In a recent wave of allegations, Nessa “Nitty” Diab, partner of NFL protest icon Colin Kaepernick, has accused Jay-Z and Roc Nation of orchestrating a blackballing campaign against Nicki Minaj, echoing claims she previously made about Kaepernick’s treatment in 2019.

Nicki Minaj has publicly criticized Jay-Z, Roc Nation, and CEO Desiree Perez, sparking controversy and reigniting discussions about behind-the-scenes industry tactics. Activist and radio personality Nessa Diab drew parallels between these situations, suggesting similar smear campaign strategies were employed against both artists.

As reported by AllHipHop, Diab took to Instagram and Twitter on July 16 to shed light on her claims. She stated, “@NICKIMINAJ exposing the smear campaign tactics that Jay-Z, Roc Nation, Desiree Perez did to her behind the scenes, is VERY similar to what I was told they did to @Kaepernick7 when Jay purposely co-opted Colin’s protest by siding with the NFL to help ‘their image’ after they blackballed Colin for his protest.”

She further alleged that Roc Nation received $5 million annually over five years to suppress the protests and help the NFL “move beyond the controversy around teams’ unwillingness to sign Kaepernick.” Diab also pointed out Desiree Perez’s comments on shifting focus from protests to staged performances, hinting at possible motives behind these tactics.

Nicki Minaj Controversy and Industry Allegations

‼️‼️‼️📣📣📣@NICKIMINAJ exposing the smear campaign tactics that Jay-Z, Roc Nation, Desiree Perez did to her behind the scenes, is VERY similar to what I was told they did to @Kaepernick7 when Jay purposely co-opted Colin’s protest by siding with the NFL to help “their image”… pic.twitter.com/dvWVqRWosF

— NESSA (@nessnitty) July 16, 2025

While some fans believe the comparison between Minaj’s situation and Kaepernick’s may be overstated, Diab insists the core message remains valid: behind-the-scenes smear campaigns targeting influential figures are a serious concern. “It doesn’t change the message,” she emphasized. “Calling out powerful people doing it takes a lot of courage.”

The allegations have ignited a broader conversation about loyalty, industry politics, and how celebrity narratives are managed behind closed doors. As of now, Jay-Z, Roc Nation, and Desiree Perez have yet to publicly respond to these serious accusations.

Stay tuned as this story develops, with potential implications for the hip-hop industry and celebrity activism.