Entertainment

What's With "Hotline Bling's" Nicki Look-Alike?

by Maitri Suhas

Drake's recently released "Hotline Bling" video is bringing up a lot of questions, like: Where did Drake learn those dorky, lovable dance moves? Where can I get that grey cashmere turtleneck? Can Drake dance to anything? (As for that one, the Internet confirms that the 28-year old rapper can, indeed, stay on beat to any song with his moves from the video.) Another important question that a lot of fans with careful eyes are asking is: What is with that Nicki Minaj look-alike in "Hotline Bling"?

Screengrabs abound on Twitter with users providing their theories. The girl in question that most Twitter users agree looks like Minaj is the one with the slicked back ponytail, dropping down in a pose that looks like the iconic cover for Minaj's album Anaconda. She's even — gasp! — on a pink background. (Much like the Minaj doppelgänger, others have noticed a Serena Williams look-alike at the end of the video.)

So, was using a lovely lady who resembles Minaj done on purpose? Is it a diss against a certain rapper — a certain rapper who is dating Minaj — who Drizzy was in a feud with? Does Drake subconsciously really love women who look like Nicki Minaj and cast women who look like her in his videos? Is it just a mere coincidence? Let's take a look at the evidence and some theories.

First: The Proof

People have questions.

What's going on here?

Seems like a pretty crazy coincidence.

Is The Entire Song About Nicki?

There is a pretty popular theory that Drake wrote "Hotline Bling" about Nicki Minaj, because he's hurt about not being her number one anymore.

Is He Dissing Meek Mill?

One theory is that using the Nicki look-alike in the video was another jab at Meek Mill, her boyfriend and the rapper that Drake got in an epic feud with this summer.

As if Drizzy didn't already win that feud...

Does Drake Want All Girls To Look Like Nicki?

Some people thought that ALL the beautiful women in the video resembled Minaj. Maybe Drake just thinks of her as the ideal beauty (and she is pretty damn perfect, that King Nicki) because they're best friends. Or maybe he is woefully, deeply in love with her...

Some Just Want A Nicki Remix

Many fans are taking this opportunity to request that Minaj do a remix of "Hotline Bling."

I am in total agreement. I would die for a Nicki Minaj remix of "Hotline Bling."

Even better with some attitude.

So, whether the gorgeous girl who looks like Minaj in "Hotline Bling" was a calculated casting on Drizzy's part, a love letter to Onika, a diss to Meek Mill, or just a coincidence (yeah, right), one thing is pretty clear: fans love Nicki and Drake together.