Hot 97 host Nessa Diab connects the dots between Roc Nation’s NFL deal, her man Colin Kaepernick and Nicki Minaj.
Nessa Diab, also known as Nessa Nitty on Hot 97, linked two of the most controversial names in Hip-Hop and sports this week—Nicki Minaj and Colin Kaepernick.
A blistering new video accuses Roc Nation of orchestrating a pattern of sabotage behind the scenes.
The longtime radio host and partner of Colin Kaepernick hosted a nearly 10-minute clip on X on Saturday. The video, titled “Not new to this, ” Diab claimed Roc Nation has engaged in a long-running smear campaign against Kaep and Nicki Minaj.
Minaj’s recent viral accusations against Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez and JAY-Z provided the spark for Nessa. She said what Minaj is dealing with echoes what she and Kaepernick lived through.
“It triggered me,” Nessa said, “They did it to Colin. They’re doing it to her.”
Nessa’s central grievance remains Roc Nation’s 2019 deal with the NFL—a move pitched as a partnership for social justice and entertainment but widely criticized for sidestepping the NFL’s treatment of Kaepernick. The former 49ers quarterback was effectively frozen out of the league after kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality in 2016.
Hi everyone. If you’re wondering why I readdressed previous issues with Jay Z, Desiree Perez + Roc Nation recently, it’s because I saw @NICKIMINAJ sharing her experiences of dealing with similar smear campaigns from them and people questioning her. I believe what she said,… pic.twitter.com/ShGFRWhDHP
— NESSA (@nessnitty) July 20, 2025
“JAY-Z didn’t speak to Colin before doing that deal. They used that partnership to make it seem like Colin was the problem,” he says in the video.
She says she personally overheard a phone call between Kaepernick and Jay following the announcement of the NFL-Roc Nation partnership. According to her, Kaepernick made it clear he was blindsided and deeply disappointed. “Colin told him he was not okay with it. He felt blindsided. And I heard it,” she articulated in the video.
From Nessa’s point of view, Roc Nation’s maneuvering was about silencing dissent from the people. “He was ready. He was training every day. They just needed to pretend like he was the issue so they wouldn’t lose control of the story,” she continued.
Nessa also alleges that Roc Nation is using similar tactics to discredit Nicki Minaj. Minaj accused the company of stalking, defamation, and targeted harassment. “I saw myself in her posts,” Nessa said.
JAY-Z, Perez and Roc Nation have not publicly addressed Nessa’s claims.
She also said that a forthcoming documentary from Kaepernick will delve deeper into the matter.