Whether you like Nicki Minaj or not, there’s no denying that the New York rapper was everywhere possible in 2015. In December 2014, the ‘Feeling Myself’ rapper took her career to new heights as she dropped her third studio album, The Pinkprint. Being the superstar that she is, the success of the album gave Nicki the ability to touch various avenues in terms of promotion and bringing the music to life to thousands of fans across the dates of her “The Pinkprint Tour” that she went on to play all over the world. Now, with 2015 coming to a close and Nicki Minaj scaling back from the music scene, temporarily, Nicki finds herself gracing the cover of Billboard’s Year-End issue. Leaving no stone untouched, Nicki Minaj opened up from everything from getting relationship advice from Jay Z & Beyonce, to the possibility of returning to her roots and releasing a mixtape in the future.
You’re in a high-profile relationship. That presents some unique challenges. Is this something you and Meek discuss?
Yeah, we speak about it. We actually spoke with Jay Z and Beyoncé about it, too. After our show at [Brooklyn’s] Barclays Center [in October], we had dinner together. They were so giving with advice. I love them so much. It was just a beautiful conversation to have with people we love and we look up to as a couple. They’re so strong.Speaking of mixtapes, you began your career as a mixtape artist. Do you ever want to just release a mixtape and destroy the game?
I’ll definitely drop a mixtape. I have to.You have to? Why?
Well, I want to touch a couple of beats that I wasn’t on. I could have bodied a lot of the records that came out in the last year. But the main thing is, I have to set an example for female rappers. I’m at the top of that food chain, and it’s important to lead by example. And because I came into the game doing mixtapes, I want to make sure women do not forget the importance of that grind, that walk up to the top. You can’t get there with a song. Because once that song is no longer hot, you’re no longer hot. It’s important that you are bigger than your music. Some fans are going to f— with me for the rest of my life because they know where I came from. Fans know my struggle. How hungry I was. That I was not settling, I was not giving up. I was on everybody’s beat. I was ruthless.
It’s always been evident that Nicki Minaj had a clear plan for her career. Breaking through barriers of a male-dominated industry and genre, there’s no stopping Nicki Minaj from continuing her takeover. For now, for her naysayers, it’s as simple as getting use to seeing her everywhere possible for years to come. Check out the rest of the extensive interview, here.