think they ever once sat Sophia down and explained to her that the song, and her idol Nicki Minaj, might be a bit inappropriate for sing-alongs in the classroom?
You just said it – “this cute 8 year-old has no idea the kind of things she’s talking about.”
They’re just words to her.
When I was 8, I loved the band KISS. Looking back now, almost ALL of their songs were about sex. As an 8 year-old I had no idea – I just loved that the bass player spit blood and they painted their faces all crazy and there were explosions on stage when they played. I dressed up as different members of the band for Halloween. No harm no foul.
That little girl likes Nicki Minaj for the same reasons. No harm no foul.
Limpy B – Except you weren’t an 8 year old boy dressing in what could be considered a very controversial outfit (half naked, spikes), doing inappropriate things (spitting blood), and singing lyrics not suited for children to sing (a lot of their songs)… on national television or medium where millions of veiwers could see you and who you could influence (and give the wrong idea about) yourself. Yes, kids always want to be older and emulate adults, but when they aren’t being taught what they are doing means and given the choice or actual say in the matter… well then that child/person/human being is now being used and having their freedom taken away from them. The right we all share of freedom of choice. No one, NO ONE likes to be used and this child is certainly being used because they don’t actually know what they are doing and they are being celebrated for it. That’s a true injustice and absolutely not right.
Free album download at http://www.facebook.com/chancius
Ask around, 8 years old could probably explain a lot more of those lyrics than adults think.
In any case, there’s a lot young girls are learning about self-presentation that is simply sick.
http://wearetherealdeal.com/2011/03/28/push-up-swimsuit-for-your-8-year-old-daughter-epic-fail-for-abercrombie/
We’re poisoning our youth and then wondering why they’re poisoned.
Nice work, America! Make that money!
“Nice work, America! Make that money!”
If that’s not the perfect tagline for the state of mass media, I don’t know what is. Well said Clyde Smith.
why this article here on hypebot ?
Hi Olivier,
While our focus rests in the intersection of music and technology, we also try to post content that observes the music industry at large. Our readership is diverse, so we strive to inform on areas that may appeal to our readers as a whole from time to time.
Hope this helps, and thanks for reading!
@Hisham feel you but it is still a subjective opinion on culture & moral and not a music industry matter.
Are you saying music doesn’t involve culture and morals? Oh yes!
Personally I cringe hearing an adult sing some of the songs out now – As a Private DJ , we refuse to play songs like this if children are present – to think a mother allowed her 8 year to perform it is unexcusable
Hisham just stated a move that minajs p.r. Team had made. I thought it was a very keen observation. cuz j was watching ellen like “damn why nicki so pushy bout them singing the bridge and why she singing so loudly over them?” . Whats so non music industrial about that?
This is a conversation we need to have, and to say it’s over thinking it is just simple minded.
Thanks for posting something with content to chew on.
one word: POOPER!
the kid doesnt know what she’s singing about she doesn’t care no one cares, its cute! it makes people happy so calm down debbie downer
you should write all my essays your good at writing lengthy BS and making a big deal out of nothing XD
The topic sort of shifted from N.M’s lyrics to her advice on school. Putting it in perspective, how could this have happened? It’s the parents. In one of the video’s you can see what looks like the mother perhaps filming the girls (a reflection in the background.) No adult in my life would of done that. These people have lost the value of what childhood means period.