Lil Wayne and Young Money Entertainment has brought Hip-Hop to some of the biggest acts and runs in history. Lil Wayne himself was on the label, Drake is one of the GOATs, and there were runs like Tyga that some artists wish they had. But if you ask Wayne himself, Nicki Minaj is the greatest Young Money artist of all time.
Speaking on Complex’s GOAT Talk series, Lil Wayne revealed Nicki’s status as the YM goat. “GOAT Young Money artist? Nicki Minaj,” Wayne said.
Appearing on the show with Lil Wayne was 2 Chainz, who agreed, “I would say Nicki too.”
You can hear it below.
Nicki Minaj and her Pink Friday 2 album has flooded the Billboard hot 100. The album sits at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as well.
Pink Friday 2 launched 14 songs into the Hot 100, with two debuting into the top 40, “Everybody” feat Lil Uzi Vert at No. 26 and “Needle” feat. Drake at No. 34.
Pink Friday 2 has now pushed Minaj to the top of the list of female rappers with the most No. 1 albums on Billboard.
Before the release of the album, Minaj was tied with Foxy Brown for the record. Pink Friday 2 moved 228,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Dec. 14.
Additionally, the album is the biggest debut for a female HIp-Hop album in Spotify history. The album also sold 25,000 copies of vinyl.
Nicki Minaj’s album Pink Friday 2debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated December 23, and as per Billboard, Minaj has 14 songs currently charting on the Hot 100. One of them is “FTCU” at No. 42. But the more significant achievement is arguably that Rihanna liked the song enough to dance to it at her latest Fenty X Puma launch event on Monday, December 18.
Lil Nas X already shared his unofficial remix of “FTCU.” While there has not been any confirmation that Minaj plans to drop an “FTCU” remix featuring Lil Nas X, what about Rihanna?
Is Rihanna On Nicki Minaj’s Album ‘Pink Friday 2 (Gag City Deluxe)’?
On Wednesday evening, December 20, Minaj re-posted the above clip of Rihanna dancing to “FTCU.” She wrote atop the video on her Instagram Story, “The full gag city deluxe ain’t coming out until Queen Rih send her vocals. POW @badgirlriri [three heart hands emojis].”
@nickiminaj on Instagram
Make of that what you will. Minaj’s 24-track Pink Friday 2 (Gag City Deluxe) is already available for download via her official website, but a Rihanna verse? In this economy? If Rihanna, who famously hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti, sees Minaj’s post and takes it seriously, Minaj would have no other choice but to retroactively add to Pink Friday 2 (Gag City Deluxe). Gag City would implode.
Minaj’s recently announced Pink Friday 2 World Tour — which she’s also calling “The #GagCity Tour” — is scheduled to kick off on March 1, 2024 in Oakland, California. See all of the dates here.
In a recent interview with Complex, hip-hop icon Lil Wayne left the rap community buzzing as he gave the title of the greatest rapper ever signed to Young Money upon none other than the incomparable Nicki Minaj. Weezy, whose influence on the genre is legendary, didn’t mince his words when asked about his “Goat Young Money artist,” sparking a debate among fans and commentators alike: Nicki or Drake? With an undoubtful expression, Lil Wayne didn’t hesitate in his answer. The Young Money label, founded by Lil Wayne himself, has been home to some of the biggest names in the game, making the title of the greatest a highly coveted accolade. The proclamation didn’t just leave fans intrigued; it also reignited the ongoing discourse about the hierarchy within Young Money’s elite roster.
Nicki Minaj, whose multifaceted talent has left an unforgettable mark on the rap scene, has been a powerhouse in the industry since her breakthrough mixtapes. In fact, her most recent album Pink Friday 2 is already breaking barriers and achieving accomplishments. Her project is the highest-selling female rap album of 2023 so far. Lil Wayne’s endorsement adds another layer of validation to her status as an influential force in hip-hop. Although, it’s a well known fact that Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj have a supportive relationship with each other. Nicki Minaj recently announced that Lil Wayne will be replacing her at the 2023 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert series.
