By NICHOLAS NEGRON
Staff Writer
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Nicki Minaj’s lyric video for the song “Only” has been causing controversy due to Nazi imagery. The video features colors and symbols reminiscent of the Nazi regime, along with flags, armbands, uniforms and gasmasks. The rapper tweeted an apology for the video, stating she would “never condone Nazism in [her] art.” The video’s director, Jeffery Osborne, felt differently.
“I think it’s actually important to remind younger generations of atrocities that occurred in the past as a way to prevent them from happening in the future,” Osborne wrote on his Myspace page.
There is a clear difference between educating youth through historical allusion, and almost iconography. Yes, the lyric video is not a “sappy tearjerker,” as Osborne put it. The purpose of this Nazi imagery is not meant to stir the deep emotions rooted in association to World War II.
As it is, the song has absolutely nothing to do with Nazism, war or any historical events.
“The video represents Young Money as a generic totalitarian regime, which takes images and symbols from several countries and time periods, one of which is Nazism,” Osborne said in an interview will Billboard.
If the video is trying to correlate Young Money to powerful military regimes, than why do the lyrics not reflect this sentiment? Minaj, Drake and Lil’ Wayne fail to even mention Young Money in the song, which is surprising. Osborne responded to those who feel as if the video is trivializing the Holocaust because of the song’s sexual explicitly.
“It has nothing to do with glorifying Hitler or the Holocaust. People think it’s trivializing the Holocaust because the song talks about sex, but I have no control over the lyrical content,” Osborne continued.
He then began to mention national security issues, which are irrelevant to the context of his argument, including 9/11, internet privacy, CIA intelligence and the one percent. He cites the First Amendment in response to those who want the video removed, stating that it is art.
The video debuted on the 76th anniversary of Kristallnacht. This is translates to “Night of Broken Glass.” Today it solemnly pays respect to the day when over 1,000 synagogues and temples were burned, and over 10,000 Jews were brought to concentration camps. This day was an indication of the beginning of what would become known as the Holocaust. Also, the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall was recently celebrated. One cannot help but wonder if the release date was strategically chosen to extend the video’s controversy.
If Osborne did anything helpful in his in-depth statement to Billboard, he took blame off Nicki Minaj. Minaj had taken responsibility for the lyric video, but almost backtracked by stating that Osborne is Jewish and was influenced by the cartoon “Metalocalypse.”
“As far as applying Nazi imagery, 100% me… Not once did we [Young Money] sit in the same room, nor did they ask if I applied a deeper hidden meaning,” admitted Osborne.
The “Only” video is not an anomaly. Controversial imagery in music has been prominent since visuals were added to lyrics. Artists such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Robin Thicke have pushed the accepted boundaries through their visual expression in music.
Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” music video was released thirty years ago. The video still causes immense controversy today over Madonna’s treatment of religious symbols. The intentional mix of sex and religion was meant to provoke viewers. The contention surrounding the video became extreme to the point that Pope John Paul II banned Madonna from making any appearances in Italy. Aside from this, the video also featured a character modeled after Saint Martin de Porres, the patron saint of people of mixed race.
Kanye West’s artistry is heavily based on visuals and performances that complement his lyrical messages. The rapper was part of a controversy after branding himself as “Yeezus,” a combination of Kanye and Jesus. This went along with the release of his 6th album, Yeezus. The record hit home with critics, many of whom considered it to be thought-provoking. However, many others were offended that West had the audacity to allude to any comparison between himself and Jesus.
While the imagery in the “Only” lyric video was not Minaj’s fault, Osborne confirms that Young Money was well aware of the video’s theme, and took no precautions before its release.
This contrivance of comparing Young Money to the Nazi Regime is, if nothing else, insulting to the record label. Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil’ Wayne should be offended that their images are associated with a government responsible for mass genocide in this lyric video. Only time will tell if this controversy will continue; Osborne’s constant defensive statements keep the story very alive in the media.
