Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Hot97's DJ Peter Rosenberg: Nicki Minaj "Is Inherently Hip Hop... It's Just That Starships Is Not"
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 7, 2012
Modified Jun 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 7, 2012
Modified Jun 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday we checked in on Nicki Minaj and Hot97, who have recently had a rift come between them after some disparaging remarks were made about the performer by both DJ Peter Rosenberg and Funkmaster Flex. This resulted in Minaj canceling her headlining appearance at Hot97's Summer Jam this past weekend and her boyfriend threatening to physically harm Rosenberg.
The beef stems from Minaj seemingly leaving her hip hop roots and coming out with songs like her latest, "Starship"—hearing the song and watching the video (below), it's hard not to side with Hot97 with this one! Yesterday, Rosenberg told us a little more about his issues with performer.
Have you liked any of Minaj's work in the past? Yes I told her to her face two years ago at Summer Jam that she could go on to be the greatest female mc ever... and she still could if she wanted to.
Do you think she's being a little sensitive because she knows the song is too poppy/not good? I think she wants to be pop, but also has mixed feelings about leaving hip hop behind.
Have you heard from her boyfriend again—are you worried about his threats at all? No and no... you gain no street cred from saying that you just punched a game show host.
Will Hot 97 continue to play Young Money label artists? I would assume so... I don't think it's that deep for us. We just want Nicki to keep making great hip hop we can support. Listen I consider her to be a major part of this culture and as offended as she was by my words at Summer Jam, I would have only done it at a place like Summer Jam... it's like fighting with family at home as opposed to in front of the neighbors. She's inherently hip hop... it's just that "Starships" is definitely not.
While Minaj has said she'll perform a free show for her fans in New York City this summer to make up for the canceled Hot 97 show, Dr Dre has come out and criticized for not sucking it up, saying she "ruined 55,000 fans' expectations of the night... It has nothing to do with Rosenberg. You go out there and you perform for your fans."
Tagged
hip hop
Hot 97
Nicki Minaj
Peter Rosenberg
starships
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 12:55 p.m. ET
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .