Whether you’re a proud member of The Barbz or you vaguely remember belting the lyrics to “Super Bass” at your high school theater parties (don’t @ me), Nicki Minaj’s presence in music and pop culture is indisputable at this point, and she ought to be respected. The Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter is well-known for her use of accents, alter egos, and of course, her highly animated flows. Now, one of her most iconic verses of all time has inspired the “Are You A Nicki Fan?” TikTok trend, and if the viral moment hasn’t made it to your For You Page yet, just wait.
During an interview on The Wendy Williams Show, guest host Michael Rappaport asked actress Wendy Osefo (The Real Housewives of Potomac) if she’s a fan of Nicki Minaj. With an expression that suggests, “Is that even a question?!” Osefo responded, “Am I a fan?! Pull up in the Sri Lanka!” in an attempt to recite a line from Nicki’s legendary verse on the song “Monster.” The actual lyrics are “Pull up in the monster, automobile gangsta/With a bad b*tch that came from Sri Lanka.” So, no, Osefo didn’t recite the correct lyrics and yes, the internet is letting it slide — the meme is simply too good.
Let it be known that I’m not here to question Osefo’s Nicki knowledge; I genuinely believe she’s a stan, and we’ve all flubbed the lyrics to a song at some point. Besides, creators on TikTok are loving it, and they’re now using a trending soundbite from the interview to highlight their specialized “expertise” in a variety of areas. The goal of the trend is to act as if you’re an expert on something, then hilariously reveal evidence that suggests you might not know as much as you’re letting on.
For instance, check out this version from @oh.imjaii whose video says, “Are you good at math?” then dramatically reveals the Pythagorean Theorem via text overlay. Or this example from TikToker @hell0kittymusicplayer, whose version says, “Are you Latina?” followed by the word “Despacito” — in reference to the popular song by Luis Fonsi. (For the record: As a fellow Latina, I accept this response). If you’re a Marvel fan, you’ll love this version from @slayeas that shows love for Groot, and if you struggle with graphic design but have an A+ in Canva, you’ll appreciate this version by @followmario.
The trending audio has been used in over 406,000 videos on TikTok so far, with creators making jokes about everything from playing golf to being a psychology major and studying for final exams. While it’s impossible to pick favorites on TikTok, I have to say this one from @haile_jade_ — AKA Eminem’s daughter — wins in my book. Her version says, “Do I listen to my dad’s music?” then reveals evidence from her Spotify Wrapped playlist saying: “Your top artist was Eminem.” According to her TikTok, she was apparently in the top 3% of listeners this year. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
To try the “Are You A Nicki Fan?” TikTok trend on your own, think of something you vaguely know about — just enough to get by in conversation, but not enough to win Jeopardy. Then, save the trending audio here and get a feel for the timing of your joke. The goal is to pose a “question” about your expertise in time with “Are you a Nicki fan?” and plan your “response” so it’s in time with “Am I a fan?! Pull up in the Sri Lanka!” Flex those comedic skills, add text overlay to reveal your joke, and add a witty caption for the final cherry on top. Check out some examples from TikTok if you need inspiration, and remember: The trend is all about channeling overconfidence, no matter how much you know — or don’t.
In the meantime, to Queen Nicki Minaj: Thank you for bestowing your talents upon us and inspiring not one, but two incredible TikTok trends this year alone. Your lyrics, style, and confidence are something we can all strive for — and it’s clear that the “Are You A Nicki Fan?” TikTok trend is giving creators all the confidence they need (and then some). And to the wonderful Osefo who is currently witnessing her interview go viral: The folks in Sri Lanka may be a little confused right now, but don’t worry, queen. I know what you meant.