Moreover, from her magnetic stage presence to her razor-sharp lyricism, Minaj has consistently pushed boundaries, breaking gender norms and dominating a male-dominated industry. As the news circulated, fans took to social media to express their opinions on the matter. The ongoing Nicki vs. Drake debate gained fresh fuel, with supporters of each artist passionately defending their favorite. Drake, who has enjoyed immense success under the Young Money umbrella, remains an undeniable force in the rap game, boasting an unparalleled string of chart-topping hits and a global fanbase. “Drake is a bigger. But thats cause hes Hyped. Nicki is better talent wise,” one fan debated.
“I agree. Drake only steals songs he’s not a rapper he’s a cover artist,” enother person said. Lil Wayne’s choice undoubtedly sparks conversation, but it also underscores the richness of Young Money’s talent pool. The label has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of contemporary hip-hop, giving rise to artists who have left an impact on the culture. “In reality…..Drake did way more numbers then her… they always had slight competition so weezy was throwin shade at drake,” another said. As the debate goes on, one thing is clear: Lil Wayne’s endorsement carries weight. Let us know your thoughts on HNHH!
In true Kanye West fashion, his collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, Vultures, did not materialize in time for its release date. Throughout the past month, the two have been actively promoting the album with a “Vultures Rave,” various listening sessions, and a pre-save link that has since disappeared. During this promotional rollout, Ty Dolla $ign shared a written tracklist, featuring heavily teased songs like the Backstreet Boys-sampling “Everybody.”
One song that particularly stands out on the tentative list of songs is “New Body,” a collaboration between Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign, and Nicki Minaj. While this song has yet to be released, it is over five years old. One of the most highly anticipated collaborations on Vultures, here is a brief history behind Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, and Ty Dolla $ign’s “New Body.”
Kanye West & Nicki Minaj Have Not Worked Together in Many Years
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign had worked together on numerous occasions before teaming up for a full-length album. On the other hand, Ye and Nicki Minaj have not worked together on a song in many years. The two first teamed up on “Monster” from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, where Minaj delivered arguably her most iconic verse. Also on the album was “Dark Fantasy,” which features a spoken introduction from Minaj. Her 2010 debut, Pink Friday arrived the same day as Kanye’s album, featuring West on the song “Blazin’.” In 2018, a voice note from Nicki Minaj appeared on “Violent Crimes” from West’s Ye. Later that year, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj both featured on “Mama” from 6ix9ine’s debut album, Dummy Boy.
Initially Intended For Yandhi
Following Kanye West’s series of 7-track collaborative albums, he began to tease yet another new album, titled Yandhi. West announced that the supposed sequel to Yeezus would arrive on September 29, 2018. Of course, the album never officially materialized but ended up transforming into the gospel-centric Jesus Is King. Yandhi ended up leaking almost in its entirety in 2019, with many of its tracks being non-secular versions of songs from Jesus Is King. Among these tracks were “I Love It,” Teyana Taylor’s “We Got Love,” and “New Body” featuring Nicki Minaj. While previewed at Jesus is King listening parties, “New Body” remained unreleased and highly anticipated, with many of the leaks eventually receiving releases. West, Minaj, and Ty Dolla $ign had even filmed a music video for the song.
During a TV interview, Kanye explained the concept behind the song. He says, “I’m taking two stigmas at once because I love taking stigmas and flipping them to positive. Negative energy to a positive. One of the stigmas is that men, the more people we sleep with the higher our score goes. With a woman, the more people they sleep with, people they sleep with, people consider that to be, the lower their score goes.”
The majority of Yandhi’s leaks were reconfigured as the non-explicit Jesus Is King. “New Body” was noticeably missing from the tracklist. Around that time, Nicki Minaj sat down with The Shade Room, revealing new insight into the song’s status. “What’s funny is that I did a song with Kanye, that he now wants to turn into a gospel song.” She elaborated, “I done wrote three different verses, chile, and I don’t know. We ain’t seeing eye to eye on it.”
Nicki Minaj tells fans to spam ASAP Ferg to release their collaboration “Move Ya Hips” and Kim Kardashian for her song “New Body” with Kanye West. pic.twitter.com/dEvtFkSyS7
In the time since its initial leak, “New Body” has become a fan favorite among Kanye West and Nicki Minaj fans. The song even went viral on TikTok in 2020, prompting Nicki Minaj to advocate for its release. She even encouraged her fans to spam Kim Kardashian’s “comments everyday” if they wanted it to be released. Ty Dolla $ign also advocated for the release of “New Body.” That same year, his song “Status” included a lyric where he said, “I told Ye to drop the OG ‘New Body’.” With the song’s uncertain future as a leak and a reworked gospel song, it was still highly anticipated by both featured artists and hardcore fans.
Nicki Minaj Shuts Down Official Release
Nicki Minaj says she’s not interested in clearing her verse for Kanye West’s ‘New Body’
While promoting their upcoming album, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have previewed “New Body” during various listening sessions. These snippets included the original Nicki Minaj guest verse. After the album did not surface in time for its December 15 release date, Kanye West shared a screenshot of a message to Nicki Minaj, asking her to clear her verse for “New Body.” Minaj took to Instagram Live to speak about the status of the song. She said, “Regarding Kanye, that train has left the station. No disrespect in any way. I just put out a brand-new album. Why would I put out a song that has been out for three years?”
After declining his request to clear “New Body,” Kanye responded to Nicki Minaj during a listening session. At the same event where he spewed antisemitic remarks and sent jabs at Jay-Z and Drake, he said, “I made [Nicki Minaj] rewrite her verse 3 times for ‘Monster,’ I supported her career.” Fans may finally get “New Body” with the scheduled release of Vultures on December 31. However, it is highly unlikely for the song to be released in its original form, featuring a verse from Nicki Minaj.
Nicki Minaj has been the center of attention for more than a week now. That’s because the legendary rapper just released her 5th studio album Pink Friday 2. It’s her first new album in 5 years and she didn’t hold back. The 22-track album includes three singles that dropped beforehand and a number of high-profile features. Rappers like Drake, Lil Wayne, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, J. Cole, and more make appearances throughout the record.
Nicki has also done a pretty extensive press run for the project but her biggest interview yet may be forthcoming. Joe Budden posted a picture of the pair together with the simple caption “Soon…” The tease didn’t come with an announcement of when fans will be able to watch the interview for themselves, but that didn’t stop them from getting excited. Interviews with Nicki have become an even hotter commodity recently as she’s continued to take fans behind the scenes with the creation of Pink Friday 2. Check out the interview tease below.
Earlier this week, Nicki Minaj got the good news on on how Pink Friday 2 impacted the Billboard charts. She made a splash on the Hot 100, debuting 14 of the album’s 22 songs. Three of the tracks landed in the top 50, which is pretty impressive numbers given how much of the chart is dominated by Christmas music this time of year. Those numbers are in addition to the performance of the singles she released. “Last Time I Saw You” had a top 25 debut and “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” was inside the top 20. Lead single “Super Freaky Girl” had a commanding debut at the number 1 spot on the Hot 100 in its first week.
Where she was even more impressive was on the Billboard 200. Pink Friday 2 became Nicki Minaj’s third #1 album and her first in over a decade. The album didn’t just debut at number one though. It pushed some very impressive first week numbers selling well over 200k copies placing it among the top 10 highest first week sales total of the year. What do you think of Joe Budden teasing an upcoming interview with Nicki Minaj? Let us know in the comment section below.
Nicki Minaj and her Pink Friday 2 album has flooded the Billboard hot 100. The album sits at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as well.
Pink Friday 2 launched 14 songs into the Hot 100, with two debuting into the top 40, “Everybody” feat Lil Uzi Vert at No. 26 and “Needle” feat. Drake at No. 34.
Pink Friday 2 has now pushed Minaj to the top of the list of female rappers with the most No. 1 albums on Billboard.
