Nicki says she was among first to name fanbase
Nicki Minaj believes she was a crucial factor in the adoption of stan culture in the rap world. During a recent interview with Vogue, the New York MC revealed that she was among the first rappers to give her fanbase a name: the Barbz.
“Before I had a record deal, my fans were making a moment for themselves on Twitter. I had already given them a name,” she explained. “When I started calling my fans the Barbz, there were no rappers naming their fans.
“There were only two people at that time, and I don’t know which came first — Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, they had Beliebers and Monsters. That was it!”