Nicki Minaj: Rapper. Pop star. Republican?
The Young Money firespitter recently stunned fans and observers by revealing her allegiance to a different crew on a guest verse from Lil Wayne's brand new Dedication 4 mixtape. On the track "Mercy," Minaj declares that she's cast her lot with the party of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
"I'm a Republican, voting for Mitt Romney, you lazy b------ are f---ing up the economy," she rhymes.
Nicki's revelation, fresh off the conclusion of the Republican National Convention (and on the eve of the Democratic one), is guaranteed to stir up debate as the political season heats up.
Artists, and Black people in general, have been largely expected to side with President Barack Obama in November, with some polls showing support as high as 99 percent in the African-American community.
Nicki, however, has previously expressed her disdain for the Obama administration's handling of the economy and health care. Following the death of Moesha actress Yvette Wilson, the rapper called on the president to do more for those in need of medicare. Wilson's friends were trying to raise money to help her battle cervical cancer.
"What’s sad is that when Yvette was bringing home the bacon, the gov't was probably taking millions. On her deathbed though, #Nowheretobefound," she wrote. "That should be a God given right! Even with Obama Care, too much involved. Just give FREE health care to all. @BarackObama what can we do?"

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 (Photos from left:  Andres Otero/ WENN.com,  Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)