On her ImageTo read the entire interview, pick up the issue of Black Book Magazine.
When I started making those weird voices, a lot of people told me how whack it was. ‘What the f*ck are you doing?,’ they’d say. ‘Why do you sound like that? That doesn’t sound sexy to me.’ And then I started saying, ‘Oh, that’s not sexy to you? Good. I’m going to do it more. Maybe I don’t want to be sexy to you today.’
I’m definitely playing a role, I’m an entertainer, and that’s what entertainers do. That’s what people pay for. They don’t pay to see me roll out of bed with crust in my eyes, and say: Hey guys, this is me, authentic. They pay for a show. When I started doing all that weird stuff, I never thought in a million years that it would mean more people would start listening to my music, It was basically a ‘f*ck you’ to everyone who told me what to do and who to be.
On the Lady Gaga Comparisons
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.
On being Romantically Linked to Diddy
God, no! It was so disgusting to me that people would even link me and him. I grew up watching him. I look at him like a Russell Simmons figure, definitely not as someone I’d be getting it poppin’ with.
On Her Twitter Followers
All of those people who follow me on Twitter? They aren’t my friends. Some of them are fans, but many of them are people who hate my guts and are just waiting for me to tweet something that they can put on their blogs. It’s easy to see two million followers and think, Look at all these people who love me! But not all of them love me. Whether I’m smiling or not, I know that people are always waiting for me to slip up.
On filming the MTV documentary Nicki Minaj: My Time Now
I was afraid I’d been too real, that I’d shown too much of the actual person behind Nicki Minaj. Someone once told me, ‘People love the façade of pop stars. It’s not good to be a real person,’ so I lost sleep over it. But then I met tons of people who said, ‘I’ve became a fan of yours after watching that documentary.’ I’m realizing now that I’m never really going to know the rules. I just have to play.
On how fame has changed her life
I’ve always wanted fame..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.
I’ve lost my peace of mind. I no longer know who’s my friend or my enemy. I don’t know if they’re calling me because they like me or because they want a photo op, and that’s not a good feeling. I’m always second-guessing everyone, trying to figure out, Who is this person, and what do they want from me? Most people don’t treat me like a human being. I’ve become an image, a persona, a robot: ‘Stand there, take a picture, and smile.’
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| Willow Smith |
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| Keyshia Cole |
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| Beyonce |
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| Cassie |
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| Rihanna |
I grew up a little girl with a big, big, big, big dream. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t see the same thing in you that you might see in yourself. I remember early years of singing and being teased for my voice and people saying “Oh, you do too much with your voice, you can’t sing, you’ll never be a singer.” On the back of the school bus they use to ask me to sing and then talk about me later. I just remember that was horrifying, because that was my biggest dream and that was something …..I remember a time I was so reluctant to tell or share my talent with anyone outside of my immediate family. For them to attack it and say “Oh, you’ll never make it” I remember being distraught, I remember years of feeling not worthy and comparing myself of who I saw on TV and just saying, “Wow, you know I really want this and I’m going to die trying.” It wasn’t until I relinquished their power over me…They don’t have the power to tell me whether or not I can make it. You can’t empower anyone to attack your vision because I saw it so clearly in my head. I saw myself on that stage, I heard me singing, I saw me accepting awards and doing everything I’m doing now, I saw it then.
I’m a testament to the fact that dreams do come true but you have to believe in yourself and not seek validation in others opinions. Today, right now, I can tell you if your going through the same thing, if you have a dream that you’re fighting and others are telling you, “just keep it a hobby” or others are telling you, “I don’t think you’re talented enough,” or others are telling you, “you should probably get a real job” or others are telling you whatever it is they’re telling you about your dream, about your look, your likeness, whatever….it gets better, it gets better. But you have to make it better.
