Soca superstar Machel Montano has apologised to rap superstar, singer and songwriter Nicki Minaj for what he says was “a mistake, misunderstanding on his part” for comments made at the Stink N Dutty. During his performance, he alluded to a “fight down” against him by Minaj and Trinidad Killa.
During the fete, which was held on Saturday at the Brain Lara Cricket Academy in San Fernando, Montano was performing Good Spirits by the duo Full Blown.
As the music faded, he said, “Stop it! Stop fight me down. Nicki Minaj, Trinidad Killa, stop fight me down. I is dey daddy! I is dey daddy! My beard grey.” The crowd cheered and some were heard exclaiming in surprise.
Hours later a social media video of Minaj (real name Onika Maraj-Petty), who was born in Trinidad but is based in the United States, was released.
In her video, she asked “What the (expletive) I do? What I do?! What the (expletive) is this? I will cuss you very, very, very (expletive) stink. You understand? I will cuss you very, very, very (expletive) stink.”
Minaj has openly supported Trinidad Killa’s (real name Kern Joseph) 2025 offering Eskimo.
As social media erupted over the clash between the two megastars, Montano, in an interview with Overtime Media yesterday morning, was contrite.
He explained in a video posted on social media, “In the fete, I was just compelled to sing the Good Spirit song and as soon as I started to sing the Good Spirit song, it started to resonate deep within me especially when I said the line ‘don’t fight me down’. The response from the audience was so overwhelming that I felt the joy of the Full Blown crew who had been writing these songs for me for so many years and that song being the feeling of support for a young upcoming artiste.”
Montano explained, “It didn’t come out the way it was supposed to come out.”
Instead, he said he was trying to tell Minaj to tell Trinidad Killa (real name Kern Joseph) “to stop fighting me down.”
It was unclear what was the issue between Montano and Trinidad Killa.
He said he did not want Minaj to feel he did not respect and honour her work.
“It was a misunderstanding—a mistake on my part—and I’m a big man and I will say that. Nicki, you know I respect you and you know I love you and I did not try to jump out there and attack you and I didn’t want any of your fans or you to feel that you have ever done anything to fight me down. You did the opposite. You always lift me up.”
The reigning Calypso Monarch and Pardy hitmaker asked Minaj for forgiveness.
“I am saying forgive me. I am not perfect. In that moment, I was a little hot and I didn’t want it to sound to Nicki or her fans that she was the one fighting me down, because I did feel like I got a little fight from Killa and I want Killa to know it was never me. I love Killa songs. I’ve been singing it every night on stage.”
Instead, he called for Trinidad Killa, Minaj and himself to join forces.
In 2023, Montano and Minaj collaborated on a song titled Shake The Place. He even performed with Minaj at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York.
Subtly weighing in on the issue yesterday, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Dr Amery Browne, posted on Facebook, “Some of the best collaborations were preceded by a bit of tension. And sometimes those who were pouring gas on the fire would be the loudest ones to clap when gears changed. Life’s like that.”
