S. Samuel
Young Money's Nicki Minaj recently talked about taking an experimental approach to her upcoming debut album and explains why artists should not be afraid to go pop.
Minaj believes 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 week, 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)
Earlier this year, Minaj said she was prepping her debut for a fall release.
“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)
Recently, she justified not rushing out her first solo effort.
“I’ve gotten great feedback from artists I look up to and never thought I’d work with,” she explained in an interview. “They’re already in line to be on the project. But it’s like, ‘Do I want to put out a debut album with a thousand features on it or do I wanna finally showcase Nicki?’ I’m not worried about features at all…With the album, I think it’s more important that people get accustomed to seeing a female rapper again. Before I drop an album, people need to come out and see. People don’t even know what a female rapper does. We’re so not used to seeing it. It’s nonexistent in categories. We don’t get nominated. I need to work [the people] up to accepting a female rapper again and accepting my style and all of that — then the album will come. Honestly, I’d love to put an album out this year, but I don’t believe in rushing things either.” (MTV)
Check out a past Nicki Minaj interview down below:
