Pop Smoke and Nicki Minaj Mothers Discuss Abuse at Brooklyn Venue

Audrey Jackson, mother of the late rapper Pop Smoke, hosted Dr. Carol Maraj, mother of Nicki Minaj, for a public discussion on domestic violence in Brooklyn on Oct. 23. The two women met at Pop’s Place, a restaurant and event space in Canarsie dedicated to Jackson’s late son. This gathering marked the first event for the Café Conversations series, which aims to create a community forum for difficult topics.

Jackson stated she wanted to provide a safe environment for diverse groups to talk about abuse. She recalled inviting Maraj to the event after learning the author had published a new book. Jackson noted that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, making it a timely start for the new program.

National data provides context for the conversation. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, approximately 36 percent of women and 29 percent of men experience some form of partner violence. The organization reports that one in four women and one in seven men suffer severe physical violence at some point in their lives.

Dr. Maraj shared personal history during the session, revealing that her experience with abuse began in childhood. She described witnessing her father strike her mother with a flashlight and then choke her. Maraj said she had suppressed that specific memory for nearly 40 years until it resurfaced while she was writing her book, Bruised But Not Broken. Her siblings have previously told her the incident did not happen, but she maintains that the memory returned during her writing process.

Maraj described her reaction to the abuse as resembling Stockholm Syndrome. She said she felt sympathy for her abuser after he performed small acts of kindness, such as cooking dinner, giving gifts, or apologizing. Her decision to leave the relationship became urgent after an attack at a party where her abuser nearly killed her. At age 29, she moved from Trinidad to America, where she identified her experience as domestic abuse.

Maraj discussed how she built a new life in the United States by setting firm boundaries in her relationships. Jackson agreed, noting that she had to learn the same lesson later in life. She explained that her friends helped her understand that having non-negotiables does not make a person unfriendly. Jackson used an analogy about guests entering a home, noting that they are welcome to come in but must take their shoes off at the door. She described this as a nuance that takes time to learn as one grows.

The event focused on transparency and personal responsibility in recovery. Both women emphasized the importance of acknowledging past trauma to move forward. Maraj’s book is currently available for purchase on her website.