Ariana Grande's Coachella Set Hit With Technical Difficulties During Nicki Minaj's Guest Spot

"Tbh MAD RESPECT to her for continuing her performance."

Ariana Grande closed the show at the first weekend of Coachella, with a bit of help from guest performers NSYNC, Diddy and Nicki Minaj.

The chart-topping singer performed an array of hits mostly lifted from her current Sweetener world tour, as well as a few extra additions, including Bang Bang, her hit collaboration with Nicki Minaj (and Jessie J, whose invite we assume was lost in the post).

However, unfortunately for Nicki, there were a few technical difficulties with the festival’s sound when it came time to perform her rap.

Nicki Minaj joins Ariana Grande on stage
Nicki Minaj joins Ariana Grande on stage
Coachella

Apparently unable to hear her backing track, Nicki attempted to go ahead with her fast-paced verse anyway, all while Ariana shouted to the production team that she and Nicki “can’t hear anything”.

Unfortunately, though, the sound issues prevailed, and left the rapper sounding more than a little out of time:

Watch Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj adorably rapping to the " Bang Bang" verse. #Coachella #Arichella 😂😍
pic.twitter.com/s8IGjTR9Gq

— Music News Facts (@musicfactnews) April 15, 2019

My last two brain cells trying to form a sentence pic.twitter.com/hP8ROaAgO3

— horace (@trashygaytweets) April 15, 2019

nicki minaj to the sound engineers backstage #ARICHELLA pic.twitter.com/xfJw3dbipL

— ؘؘ (@onelustrem) April 15, 2019

My best friend and I drunk in the Uber on our way to the next bar pic.twitter.com/Bt9Ub5APAm

— BreatheHeavy.com (@breatheheavycom) April 15, 2019

Me trying to figure out why #Coachella did my Queen #Nickiminaj so dirty pic.twitter.com/irsTdUyC1g

— @tijonn (@tajaayjahnelle) April 15, 2019

“we can’t hear anything” #coachella y’all fucked UP 😩😭 @ArianaGrande and @NICKIMINAJ didn’t deserve this shit pic.twitter.com/ymBz07p2vJ

— fresca biche (@uhwig) April 15, 2019

tbh MAD RESPECT to @NICKIMINAJ for continuing her performance even though her earpiece wasn't working. Had it been me I would've broken down crying #Arichella pic.twitter.com/HueFs5FuCv

— Leandro Christo (@IAmLeandroX) April 15, 2019

the people in charge of audio backstage when nicki came back there and started yelling at them #arichella #nickiminaj pic.twitter.com/eDIVgMtLfl

— ً (@deadlyquake) April 15, 2019

....imma let the Cardi fans have this one. barbz, we jus took an L tonight😔#Coachella #NickiMinaj pic.twitter.com/X7f0uDLDFx

— 🕊Malcolm🕊 (@malcshakee) April 15, 2019

Nicki Minaj after Coachella: pic.twitter.com/M6YIi2Edbd

— ZAC | MILES (@zacsmashyou) April 15, 2019

It seems as though Nicki isn’t the only star who struggled with the sound at this year’s Coachella, though:

Every artist who experienced technical difficulties at #Coachella tonight:

• Lizzo
• Nicki Minaj
• *NSYNC
• Vince Staples
• Diddy
• Mase
• Ariana Grande
• Billie Eilish

— Music News Facts (@musicnewsfact) April 15, 2019

@lizzo, @halsey, @ArianaGrande, and @NICKIMINAJ all had mic or sound problems... What is this mess on day 3 @coachella? Shoutout to these artist for just going through it anyway tho! #arichella

— Reese Gonzales (@reesegonzales) April 15, 2019

Everyone’s Mic/sound was fucked up tonight besides the main artists singing 😂😂😂😂 Coachella fix that sound

— 💙❤️ (@flyingsavvy) April 15, 2019

what the fuck is going on with #Coachella sound. i watched like 3 sets with the sound fucking up while artists performing, they don't deserve that 🙄

— Vicky ✨ (@victorious_gem) April 15, 2019

Throughout her pop career, Ariana has collaborated with Nicki on multiple occasions, most recently inviting the rapper to appear on the 2018 Sweetener cut The Light Is Coming.

She repaid the favour by contributing vocals to Bed, a song lifted from Nicki’s most recent album Queen.

The two have also performed live together several times over the years, including at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, where they delivered a spin class-themed rendition of their track Side To Side.

Two years earlier, they opened the show at the VMAs with a medley of their hits, a performance which made headlines when Nicki suffered a wardrobe malfunction.

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