Television producer Simon Cowell has opened up about his admiration toward Young Money's Nicki Minaj and why she is night your typical overnight celebrity.
Although Minaj is reportedly no longer involved in Cowell’s upcoming “X-Factor” reality show competition, he believes she still has a bright future ahead of her.
“We spoke to Nicki actually about a lot of projects,” Cowell said in an interview. “It wasn’t specifically about this, but we were just very interested to meet her. I’m a big fan of hers. So I don’t know if it’s gonna be this show or something in the future, but it was definitely somebody I wanted to meet. Off her own back she’s had a phenomenal year last year and she’s gonna have a phenomenal year this year…She’s very smart, very influential, very bright and along with artists like Jessie J. You can’t ignore them and sooner or later they have to be in our world and we have to be in their world.” (XXL Mag)
Yesterday, reports emerged online claiming Minaj would not take part in the “X-Factor.”
Don’t plan on seeing Nicki Minaj at the judges table on “X Factor” — TMZ has learned the rapper will NOT be taking a gig on the show. Rumors of Minaj’s participation on the show have been spreading like wildfire … with Simon Cowell himself fanning the flames … but sources connected to Minaj tell us she won’t be a judge on the show …adding, “There’s nothing going on with [X Factor].” (TMZ)
This week, Cowell confirmed that meetings with Minaj did take place.
“I think it’s incredible to have a talent like L.A. [Reid] on the show, it only brings more credibility and excitement to The X-Factor. He’s arguably one of the greatest hit-makers in the world,” Cowell said in an interview. “He was one of my first choices to bring on. After years in the music industry, you have look at who has continued to stay relevant — I’m just extremely happy that L.A. will be joining me. He’s really almost like a producer on the show, now…We’ve spoken to [Nicki] but we’ve met so many people that’s it’s just a long, exhausting process that we have to deal with. It’ll be announced in the next week. We were actually introduced a few weeks ago.” (VIBE)
Last weekend, rumors hit the Internet linking Minaj and Cowell.
The Young Money raptress is reportedly in talks with Simon Cowell to be a judge on the U.S. edition of his talent competition “The XFactor”. The Harajuku Barbie met with Cowell in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. The hip-hop diva’s casting as a judge would help the show appeal to a younger and more diverse audience. She is currently touring the country with Lil Wayneand nothing has been finalized. (Rap-Up)
Check out a recent Nicki Minaj interview down below: