Title: “Unc Speak”: Shannon Sharpe Responds to Nicki Minaj’s Diss — “Unc & Ocho Want No Smoke”
Yo, what’s up, Barbz and everybody in Gag City? This is your boy Unc, Shannon Sharpe, comin’ at you LIVE with a situation that’s hotter than a two‑minute drill under Friday night lights. Sit tight, because Uncle’s about to break it all down—“No smoke, just clarity.”
The Setup: “Nicki Who?” Goes Viral
It all started back in February when a fan hit me up on X—formerly Twitter—and said, “Nicki said she wanted to come on your podcast!” Without thinkin’ twice, I shot back with, “Nicki who?”
Folks thought I was throwin’ shade at Nicki Minaj, the rap queen herself. But truth? I was mid‑debate about politics and Nikki Haley—the politician. So when that fan dropped the Nicki‑request in the middle of my Haley rant, my head spun and I asked, “Nicki who?” Simple misunderstanding, or so I believed. I had no disrespect in mind. HipHopDX+15The Root+15Hip-Hop Lately+15The Shade Room+1
Nicki Hits Back on “Banned From NO (Remix)”
Fast forward to June 11, 2025—Lil Wayne drops the Tha Carter VI remix “Banned From NO,” and Nicki cuts loose with ice-cold bars:
“Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop / If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe.”
Oh—Unc felt it. That bar hit like a linebacker on Thanksgiving. And she didn’t stop there—she tossed jabs at JAY‑Z, the NFL, and even kinda pulled Ochocinco into play. It was vicious and genius. Rolling Out+10Wikipedia+10Yahoo+10HipHopDX+1
Unc & Ocho—We Want No Smoke
So on a fresh episode of Nightcap with Unc & Ocho, I sat down with my brother Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and cleared my throat. First off—I wasn’t mad, just plain confused. Then came the apology.
Here’s what I said: “I was talking about Nikki Haley. So when that fan hit me with ‘Nicki wants to be on the podcast,’ I’m like, ‘Nicki who?’” Folks, I was locked in politics, not hip‑hop. Hip-Hop Wired+15The Root+15barrettmedia.com+15
Then, from the heart:
“Nicki, I apologize. I meant no disrespect. Of course I know who you are. You always have an open invitation—come sit down on Club Shay Shay or just call me man-to-man. No smoke.” Hip-Hop Lately+2Wikipedia+2
I wasn’t being arrogant—I wasn’t saying she didn’t know me or vice versa. My bad. I own that.
Nicki’s Reaction: Barberz, I Had to Avenger
Nicki didn’t just leave it—she replied via social. She said something like:
“LOL—thank you, Shannon, ’cause I was like ‘chiii what I done did now?’ You never cleared it up to the Barbz, so I had to avenge them.”
She also said, “Ocho you know it’s all love 4LIFE.” Yahoo+9The Shade Room+9AllHipHop+9The Root+1
Translation? She clocked that I hadn’t made it clear to the Barbz—her ride‑or‑die fanbase. So she had to step in, protect, and deliver. That’s loyalty. That’s awareness. That’s Nicki.
Unc’s Final Word: No Smoke, Just Respect
Now, I ain’t here to beef—just to clear the fog. I hold up respect when it’s earned—and Nicki earned a ton of it on that remix. She flipped a misunderstanding into a bar that’s still echoing.
From me? Sincere apology. No hidden agenda. She’s always welcome. public or private, on phone or in studio:
“Nicki, I apologize. I meant no disrespect. Let’s talk. Let’s move forward.” YahooHipHopDX
As for Ocho—he was lookin’ like, “Unc, you gotta apologize to the Barbz too, man!” And he’s right. You can’t just apologize to Nicki—you gotta address her audience, too. So here it is, family: Barbz, my apologies to you as well. Let’s keep this respectful and classy. YahooAllHipHop
Final Thoughts
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Misunderstanding happen to the best of us. In my world, truth and clarity matter more than clout.
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Nicki’s bar? Legendary. Creative. Fierce. But it was just a verse—no hate, just heat.
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No hard feelings—just respect and an open bridge. Because real moguls don’t burn ‘em. They build.
So from your Unc—let’s sip that Nightcap, keep it smooth, and stay in the light. No smoke.
—Shannon Sharpe (“Unc”)