Before the release of the album, Minaj was tied with Foxy Brown for the record. Pink Friday 2 moved 228,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Dec. 14.
Additionally, the album is the biggest debut for a female HIp-Hop album in Spotify history. The album also sold 25,000 copies of vinyl.
Nicki Minajhas again proven her dominance in the rap industry as her fifth album, Pink Friday 2, reaches new heights. The highly anticipated project has also successfully debuted on the Billboard charts at No. 1.
The QUEEN of Rap
On Monday, Dec. 18, it was announced that Nicki Minaj now holds the title for the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 by a female rapper, solidifying her place in history.
Additionally, she became the first female rap artist to achieve a number-one album in two decades, showcasing her enduring impact and influence in the music industry. One of the key factors that contributed to the success of Pink Friday 2 is its unprecedented streaming numbers.
With a staggering 170 million album streams, the “Big Difference” rapper has achieved her biggest streaming week ever.
Multiple Chart-Topping Accomplishments
Adding to the excitement, the album soared to the top, securing the No. 1 spot on the Top Album Sales Chart, the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart, and the Rap Albums Chart. Recognized as one of the “Top 3 Hip-Hop Debuts of 2023” and “Top 10 Overall Debuts of 2023,” it marks her seventh entry into the Top 10 on the Billboard 200, further solidifying her consistent success.
It has also secured its place as one of the top hip-hop debuts of 2023 and one of the overall top debuts of the year.
Fans on Twitter(X) have seemingly taken this news well with one user (@nylalewinski) commenting, “ Legendary” while another user (@crlvrq) commenting: “And if we play well our cards will also be the female rap albums with multiple weeks in the #1.”
With the album reaching new heights, it will be exciting to see how long it can reign at the top and if it could take her career to even bigger heights.
Updated By: Kynedei Iman Hobbs (12/18/23 at 6:20 pm)
Nicki Minaj Announces Highly-Anticipated Pink Friday 2 World Tour
Nicki Minaj has sent shockwaves through the music industry after dropping her newest album, Pink Friday 2. Now, the Queen of Rap has finally unveiled her highly anticipated Pink Friday 2 World Tour.
Pink Friday 2 World Tour
Nicki Minaj is officially embarking on her Pink Friday 2 Tour. The news was announced on Dec. 11, three days after releasing her latest album, Pink Friday 2.
The tour has 37 tour dates so far that are across the countries of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Germany. The tour is set to start on March 1, 2024, in Oakland, California and the last confirmed date is June 7, 2024, in Berlin, Germany.
The tour dates for Nicki Minaj’s ‘Pink Friday 2 World Tour’ have been announced.
Excitement has been bubbling on social media, with fans expressing their enthusiasm for the upcoming tour.
Users on Twitter (X) couldn’t contain their delight, with one fan named @wiltinsin exclaiming, “We all will be attending the #PinkFriday2Tour,” while @thebmukosha commented, “Let me get tickets because I refuse to miss this!”
Get Ready, Barbz!
Nicki will also make stops at some of music’s biggest festivals. Fans can catch her electrifying performances at Rolling Loud California on March 15 and Dreamville Fest in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 7.
Tickets for the Pink Friday 2 World Tour will be available starting on December 15.
Updated By: Chris Samuel (12/11/23 at 5:01 pm)
Nicki Minaj Delays Release of Pink Friday 2, Album Now Dropping on Her Birthday
Nicki Minaj has made a pivotal decision to postpone the release of her highly anticipated album, Pink Friday 2. As a result, eager fans must exercise patience as the album’s new drop date is set for Nicki’s 41st birthday, setting the stage for what could be an extraordinary birthday surprise.
‘A Very Special Date’
Nicki Minaj has decided to delay the release of her highly anticipated album, Pink Friday 2. In an Instagram live session with Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, the Queen of Rap revealed that the postponement was due to issues with vinyl records not being ready for the initial release date.
As a result, her fans will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the album, which will now drop on December 8, coinciding with Nicki’s 41st birthday. During the live, the “Last Time I Saw You” rapper said:
“Thats my birthday so Kai, it’s a very special date and were weren’t able to get the vinyls for the [November] 17th.”
Nicki went on IG live last night to reveal that she is pushing back the release date for ‘Pink Friday 2’ to December 8th, her birthday.
She made this decision due to vinyl albums not being available to be shipped on the initial release date. pic.twitter.com/lXOPrFDBYN
Cenat agreed that she should wait for the album to come out on her birthday so it could be more special. Users on X shared their thoughts on Nicki delaying her album release.
One user commented, “Pushing back bc vinyls is corny we rather have the album and wait,” and one other user commented, “Thought it was bc of Wayne dropping the same day.”
Interestingly, some fans speculated that the delay might have been influenced by Nicki’s Cash Money labelmate and friend, Lil Wayne. It was recently announced that Lil Wayne will be releasing his joint album, ColleGrove 2, with 2 Chainz on November 17.
However, there is no official confirmation that this was a factor in Nicki’s decision to push back her album release. Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 will mark her first album release since 2018’s Queen.
Updated By: Chris Samuel (10/25/23 at 4:51 pm)
Nicki Minaj Drops Eye-Catching Cover Art For ‘Pink Friday 2’
Nicki Minaj has finally unveiled the cover art for her highly anticipated Pink Friday 2 album. The Barbz have been gushing over the eye-catching artwork that will represent her latest musical offering.
‘Pink Friday 2’
On September 4, Nicki Minaj took to her Instagram story to showcase the vibrant cover art for her upcoming Pink Friday 2 album. In the cover image, Nicki is seen channeling her inner “Harajuku Barbie”as she stands on an all-pink sky train with the iconic Empire State Building in the background, serving as a nod to her New York City roots.
The vibrant colors and playful aesthetic reflect the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper’s signature style and larger-than-life persona.
Minaj’s bold fashion choices are also front and center in the cover art. She sports striking red and pink ombre hair, complemented by an all-white ensemble. This attention to detail ensures that the visuals for Pink Friday 2 will be as captivating and memorable as the music itself.
Adding to the excitement, a fan page on Instagram shared another photo captioned, “The lady that parted the pink sea.” This image shows Minaj standing confidently between two pink tidal waves, holding what appears to be a pink staff.
The symbolism in this artwork is open to interpretation, but it further adds to the intrigue surrounding the album.
Barbz’ Reactions
Fans took to Twitter to express their excitement.
One user exclaiming, “man, I love being a barb!” Another fan shared a heartfelt message, “I first saw this woman on MTV when I was 7 years old. I’ve grown up following her music, listening to her wisdom and have learned how to feel comfortable being myself as a Woman and Human being unapologetically. Thank you Nicki Minaj for ALL that you’ve done. #PinkFriday2 @NICKIMINAJ” This announcement comes on the heels of the Queen of Rap’s recent release of her new song, “Last Time I Saw You.” With the unveiling of the cover art, anticipation for the album’s release has reached new heights, and fans are eagerly awaiting more details about what they can expect from Pink Friday 2.
Updated By: Kynedei Iman Hobbs (9/5/23 at 4:43 pm)
Nicki Minaj Teases “Pink Friday 2” With New Song Snippet
Nicki Minaj has captured the attention of fans and social media as she gives them a taste of what’s to come in her highly-anticipated album, Pink Friday 2. With a snippet of a new song released, Nicki has created a buzz and left fans eagerly awaiting its official release.
“Last Time That I Saw You”
Just days before the preview, Nicki took to Twitter to express her excitement about the project, hinting at a particular song she wanted her fans to hear. She described it as the “greatest song I’ve ever written,” and her enthusiasm was evident as she opened up about how much she believes in the track.
During an Instagram Live session, Nicki Minaj shared a preview of an unreleased track from Pink Friday 2. The song features an up-beat tempo and showcases the Queen of Rap’s impressive singing skills.
It was later revealed through Minaj’s twitter, that the song is named “Last Time That I Saw You.”
