Nicki Minaj is a woman who hugely divides opinion. On the one hand, there are people who believe that she is simply a sex symbol; a representation of all that is wrong with the music industry with her being "pimped" out by the executives in charge of her career. But, on the other, you've got Nicki Minaj the artist, a woman who has the ability to go toe-to-toe with any male rapper and takes ownership of her own body and sex appeal. Whichever way you lean, there's no doubting her cultural importance.
It's been four years since Minaj dropped The Pinkprint and became the most successful female rapper of all time, and, since then, she claims to have spent time getting to know herself again.
“I went through a moment where I got to know myself again, and then I went through a moment where I got to know myself as the rapper again. And then I locked [myself] in the studio and I didn’t want to leave.” She basically hasn’t left since. “Spiritually, I’ve experienced more growth in the last six months of my life, of my career, than I have in the last eight years.”
Now 35, Minaj claims to have had a serious boyfriend in her life since the age of 15. However, the past year or so has seen her embrace the single life and the rapper claims that this has been key to her newfound self-belief and confidence.
“I remember feeling like I could do anything at one time in my life,” she says, “and somewhere along the line, I just started second guessing myself, for whatever reason.”
That all ended when she started learning how to sleep alone. “As soon as I realized that I could actually live and breathe, and eat and sleep, and walk and talk without having a boyfriend, something clicked in me.”
“Becoming single,” she goes on, “was one of the things that made me feel strong and powerful. The fact that I am a young woman who doesn’t need a man for money. I don’t need a man for a job. I’ve never had to fuck for beats. I’ve never had to fuck for a record deal. I don’t have those pressures. I get up when I want, shop when I want.”
And, judging by her Instagram, Minaj certainly seems to have her mojo - and her sass - back.
Taking to her account, Nicki decided to treat her 87.9 million followers to a video of her twerking in a swimming pool while on vacation. However, rather than just enjoy the video, some fans decided to critique her twerking technique.
Not only did Minaj address the hate in her actual caption by writing "waits for the internet police & dance experts to voice their misplaced anger thru|their KEYBOARDS," she lashed out at a fan who questioning her twerking.
After one user told Minaj that she was too stiff, she savagely clapped back, saying: "and you too pressed, too mad, too ugly & forehead too big. Gtfo my page. I'm living my best life on vacation & BED IS THE #1 added song on urban radio this week. Now suck my D**K. ITS TOO GOOD."
Not done there, after someone told her that she had a "numb booty", Minaj said: "u look like a racoon with a receding hairline. Hit up doctor Wu for those dark circles. I'm living my best live in Turks. Would u like me to purchase a few of them wigs so u can go on one too?"
I think the message to take from this is, quite simply, do not mess with Nicki Minaj.