Rah Ali’s Drama Didn’t Begin Or End With Nicki Minaj

When Rah Ali’s open letter to Nicki Minaj went live, it confirmed what fans had been speculating for some time. There were murmurs that the longstanding friendship between the two was done, and it wasn’t ending quietly. Accusations of betrayal and mentions of fraud spread far. Ali pleaded for Nicki to “get offline and seek help.” The moment stood out not just for the tone, but because of the source.

Her name might not headline arena tours, but Rah has long been present in the mix. She was swinging at Fashion Week when Cardi B lunged at Nicki. She was on Love & Hip Hop years before it became nationwide franchise. She’s argued, fought, launched businesses, caught charges, and stood behind some of the biggest names in Rap. In the 2010s, she moved through reality TV with the kind of intensity that producers dream of. In the 2020s, she became a public defender of Nicki’s reputation, until she wasn’t.

It was clear that VH1 knew exactly what it had with Rah Ali. She brought a kind of unfiltered confidence that didn’t flinch in front of the camera. On Love & Hip Hop New York, Rah wasn’t a peacekeeper, and the drama didn’t stay on set. On and off-screen, her friendship with Remy Ma cooled under the weight of industry politics. Rumors swirled that Rah shifted her loyalty to Nicki Minaj, Remy's once-upon-a-time foe, prompting distance between her and Remy. The switch-up didn’t go unnoticed.

By the time she showed up on Black Ink Crew: New York, Rah wasn’t new to confrontation; she was fluent in it. Her fight with Sky Days escalated quickly, landing in full-blown chaos. It was a shouting moment with swings and security, made for replay. This was familiar, but Rah had refined it into a signature. She showed up in spaces built for conflict and carved out room for herself in them.

If one takes a look at Rah Ali's history, there was a time when she was juggling brand deals and court dates. She was a businesswoman, and in interviews, the language stayed confident. There were talks of a shoe boutique, a luxury lash line, and an online platform built for “the culture," which became OnSite! Media. Some ventures launched with press runs and promo shots and have brought Ali great success.

However, the streets and the state of New Jersey had a different paper trail. In the early 2010s, MadameNoire reports that Rah was convicted on seven counts tied to fraudulent credit card use and theft by deception. She’d been given a second chance under a pretrial intervention program, but skipped out on required appointments, so the deal dissolved. A judge issued a public warning that if she broke the rules again she would go to jail.

It didn’t stop the image-building. If anything, the trouble added to the intrigue. Rah existed somewhere between glam and grit. To some, she represented equal parts storefront and courtroom, media maven and hustler. Rah didn’t clean up her narrative but confronted it head-on and walked through it. Even the setbacks seemed to keep her name in circulation, but it didn't stop her evolution.

If there was someone who could be named as one of Nicki Minaj's biggest supporters, it seemed like Rah Ali would be on that list. Who can forget that Ali defended Nicki with hands at New York Fashion Week in 2018. It was the now-infamous fight that broke out between Cardi B and Nicki that is still gossiped about today. Reports claimed it was Rah, not security, who landed the hit that left Cardi with a knot on her forehead. Nicki didn’t deny it. She confirmed it on Queen Radio, praised Rah’s loyalty, and gave Rah flowers on air.

That wasn’t the only time Rah showed up. She was featured in Nicki’s “No Frauds” video and was regularly seen with Minaj at events. She amplified Nicki’s shots at critics by backing her up. As Cardi and Nicki went toe-to-toe, Ali would join in on the shade. Moreover, when Rah announced her pregnancy, Nicki congratulated her publicly. Later, when Ali suffered that tragic loss of her child, Minaj mourned with her.

To the public, Rah wasn’t just a friend. She was the right hand. Rah’s closeness to Nicki made her more relevant in the industry than any storyline reality TV could’ve written.

Addressed directly to Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, the letter left little room for misinterpretation. Rah Ali accused her former friend of betrayal, denied any involvement in alleged fraud, and condemned what she called a smear campaign meant to damage her name and business. “To be lied on by someone you don’t know is one thing; for it to come from you is unimaginable,” she wrote.

The explosive public offering followed whispers that Nicki Minaj had experienced unauthorized charges on her American Express card, about $25,000 worth. Nicki reportedly also claimed some of the people responsible had been around her for years. Though she never named names, the timing sparked speculation. Then came Tasha K.

The YouTuber and gossip blogger claimed she provided Nicki with information implicating Rah. That detail circulated fast. While no official accusation came directly from Nicki, the silence that followed spoke volumes. For Rah, it was the final straw. She responded with the letter, demanding accountability and dismissing the allegations, while drawing a public boundary. “Show the evidence or apologize instead of sensationalizing headlines,” she penned. “Get offline and seek help.”

The sisterhood built on shared enemies and public affirmation ended in a statement. There hasn't been a response from Nicki. Fans wait for a rebuttal, but all they've received is a quiet erasure of a friendship that had once looked unshakable. Yet, in the space where that friendship used to live, Rah Ali made sure her voice was the last one heard, if necessary.

[via][via][via]