Nicki Minaj is moving with intention. Arguably, the greatest lady emcee of all time is ready to make moves. After closing out 2023 with the release of Pink Friday 2 and making history with a record-breaking tour, the rap icon has been taking a deliberate pause from dropping new music in 2025. In a revealing May 27 cover story for Vogue Italia, the Queens native gave fans a glimpse into where her head and heart are as she shapes her upcoming album.
Get this, despite already having a solid lineup of tracks in the vault, Nicki made it clear that she is in no rush to drop a project to make noise. “I want the record to mean something both for the fans and for me. I’ll never be one of those people who puts out songs just to put them out. I love music. I respect it” she explained.
As for Nicki, it’s not about meeting a deadline, it’s about delivering something timeless. She’s focused on intention and authenticity, two things that have defined her career from the start. And when the new album finally arrives, she’s more than ready to get back on stage and reunite with the Barbz who’ve been riding with her every step of the way. “To experience it all again as soon as possible. For me and for the Barbz” she shared.
A long time ago, Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 tour shattered records and became the highest-grossing rap tour by a female artist, but for Nicki, it was more than just numbers. It was a celebration of connection, creativity, and legacy, something she’s aiming to recapture with this subsequent rollout.
The interview also took a playful detour when Nicki addressed the now-viral “Did I Lie” moment from a 2018 CRWN interview during her Queen era. The clip has since become meme gold across the internet. “I hate how I look in that video. When people started using it I thought ‘I’m blocking you all!’ Then I gave in it’s actually pretty funny” she admitted with a laugh.