Nicki Minaj opened up about her career and controversies in a new interview with Vogue.
The best-selling rapper is on the cover of Vogue's December issue ahead of her fifth album, "Pink Friday 2," slated for release next month.
Minaj told the magazine that when she returned to the studio, she tried to recapture the optimism of her star-making debut, 2010's "Pink Friday."
"There's a freeness that you have around you when you're at your best, when you're doing your thing at your peak," Minaj said. "There's like this lightness in the air. You're happy even if you're writing a sad song."
"Pink Friday" went multiplatinum and spawned numerous hit singles, including "Moment 4 Life" and "Super Bass," transforming Minaj into an A-list star. But upon reflection, she realized that being put under a microscope changed her approach to songwriting.
"Once you start knowing that you're being judged, there's no longer that free spirit," Minaj said. "People who excel at something make it look easy, but they also deal with a lot of fear of letting people down and of letting themselves down."
"Once you make it, it's like anything you say can be used against you. It's like when you get arrested — that's literally what being famous feels like," she continued. "You go from having this fun, curious nature, laughing and joking, to realizing not everyone gets your sense of humor, not everyone likes you. And they will figure out how to put a negative spin on anything you do. It hurts."
Minaj has had her fair share of controversies over the years, including comments that others have found offensive or problematic.
In 2021, Minaj was sued by a woman who accused her husband of sexual assault. The lawsuit claims that Minaj harassed the victim and offered her money in exchange for recanting the allegation.
Shortly after, Minaj received criticism for casting doubt on COVID-19 safety policies, claiming that her cousin's friend in Trinidad "became impotent" after he received the vaccine.
Minaj did not address her husband's past in the interview with Vogue, though she did refuse to backtrack on her comments about the pandemic.
"I'm one of those people who doesn't go with a crowd," she said. "I like to make my own assessment of everything without help from everyone."
She also declined to align herself with a specific political party.
"Every time I talk about politics, people get mad. I'm sorry, but I am not going to be told who I should get on social media and campaign for," Minaj explained. "There's a lot we don't know that's going on in the government, and I don't think it changes whether you lean to the left or right."
