Carpool Karaoke made a comeback on James Corden’s Late Late Show last night, April 6. Nicki Minaj, who has a convincing British accent, was the first star to return to the passenger seat.
James Corden has brought back the famous segment to his late-night talk show after a sabbatical owing to Covid-19 restrictions, and what a way to start it off!
Nicki Minaj, the iconic rapper, rode through Los Angeles with Corden, performing many of her classic songs, including Starships. Minaj gave a fantastic Adele impression while in the notorious automobile, leaving many baffled as to how she picked up the accent.
Carpool Karaoke is back in style
Due to restrictions in the pandemic, the Late Late Show had to remove the popular segment from the show to keep everyone safe. But it’s finally back to the excitement of viewers, and fans of the celebrity guests.
In a previous episode, Adele did a rendition of Minaj’s verse from the Kanye West song ‘Monster’, which Nicki also performed in the segment, creating one of the best mashups in recent history.
THE @NICKIMINAJ X @ADELE MONSTER DUET THE WORLD DESERVES #NICKICARPOOL pic.twitter.com/r2aek32nH4
— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) April 7, 2022
This instalment of Carpool Karaoke shows Nicki as the queen of rap, but also a more vulnerable side to her as she talks about anxiety and the pressure as a public figure.
Between cackles and iconic verses, she shared that as a woman in the public eye you’re constantly scrutinised for your choices and actions, and that it does impact your mental health.
She explained how she now no longer has the sense of freedom that she did when she first started her career in rap.
Despite the sincere and charming moments from Minaj, she still kept the energy up during the drive, including playing the clarinet and cracking jokes alongside Corden.
.@nickiminaj teaching James about "ops" is one of the most important things ever captured on film #NICKICARPOOL pic.twitter.com/VwZcj4vjHX
— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) April 7, 2022
The full segment is available on YouTube, watch here.
Is Nicki Minaj British?
After watching Carpool Karaoke, a lot of people picked up on Nicki’s Adele impersonation. Many were surprised at how well she could imitate a British accent, including Corden himself, as well as fans online.
THE BRITISH ACCENT ??????????? WE ALL KNOW @NICKIMINAJ IS THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND #NickiCarpool #CarpoolKaraoke pic.twitter.com/D4vn6Ga99f
— uncle Fabio ?? (@onikamajesty) April 7, 2022
Despite the good impression, Nicki isn’t British. In fact, she was born in the Caribbean, before moving to Queens, New York at the age of 5.
Throughout her career, she’s kept a strong connection to her Trinidadian roots, with her style and aspects of her music videos, for example dressing in festival attire in Pound The Alarm.
Before her music career took off, she worked a number of waitressing jobs. One of these included a Red Lobster in the Bronx, which she was fired from for discourtesy to customers. Minaj also revealed this was an issue that lost her a few jobs in her late teens and early adult life.
However, she spoke about her jobs on a podcast with RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage, saying that the money she earned from waitressing helped her to buy a BMW.
This isn’t the first time Nicki Minaj does a British accent
For long time fans of Minaj, you’d know this isn’t the first time she’s done a British accent.
Nicki has a whole roster of alter egos within her music, including an ‘inner demon’ named Roman Zolanski.
Another ego that she has is the mother of Roman, Martha. Martha speaks with a British accent, which can be heard in several songs, especially in the opening to ‘Roman Holiday’, the opening track from her 2012 album Pink Friday… Roman Reloaded.
However, she has pulled out the accent in different situations too. In one instance, Minaj sends a message to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, joking that she was in fact born in the UK, and even went to university with former PM Margaret Thatcher.
?? ???????????? send this to the prime minister & let him know they lied on me. I forgive him. No one else. Only him. ? pic.twitter.com/ZmJ2sST8Es
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 14, 2021