The teaser has garnered a lot of attention and excitement from fans, who are eagerly anticipating the full release of the album. Her dedicated fan base eagerly shared their positive reactions on social media, expressing their anticipation for the album’s release.
“OMG THAT SNIPPET WAS EVERYTHING!!! THE VOCALS… THE BEAT!!” exclaimed Twitter user @FukIzOnYoBizkit. While another fan, @barbiefye, expressed their emotional response, saying, “Nicki really has me crying with this snippet at 2 in the morning.”
Originally scheduled for release in October, Nicki’s album Pink Friday 2 was pushed back due to some exciting news she promised to share at a later time. The album is now scheduled to be released on November 17.
Updated By: Catherine Dallum (8/14/23 at 6:20 pm)
Nicki Minaj Delays 5th Album Release, Unveils Title: #PinkFriday2
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj has thrilled her devoted fan base in a surprise announcement. The Queen of The Barbz took to her social media accounts with some disappointing news but a promise of good things to come. In a heartfelt message expressing gratitude for their unwavering support, Minaj revealed a new release date and captivating title for her highly-awaited album.
Nicki Minaj Announces Album Delay
The Queens-bred rap icon took to her Twitter account to speak directly to her 27 million followers about the status of her long-awaited album. She broke some disappointing news but also gave fans exciting new details and hinted at a surprise.
“Dear Barbz, l’ve been trying to find the right time to tell you this for a few days,” Minaj started coyly. “Due to some really exciting news that l’lI share with you guys @ a later time, I’ve shifted the album date just a tad bit.
While she didn’t disclose further details about the album or the exciting news that prompted the release date change, Minaj gave a “tiny SIP” of what is to come and reassured her fans that the wait would be worth it.
“Trust me, it’ll be WELL WORTH THE WAIT,” said the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper. “MY NEW ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED ON 11.17.23 and she shall be called: PinkFriday2”
In her heartfelt message, Minaj acknowledged the dedication and loyalty of her fans.
The “BarbieWorld” hitmaker wrote, “I love you guys so much. I am so grateful for the years of support & love you guys have given me.”
She then expressed her gratitude, telling her devotees “I don’t deserve all that you have poured into me” before reassuring them that “you. will. love. this. album.”
Alongside the album’s release, fans can anticipate updates from Minaj, including the unveiling of the official cover artwork at a later date. She also hinted at an upcoming tour, with more information to be provided closer to the album’s release. The tour is expected to commence around the first quarter of 2024, allowing fans to experience Nicki Minaj live on stage for the first time in 4 years. The short lived “NickiWrld Tour” started in February 2019 and only ran one month thru March 2019.
Dear Barbz, I’ve been trying to find the right time to tell you this for a few days. Due to some really exciting news that I’ll share with you guys @ a later time, I’ve shifted the album date just a tad bit. Trust me, it’ll be WELL WORTH THE WAIT…but since I AM shifting the date… pic.twitter.com/lX5iQXYAbG
With the anticipation building, fans eagerly await the arrival of their queen’s newly titled 5th album, #PinkFriday2. Speculations are arising regarding other artists who might be featured on the album.
Twitter user @AGsSpotify tweeted about rumors circulating that Ariana Grande could potentially collaborate with Minaj on #PinkFriday2, with high-budget music videos similar to their previous smash hits. Other collaborators fans are buzzing about include rap star JT of The City Girls and Doechii.
With Nicki Minaj’s previous album, “Queen,” released in August 2018, this upcoming album marks a highly-anticipated return for the rap superstar.
Updated by Catherine Dallum on June 29th, 2023
Nicki Minaj Announces Release Date For Upcoming 5th Album, Sparking Excitement Among Fans
Nicki Minaj has sent her fans into a frenzy with a recent announcement. She took to Twitter to reveal the highly anticipated release date of her upcoming fifth studio album. Set to drop in October 2023, the news has generated excitement and anticipation among her loyal fanbase, known as the Barbz.
Teasing The Barbz
Nicki Minaj’s recent NM5 announcement comes after months of teasing and speculation, marking her first album release since her acclaimed Queen in 2018.
