She fell back, she had a baby. She did the mother thing, the wife thing, all that... But now, Nicki Minaj is ready to put her foot on the music industry's neck once again. 2022 saw her begin an impressive comeback to the rap game, and this New Music Friday (March 4), she dropped off her first single of the year, "Red Ruby Da Sleeze," much to fans' pleasure. Of course, that wasn't the only big announcement she had in store for us this weekend.
As the weekend was beginning, the mother of one revealed during her Queen Radio show that she officially has a record label of her own, making her the first female artist to achieve such a feat. "I’m not gonna announce the name but I have a record label now," she dished during last night's episode. "Because I believe so strongly in loyalty and because I spent my whole life giving you others that turned around and shit on me."
Nicki Has Big News
As UrbanIslandz reports, Minaj first teased the possibility of her own label in January 2022. Obviously, the Queen of Rap can only have the best on her team, which is why she hired Wendy Goldstein as president of her Republic Records imprint. The industry executive has spent 30 years overseeing creatives in hip-hop, beginning at Epic Records in 1993 and later securing the bag as an A&R at Universal Music's Geffen Records. In her time in the latter position, she signed the likes of Mos Def, Common, and The Roots.
Elsewhere in her announcement, the Trinidadian native announced that she's already brought on four signees, each of them bringing something totally unique to the table. First up is Ghanaian singer, Nana Fofie, who appeared in the studio with Minaj as she was doing her Queen Radio broadcast. We'll also be hearing from Jamaica's Skeng, who was recently seen shooting a music video with the fashionista during her Carnival vacation in her homeland.
First Signees Revealed
Others who Nicki Minaj wants you to have on your radar include Bronx rapper London Hill, and Rico Danna. The former previously appeared alongside the 40-year-old on her "Likkle Miss (Fine Nine Remix)," and was quick to react to last night's exciting news. "I Told Ya I Was Cooking Just Wait On Me Yall Love Yall xoxooo," she wrote on social media.
As for the latter, we saw the rap diva support his "Yeah Yeah" single last October, at which time she teased "big things coming." Are you excited to hear what Minaj's record label has in store? Sound off in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop news updates.
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