Rapper Nicki Minaj is featured on the cover of Blackbook Magazine’s March 2011 issue. The 26 year-old channelled a bit of Foxy Cleopatra as she poses in a curly fro, making her usual signature facial expressions. In an interview with the pop urban digital publication, the Trinidad native talked about the hardships of her journey to success and shared her thoughts on being famous:
On her life while trying to make it:
“That whole time was so horrible,” she says. “It was like fucking torture. At the end of the day, after working at whatever job I hated, I would get all dressed up and go out with the hope of getting a record deal. At night, I was an artist, but during the day I was a slave. When I think back on that time, on the people who made my life a living hell, I want to say, Are you all seeing me now? This is me having the last laugh after all those years when you made it hard for me to get out of bed in the morning.”…
On being a famous artist:
“I’ve always wanted fame,” she says, idly stirring her cocktail with a plastic swizzle stick. “But when I achieved fame, I started realizing that it wasn’t as important as being great at what you do, or being critically acclaimed. Still, I never wish I wasn’t famous.”On her and Lady Gaga’s common message:
“We both do the awkward, non-pretty thing. What we’re saying—what I’m saying, anyway—is that it’s okay to be weird. And maybe your weird is my normal. Who’s to say? I think it’s an attitude we both share.” But embracing her inner carnival for fans who’ve felt pushed to the periphery has become a never-ending game of beating one’s own proverbial high score. “I’ve already given my fans so much,” she says, “but the expectation is to go higher and higher. And when I’ve done that, I’m expected to go a little bit higher.” [Read more]
Can’t front. Her makeup is always on point!
XXL Features 2011 Freshmen
This year, XXL Magazine has featured a number of notable producers, artists and labels in their 4th annual XXL Freshman issue. The urban magazine unveiled and reviewed 11 hip-hop artists for us to watch out for in 2011. Among the noted rappers are Atlantic Records’ Diggy Simmons, Interscope’s Yelawolf and G.O.O.D. Music’s CyHi Da Prynce. Congrats to all the artists!
she looks so pretty when she’s ‘normal’ – I thought it was telling that she said questions about her a$$ and Lil Kim were off limits.
Happy 2011 !! Want a new life this year ??
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werk Ms. Nicki! i love the retro feeling it’s very marc jacobs circa spring 2011 collection!
Normal is just that normal…
This was a beautiful photoshoot, the expressions work and the shoes- dear lord! love em
She is about 29, Concreteloop. This chick was born in 82 contrary to whatever YoungMoney forces their artists to say about their age. It’s almost like artists are castrated in an effort for them to last longer…look at Justin Bieber (or Beiber…whatever).
I love the XXL cover! Would love to see something like that with all the major pop stars Beyonce, Rihanna, Gaga, Christina, Brit Brit, ect. That would be so dope. Sort of like what Vanity Fair does with all the major actors…Nicki had some good shots, cover is a mess. I’m over her trying to be different.
I so want to like Miss Nicki’s style but she is trying to hard. She needs to relax a bit and drop those constipated faces.
Nicki is changing….. For the better…. She use to take some “stank” pics but she looking really good now. Happy for her.
love the pics, but i hate when she makes those crazy faces
love nicki, gorgeous woman, but I seriously think she should tone it down a bit
Nice fashionable pix looks like she didnt have her ass on that day lol you a damn fool to tell me nicki ass isnt removeable!
This is a beautiful spread of Nikki, she looks great when she does fashion forward spreads and tones down the outlandish outfits. This spread and the one for V Magazine are my favorite of her.
She better be good at SOMETHING because her rap career is sucky. Doubt that she’ll be worth mentioning in 2012.
Nickki “At night, I was an artist, but during the day I was a slave.”
TRICK you still a SLAVE…smh!
IM SORRY BUT IM NOT BUYING INTO THIS CRAP.. SHES SO WACK, SHE LOOKS SILLY..SHE CANT DRESS, SHES TRYING SO HARD TO BE WACKY AND DIFFERENT, IT JUST DOSENT WORK FOR ME SORRY…
XXL Freshmen Class of 2011 included NO FEMALE RAPPERS. Then we have Lil Kim trying to destroy Nicki Minaj’s career. Still, it is Nicki Moment of Life. She is on top of charts and cover of magazines. She stays on hater minds. Somewhere in this world, haters are following everything Nicki does.
HI LIL KIM!!!
You are out of work, find something better to do
With carrot top woody wood pecker AKA Ritard Riri, and this NO TALENT cartoon character, black entertainment has become nothing but a JOKE! beautiful talnted girls like keyshia, ciara, keri and monica rarely get any press but this trash is being forced on the public.
SHE LOOKS GOOD BUT I SEE THEY HAVE TO DOWNM PLAY HER BUTT IN HIPS , ALOT OF PEAPLE DONT KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PUT ALL SILLACONE IN YOU ASS IN HIPS THEY ARE HARD AS ROCKS YOU GET THE LOOK BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY MEN CANT EVEN ENJOY THE TOUCH IT TOO HARD
SHE LOOKS GOOD BUT I SEE THEY HAVE TO DOWNM PLAY HER BUTT IN HIPS , ALOT OF PEAPLE DONT KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PUT ALL SILLACONE IN YOU ASS IN HIPS THEY ARE HARD AS ROCKS YOU GET THE LOOK BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY MEN CANT EVEN ENJOY THE TOUCH IT TOO HARD
Very Sheek!