“10/20/2023 The Album,” made waves across social media, instantly capturing the attention of fans worldwide. The tweet sparked a flurry of reactions, with one ecstatic fan exclaiming, “OOOOMGGGG WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! BARBZ WE’VE MADE IT OUT THE TRENCHES.” Another fan acknowledged Nicki’s enduring success, stating, “102k?? 16 years in the game, the Queen is still Queening.”
In May 2023, the Queen of Rap had previously hinted at an upcoming album, keeping her fans on the edge of their seats with anticipation. As Nicki’s fifth studio album, this release holds immense significance for the artist and her dedicated fanbase.
Collaborations & Projects
Nicki Minaj continues to keep her fans engaged with various collaborations and projects. Recently, she collaborated with Sexxy Red on the remix of “Pound Town,” sending the Barbz into a frenzy. In addition to her album release, the New York rapper will be featured on the soundtrack of the highly anticipated Barbie live-action movie alongside fellow rappers Kali, Ice Spice, and more.
Updated by Catherine Dallum on June 6th, 2023
Nicki Minaj Confirms 5th Album & Teases World Tour
Nicki Minaj is set to make a comeback with her upcoming fifth album after a long hiatus since her last release in 2018. Her fans, known as the “Barbz,” are eagerly awaiting the release and have already begun trending the hashtag #NICKIISCOMING on Twitter.
Nicki Minaj Confirms 5th Album
The Queen of Rap recently confirmed her upcoming fifth album on her radio show, Queen Radio, which returned in February 2023. This marks her first album since 2018’s Queen, and fans eagerly await its release.
Nicki’s fans, known as the “Barbz,” have excitedly anticipated this announcement and have since taken to social media to express their enthusiasm.
The Barbz Are Ecstatic
The “Barbz” have taken to Twitter to express their excitement about the upcoming album and tour. One fan tweeted, “life is worth living again” while another tweeted, “WE WILL BE STREAMING.”
The hashtag #NICKIISCOMING has been trending on Twitter since the announcement.
Nicki Teases World Tour
In a recent Instagram post, Nicki also teased a possible world tour, captioning the post with:
“Dear Barbz, If I were you, I’d be saving up for the next tour. Y’all ready.”
Nicki Minaj teases tour in new Instagram post:
“Dear Barbz, If I were you, I’d be saving up for the next tour. Y’all ready ” pic.twitter.com/3xiXS6CTZL
The rapper has not toured since her 2019 The Nicki World Tour, and fans are excited about seeing her live again.
The album and world tour news comes on the heels of Nicki’s cosign to Ice Spice, whom she recently crowned as “Princess of Rap” after they collaborated on the “Princess Diana” remix. She also signed the “Munch” rapper to her new label, Heavy On It.
Furthermore, Nicki’s hit song “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” recently took the No. 1 spot on the Apple Music charts, sparking a freestyle challenge among her fans.
Speaking of world tours,artists such as Beyonce, Drake, Lil Baby, and other high-profile artists are going on tour in summer 2023. Find out who’s gearing up to hit the road.
Disgraced former United States Representative George Santos may (or may not) be a lot of things. But one thing we can be sure of is the fact that he’s a Barb. During a sitdown interview with Ziwe, which was published to YouTube today (December 18), Santos spit some bars from one of Nicki Minaj‘s earlier verses.
In a portion of the interview, Ziwe went through a list of civil rights icons, and prompted Santos to tell her what they each mean to her.
When asked about Marsha P. Johnson, Santos deemed the LGBTQ+ rights trailblazer a “very respectful, honorable person,” though he wasn’t quite clear on why he admired her.
Santos also made it quite evident that he didn’t know who James Baldwin or Harvey Milk were. He did, however, say that Saturday Night Live actor Bowen Yang deserves an EGOT for his impression of him.
Ziwe then asked about Nicki Minaj, whom Santos called a “queen.” She proceed to rap a portion of Minaj’s verse on Kanye West’s 2010 hit, “Monster.”
