After making a blockbuster comeback with Pink Friday 2 at the end of 2023, Nicki Minaj has been notably quiet on the music front in 2025 — but not without purpose. In a candid new interview for the May 27 issue of Vogue Italia, the rap queen opened up about why she’s taking her time before releasing a follow-up.
Despite having already laid down several promising tracks, Minaj made it clear she’s in no rush to push them out. What she wants is something deeper — something that truly represents who she is today.
“I’ve written a lot of songs that I think are great,” she said, “but I don’t want to rush it. I want the album to say something. I want it to represent me. I’m not the kind of artist who drops songs just to stay visible. I love music — I respect it.”
Letting the Music Breathe — and the Barbz Wait
When the timing feels right, she plans to step back onto the stage. “To live through that again — I really want it. Not just for me, but for the Barbz too,” she said, acknowledging her loyal fanbase.
That return will have big shoes to fill. The Pink Friday 2 World Tour shattered records, officially becoming the most commercially successful rap tour by a female artist in history.
Minaj’s Humor, Met Gala Glam, and Viral Fame
In the same interview, Nicki took a moment to laugh at herself — specifically at the now-viral clip from her 2018 CRWN interview with Elliott Wilson, where she exclaims “Did I lie?” with fierce conviction.
“I couldn’t stand watching myself in that video,” she confessed. “When it went viral, I wanted to block everyone. Eventually, I leaned into it — it’s actually kind of hilarious.”
While she's mostly kept a low profile in public this year, she made waves at the 2025 Met Gala with a bold appearance in a navy pinstripe gown by Thom Browne. “It felt like Sunday’s best — iconic in your own way,” she told Entertainment Tonight.
Released in December 2023, Pink Friday 2 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, moving 228,000 album-equivalent units in its first week — the highest for any female rap album in the 2020s.
