S. Samuel
Young Money rapper Nicki Minaj has promised to explain the relevance behind her new rap alias "Roman Zolanski" on her upcoming debut album.
Minaj said she would allow fans to get more familiar with who she really is when the project releases later this year.
“The album is coming along just spectacular,” Minaj revealed in an interview. “I been doing a lot of work with Swizz [Beatz], and the stuff that we been coming upon is magical. When people hear the album, they’re going to get to know Onika [her birth name is Onika Maraj]. And no one knows Onika. I really didn’t think I would be this excited about the songs that I’m coming up with. I’m really, really proud…I’m gonna let the album [introduce my alter ego]. As of now, you’ll know Nicki and you’ll know Roman, my crazy alter ego Roman Zolanski. But you’ll meet Onika before the year ends.” (MTV)
In late May, Minaj said she had officially changed her rap alias.
“I’ve officially changed my name and will only respond….to Roman. Roman Zolanski. Out.” (Nicki Minaj’s Twitter)
Minaj recently said she believed her debut will make a statement for all female emcees.
“With this album, you got people saying ‘Oh that might be too pop for you,’ or ‘That might be too dance for you,'” she says later. “And I just started meditating on what makes them say that. I think people say those things just because of the past. I have to invent something, to show that a girl can rap over any kind of beat and still be hip-hop.” (VIBE)
Last month, two album promo photos were released online.
Nicki Minaj wields her weapons of mass destruction–and a sword–in one of two sexy promo photos for her forthcoming debut album. Hip-Hop’s new poster girl commands our attention as a samurai in a pink kimono with yellow hair in one colorful image and packs a punch in a second shot, sporting a sheer black catsuit and orange wig. Come on Barbie, let’s go party! (Rap-Up)
With artists like Swizz Beatz and Sean Garrett attached to her debut, Minaj has focused on a fall release date.
“Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown recording artist Nicki Minaj will release her highly anticipated solo debut album in Fall 2010. ‘I don’t want to do anything that sounds like what any other female rapper has done,’ said Nicki Minaj. ‘I want to start a new lane that one day, 10 years from now, girls will say, ‘I’m more of a Nicki Minaj type.'” (Cash Money Records Press Release)
Check out a past Nicki Minaj interview down below:
