In a recent interview with MTV News, Nicki Minaj revealed that she's too busy with business ventures and preparation for her third album to set out on her usual summer tour. She hasn't taken a real break from the road since 2010.
"I really would love to, but I don't think I'll have the time, because I'm also going to be launching a few products this year that I'm really going to have to lend myself to the clothing line, I have a drink that's about to come out and these new speakers that you guys are going to see a commercial for this week or next week," she said. "So I have a lot of things that the business side of me has to work on, and I also want to be here so I can write. I obviously am going to start working on the third album very, very soon. I'm getting beats as we speak. I just haven't started writing, but that's my biggest priority at this point."
The NYC emcee also took the opportunity to discuss her beginnings with YMCMB and the challenges female artists face in a male-dominated music industry:
“When I started being around Young Money, Wayne thought I was shy, but it wasn’t that I was shy, I just didn’t want anybody to think I was easy... No matter what my lyrics were saying, when I got around these guys, I was a prude, because I didn’t want anyone in this game to ever be able to say ‘I had sex with her’ or ‘when she needed a deal, she had to…’ No. And ‘til this day, not one single man in this industry can say that and I pride myself on that. That’s the only bit of advice I would give the up-and-coming female rappers. You could be as sexy as you want, but just maintain your dignity around these guys.”
Minaj has sold millions of records at this point, and serves as a judge on American Idol. She's starting her own clothing and drink lines and is releasing a speaker called the 'Pink Pill' in collaboration with Beats By Dre. As such, she's setting her sights high: “I want to be a female rapper turned mogul,” she said. “I want to be the female Jay in terms of how he carved out his business" she said. But Minaj feels that some female emcees before her may not have had the same opportunity: "I just feel like maybe whoever was in their circles didn't really help them be all that they could be and I just decided to change that.”
As for all the young female emcees out there?
“I always feel like any female rapper that’s doing their thing that’s able to make a name for themselves or able to garner fans or whatever, I’m a fan of you,” she said. “Because I know how hard it is. Like I was doing shows for 200 people and I’m proud of that. So when I see these girls doing it, I’m proud of you. Whether you hear me say your name specifically or not, I'm proud of you.”
Stay tuned for more information on Minaj's third album, and watch the official video for 'High School' with Lil Wayne below, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of her 'Pink Pill' commercial shoot: