Nicki Minaj's boycott of the Hot 97 Summer Jam 2012 concert yesterday has fans and observers divided, but the first lady of YMCMB got a high-profile supporter today in one Lauryn Hill. Writing on Twitter, Lauryn defended Nicki against her critics, although she objected to descriptions in the press of her role at the concert as that of the Young Money star's guest.
Following Peter Rosenberg's (and later Funkmaster Flex's) initial disparaging remarks about Minaj being too commercial, not "real hip hop" and her song "Starships" being "bulls---," Hill said that it was important for people in the media and the industry to allow artists to grow in their own way.
"We have to find a better way to commercially exploit music, while giving artists their proper respect," she wrote. "This cannot be done while taking their contributions for granted, or trying to control the scope of their growth and power through threats and fear tactics. We can do better than this, there is a better way, or else ‘we’ (the proverbial we) find ourselves in danger of being hypocrites!!!"
In Minaj's absence, Hill performed an impromptu set at Summer Jam alongside Nas. She clarified that she had been invited to the festival by Nas and not Minaj, although Nas himself was scheduled to appear during Minaj's set.
Other reported guests of Nicki's who never took the stage included Cam'ron, Foxy Brown, 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled and others.

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