“Pull up in the monster, automobile,” rapped Ziwe. Santos popped in, rapping “Gangsta, with a bad b*tch that came from Sri Lanka.” He then let out a big laugh, and Ziwe’s reaction said everything you need to know about her thoughts on the situation.
You can watch the full interview above (if you must).
Earlier this month, Nicki Minaj dropped Pink Friday 2, the long-awaited sequel to her beloved debut album. The record arrived on streaming with a slew of high-profile guest features. Flanked between tracks featuring massive industry names such as Drake and Lil Uzi Vert, the track “Cowgirl” holds writing and performing credits for a relatively unknown artist named Lourdiz. Though this track serves as a break-out moment for the 20-year-old artist, she holds extensive writing credits. She also touts a Spotify following of over 1.8 million monthly listeners.
Lourdiz currently operates out of Los Angeles, California, though she was born and raised in San Antonio. The rapper draws profound inspiration from her Mexican-American roots, and many describe her influences as distinctly Tejano. The rising star credits her early influences with inspiring her country-rap sound, as heard on “Cowgirl.”
In the track, Nicki Minaj and Lourdiz exchange verses about their rodeo-style adventures in the bedroom. The latter takes to the mic to deliver, “I just wanna get drunk tonight, and I’ma ride him cowgirl.” The track serves as the first collaboration between the pair of femcees, though this isn’t the first time Lourdiz has worked with a prominent industry name.
The Lyricist Has A Star-Studded Circle
Before collaborating with Nicki Minaj on “Cowgirl,” Lourdiz gained recognition for her songwriting skills. She contributed to hits for Swae Lee, G-Eazy, Anitta, blackbear, and Saweetie. Lourdiz has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get her name out, producing such genre-blending tracks as “Suicide Down” with Lil Gotit, “Back Seat” with Saweetie, and her own solo track “Somersault” which has over 1.4 million Spotify streams.
One thing many artists utilize to grow their budding brand is a visibly distinct trademark. For Lourdiz, her one-of-a-kind haircut telegraphs her arrival before anything else. The artist uses a straight razor to shave a reverse-mohawk style into a gaping center part. Lourdiz records this process on video and shares it on TikTok, leading some to speculate that this distinctive style might soon evolve into its trend. While some have taken to social media to deride the distinct image, likening the wide-open part to biblical imagery of Moses parting the Red Sea, others have highlighted the unique and boundary-pushing look as Lourdiz’ trademark.
The Young Star Has Already Courted Controversy
Dr Luke mocks Kesha and her recent album’s cover art through his artist Lourdiz’s latest song release. pic.twitter.com/JgWnTohNoO
Although artistic expression often stirs controversy, some new fans were surprised to discover that the 20-year-old rapper has already sparked significant discussions across social media. Reportedly, Lourdiz is both a client and a personal friend of the renowned record producer Dr. Luke, best known for his involvement in a 2014 lawsuit with Ke$ha. In the suit, Ke$ha claims that Dr. Luke drugged and sexually assaulted her. Ke$ha also claims the producer continually tortured her psychologically throughout their working relationship.
Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, P!nk, Avril Lavigne, and Kelly Clarkson all provided sworn testimonies during the legal battle, which finally settled out of court earlier this year. While Lourdiz was never involved in the court case, critics have targeted her for releasing the track “All My Bitches,” which many fans interpreted as a direct diss record mocking Ke$ha. Dr. Luke is also listed as a writer and producer on “Cowgirl.” Whatever the case, it appears that Lourdiz’ star is on the rise, meaning her best and worst moments will soon be under the microscope of public opinion.
Nicki Minaj is officially the No.1 album in the country. Pink Friday 2 has now pushed Minaj to the top of the list of female rappers with the most No. 1 albums on Billboard.
Before the release of the album, Minaj was tied with Foxy Brown for the record. Pink Friday 2 moved 228,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Dec. 14.
Additionally, the album is the biggest debut for a female HIp-Hop album in Spotify history. The album also sold 25,000 copies of vinyl.
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