After dominating the charts with Pink Friday 2 in late 2023, Nicki Minaj has been relatively quiet in 2025—until now. In a Vogue Italia cover story published on May 27, the Queens-born rap icon offered fans a rare update on her next album, her creative process, and her desire to reconnect with her fanbase through another global tour.
“I want the record to mean something, both for the fans and for me. I’ll never be one of those people who puts out songs just to put them out. I love music. I respect it,” Nicki shared.
While she confirmed that a strong collection of songs is already taking shape, Minaj is deliberately taking her time. Her focus? Intentionality over quantity. She made it clear that she’s not chasing trends or streaming stats—she wants her next project to be impactful and timeless.
Anticipation Builds for a New Era
Nicki’s next tour is also on the horizon, though no dates have been announced yet. Following the record-breaking success of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour—which became the highest-grossing rap tour ever by a female artist—she’s eager to hit the stage again.
“To experience it all again, as soon as possible. For me, and for the Barbz,” she said.
From Viral Memes to Met Gala Elegance
The interview also included some playful reflections, like the now-iconic “Did I lie?” meme from a 2018 CRWN interview promoting Queen. Nicki laughed off her initial reaction to the video’s viral popularity:
“I hate how I look in that video. When people started using it I thought, ‘I’m blocking you all!’ Then I gave in, it’s actually pretty funny.”
Even as she’s kept a relatively low profile in 2025, Nicki made waves with her Met Gala appearance earlier this month. Dressed in a dramatic navy pinstripe mermaid gown by Thom Browne, she told Entertainment Tonight that the look made her feel like she was “putting on your Sunday’s best and being iconic in your own world.”
A Career-Defining Run
Pink Friday 2, released in December 2023, was a massive success—debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 228,000 equivalent album units, the biggest opening for a female rap album in the 2020s. As anticipation builds for her next musical chapter, Nicki Minaj continues to prove why she remains one of the most influential voices in hip-hop.
Fans may be waiting—but Nicki’s making sure it’ll be worth it.
