Nicki Minaj Gives Maya Angelou’s 'Still I Rise' a Powerful Reading at A&E Concert Special

Minaj plays "Still I Rise" straight, paying the poem's message of staying strong in the face of oppression respect. The lines tie in closely to Minaj's own life and personality, and it's something she couldn't help acknowledging, cracking a smile after reading the lines: "Does my sexiness upset you? / Does it come as a surprise / That I dance like I've got diamonds / At the meeting of my thighs?"

The audience, of course, responded in kind, cheering Minaj on while she smiled and laughed just a bit at the line's relevance. Soon, however, she moved right on, finishing the reading with a serious face. Minaj ended her performance simply by saying "thank you."

The special, which Consequence of Sound reports was recorded on Wednesday (Nov. 18), also features performances from Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Zac Brown Band, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams and more.

Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America will air A&E at 8 p.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 20.

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Nicki Minaj