Hip Hop/ Rap
Nicki Minaj Says She’s Not Rushing Her New Album: “It Has to Mean Something”
Nicki Minaj is hitting pause on the new album — but it’s not due to a creative block or lack of material. In a candid new interview with Vogue Italia, the rap queen revealed why she’s taking her time before dropping the follow-up to Pink Friday 2, her chart-topping 2023 album.
After Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning 228,000 equivalent album units, the biggest week for a female rap album in the 2020s, fans expected a quick turnaround. But Minaj is making it clear: she’s not in the business of chasing streaming numbers or forcing output.
“I’ve got a bunch of really strong tracks, but I don’t want to rush,” Minaj explained. “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,” she told Vogue Italia. “I love music. I respect it.”
Pink Friday 2 and Beyond
Released in December 2023, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 marked a triumphant return for the Queens-born rapper. The album spawned viral hits, massive fan engagement, and helped propel her to a record-setting, highest-grossing female rap tour with her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. Still, despite Nicki Minaj’s commercial success, she is choosing intentionality over immediacy for her next project — a move that sets her apart in an era of constant content.
“When the time is right, I’ll be back,” she added. “And when I do return, I want to tour again — for me, and for the Barbz.”
Viral Fame and Fashion Icon Moments
Nicki Minaj also reflected on one of her most viral internet moments — the now-legendary “Did I Lie?” video clip from a 2018 CRWN interview. Despite its meme-worthy popularity, Nicki Minaj revealed she once hated how she looked in the video.
“I hate how I look in that video,” she admitted. “When people started using it I thought, ‘I’m blocking you all!’ Then I gave in — it’s actually pretty funny.”
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While Minaj has kept a relatively low profile in 2025, she did stun fans with a jaw-dropping appearance at the 2025 Met Gala, where she wore a navy pinstripe Thom Browne mermaid dress. “It reminded me of putting on your Sunday’s best and being iconic in your own world,” she told Entertainment Tonight.
For now, Micki Minaj is focused on timing, meaning, and protecting her creative integrity. Her fans — famously known as the Barbz — will need to stay patient. But if her latest comments are any indication, the wait will be more than worth it.
