Rapper Saweetie reportedly had her version of Aqua’s 1997 “Barbie Girl” in production before Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s version, “Barbie World,” hit.
The “Icy” rapper shared a preview clip of the unreleased spin-off of “Barbie Girl.”
The lyrics read, “I’m a icy girl in a icy world / let you taste it / congratulations / You can buy me hair and fly me anywhere / Make you chase it / That my reputation.”
But on June 23, 2023, Ice Spice and Minaj dropped their rendition of “Barbie Girl” called “Barbie World,” which featured Aqua’s iconic hook and made its way to the Barbie movie soundtrack. It debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard charts.
Although many liked the New Yorkers’ rendition, they couldn’t help but point out that Saweetie already had a version underway after the 3-year-old shared a smidge of her version with her fans.
Jason Martin, a co-writer on Saweetie’s “Icy Girl, Icy World,” confirmed that Barbie movie executives approached her with an assignment to curate a song for the film’s soundtrack.
“As a writer on this, I can confirm this song and idea was sent to her last year to submit for the Barbie movie,” Martin tweeted. “It’s sad to see that the original artist has been pushed off a song that was her idea and was meant for both of them. I have no side in this, but I will be compensated.”
As a writer on this, I can confirm this song and idea was sent to her last year to submit for the Barbie movie. It’s sad to see that the original artist has been pushed off a song that was her idea and was meant for both of them. I have no side in this, but I will be compensated.… https://t.co/gbVkItEVmM
— JasonMartin (@PROBLEM354) June 18, 2023
Despite the situation, Saweetie holds no hard feelings toward Minaj or Ice Spice and expressed her gratitude for “inspiring” in an interview with Power 106 Los Angeles’s Justin Credible.
“I mean, there’s no rules. It’s the Wild Wild West,” she commented. “It’s inspiration. I love to inspire. That’s my purpose here. And they look bomb as f**k in the video. So, it’s just like, ‘Okay, b***h, I see you.'”
She then told fans not to worry and that her version will be released soon. “I’m saving it for a very special moment.”
OH 👀 | Saweetie addresses those accusations that Nicki Minaj took the ‘Barbie World’ concept from her; Says her version is still coming out – “I love to inspire.. that’s my purpose.” pic.twitter.com/lkEvTI7gdv
— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) July 29, 2023
