Taraji P. Henson As Nicki Minaj On SNL: Watch ‘Empire’ Star Play ‘Anaconda’ Singer [Video]
The video below from the Saturday Night Live April 11 episode is gaining buzz online, specifically due to the musical characters portrayed in the make-believe Home 2 movie preview video that shows the SNL stars mimicking everyone from Rick Ross to Kendrick Lamar and other celebrities. Home 2 purports itself to be a sequel to the Home movie currently playing in theaters that features the voice stylings of Rihanna. Well, in Home 2, SNL host Taraji P. Henson dons a huge fake butt and lots of padding upstairs to play Nicki Minaj in the video preview, and raps, dances and grinds like Minaj would. Taraji’s rendition of Nicki features her talking so much that Jim Parsons (played by SNL’s Taran Killam) can’t get a word in edgewise.
Other singers such as Missy Elliott are featured in the SNL spoof, played by the uber-talented Leslie Jones, who does a riff on Elliott’s backward verses in her “Work It” song. Beyoncé is also represented by SNL player Sasheer Zamata in the Home 2 spoof. Apparently the Home movie itself is killing it at the box office, having taken in more than $200 million for the animated fare.
Taraji is KILLING IT on SNL. I just spit my drink out when she did Nicki Minaj. #TarajiOnSNL
— Matilda (@matildathewitch) April 12, 2015
Uhh, Taraji does Nicki Minaj really well. :p #SNL40 #TarajiOnSNL
— Ltd. Fangirl (@Ah_SookieSookie) April 12, 2015
According to the large number of social shares on an article by Uproxx proclaiming Henson killed her Minaj impersonation, along with some of the feedback on Twitter about Taraji taking on Nicki, there’s a high level of interest in this SNL skit, which features lots of Taraji fans giving her kudos for her comedic acting skills.
Taraji P. Henson Parodies ‘Game of Thrones,’ Impersonates Nicki Minaj & More on ‘Saturday Night… http://t.co/xUQDZJXonA
— Maria Brown (@aboomboxnsneaks) April 12, 2015
Other parts of the Saturday Night Live episode featured Taraji’s Empire character Cookie Lyon invading Sesame Street, as reported by the Inquisitr. Henson kills Elmo in that memorable SNL sketch. As for other ventures beyond SNL, Taraji is set to write a memoir of all of her experiences from Empire and prior, years that included the actress winning a legion of fans who first got to know her via her starring role in Baby Boy.
Taraji P. Henson as Nicki Minaj. Good night. https://t.co/sSu9wAywuH
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 12, 2015
Don’t Miss #TarajiPHenson Killing It As @NICKIMINAJ On @nbcsnl http://t.co/51UwJF1nvp pic.twitter.com/dRLhNOP67I
— UPROXX (@UPROXX) April 12, 2015
[Image via SNL]
