Friday, March 29, 2024

Nicki Minaj on Sitcom, Obama, Trump, #BlackLivesMatter, Meek Mill and Getting Relationship Advice from Beyonce

Nicki Minaj covers Billboard Magazine
Nicki Minaj covers Billboard Magazine’s “Year in Music 2015” issue

*Nicki Minaj sat down with Billboard for an in-depth interview on just about everything.

The topics range from her budding acting career, to politics, to details about her relationship with Meek Mill. She also compares New York to Los Angeles, explains being inspired by the marriage of Jay Z and Beyonce, and why she feels it’s important for her to drop a mixtape – soon.

“I have to,” she explains. “I have to set an example for female rappers. I’m at the top of that food chain, and it’s important to lead by example. And because I came into the game doing mixtapes, I want to make sure women do not forget the important of that grind, that walk up to the top. You can’t get there with a song. Because once that song is no longer hot, you’re no longer hot. It’s important that you are bigger than your music.”

Read excerpts from Nicki’s recent Billboard interview below:

Minaj talks about her new ABC sitcom, acting in general and what she’s watching on television:

You’ve been working on a sitcom for ABC about your childhood. How’s that going?

I am maybe too involved. Two days ago I was in casting. I’m going back tomorrow. I found one girl who I’m obsessed with who might play me, and someone who could rival her. So I’ve been coaching them both. I do a beat, let them rap. I do little dances with them. It has been magical. I didn’t even know I had it in me, but I love children so much.

Are there models for the show? Have you seen any of the new ones that depict people of color, like Fresh Off the Boat or Master of None?

Well, I narrate this show, like Chris Rock narrates Everybody Hates Chris. It was little differences that made that show stand out. I want to have those nuances. My first day, I said to the casting director: “This will not be a clichéd black show.”

You began your career as an actress. You’re in the upcoming Barbershop sequel. Is acting something you want to do more of in coming years?

Absolutely. I want to do something very serious. Meryl Streep is one of my favorite artists of all time. She blows me away in just about everything she does. I love how she can go from The Devil Wears Prada to The Iron Lady — she’s so incredible in that. My dream would be to have that type of acting career, where I can do both things believably.

Do you watch a lot of TV?

I watch Investigation Discovery all day. All day. Like, I know everything about law and crime-solving. Everybody that comes to my house, they’re like: “Do you not take it off this channel?” Meek thinks that I’m planning on killing him. We live together now, and every time he wakes up, it’s on. Every time he goes to sleep, it’s on.

Do you watch Empire?

I remember seeing the first episode and being like, “Oh, my God. I wasn’t expecting it to be this real and dope.” But I haven’t seen it in a while.

Nicki Minaj in Billboard's new "Year in Music 2015" issue

Minaj shares her thoughts about current events, including President Obama, Donald Trump and the Black Lives Matter movement:

The end of the Obama era is approaching. Are there things about his presidency that have especially impressed you, or disappointed you?

I do want to speak about something specific, which just melted my heart. I thought it was so important when he went to prisons and spoke to people who got 20 and 30 and 40 and 50 years for drugs. There are women who are raped, people who are killed and [offenders] don’t even serve 20 years. I was blown away, watching the footage of him speaking to the prisoners. They never felt like anyone in the White House cared about them. I loved that he made them people again. Because we all make mistakes. I think about how many men may have made a mistake to feed their families and then had to pay for it forever.

You’re from New York, so you also must have an opinion on Donald Trump.

(Laughs.) There are points he has made that may not have been so horrible if his approach wasn’t so childish. But in terms of entertainment — I think he’s hilarious. I wish they could just film him running for president. That’s the ultimate reality show. [The interview was conducted prior to Trump’s Dec. 7 comments about halting immigration by Muslims into the United States.]

The country is going through a period of heightened protest and conversation about racial justice. You’ve been vocal about Black Lives Matter, the Sandra Bland case, Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin.

I did research on the Sandra Bland case. That’s why it hit me so hard. I remember speaking to other women at the time. This could have been me. I’m a sassy woman. I may have given a little bit of attitude to a police officer. I could have never come home.

You recently appeared at “Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America” and recited the Maya Angelou poem “Still I Rise.” What made you choose it?

It was the most spot-on poem that Nicki Minaj could have ever read. And it’s funny; it ended up proving a point. Because I remember going online after and lots of people said such beautiful things. But there was one lady, an older black woman, who said, “She shouldn’t be reading that poem.” And she discussed how I dressed. I love that she said that, because she doesn’t even realize the poem is discussing sexiness, owning your sex appeal. “Does my sexiness upset you?/Does it come as a surprise/That I dance like I’ve got diamonds/At the meeting of my thighs?” And this woman, she was discussing her PhDs, all this education she had — but she couldn’t put two and two together about the theme of the poem. My entire career has been that poem in a nutshell.

Jay Z, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015.
Jay Z, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015.

Nicki also talked about living in Los Angeles, dating Meek Mill and getting relationship advice from Beyonce and Jay Z:

Do you miss New York?

I love it [in Los Angeles]. I spoke to Beyoncé about it, because she came out here recently too. She said exactly what I used to say when I first moved here. We just feel happier. She was saying that simple things that would normally feel like a task, they don’t [feel that way] out here. She told me it’s not bothersome to get up super early and have to take Blue to school, because it looks so beautiful. I’m a New Yorker, but there are times in New York when you wake up and it’s, like, a dreary day. I know my London fans can identify with this. When I’m in London or Paris, I think the same thing. Part of the beauty is in the grayness — but it’s an acquired taste.

You’re wearing a diamond on your ring finger.

Yeah. Meek gave me that.

Is it an engagement ring?

He and I are not engaged. But he said he would like to give me three rings before we get married. My birthday’s coming up, and he better get the new one, because he got [the first one] for my last birthday. So let’s see what happens.

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill onstage during the 2015 BET Awards on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles.Mark Davis/BET/Getty Images for BET
Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill onstage during the 2015 BET Awards on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles.

You’re in a high-profile relationship. That presents some unique challenges. Is this something you and Meek discuss?

Yeah, we speak about it. We actually spoke with Jay Z and Beyoncé about it, too. After our show at [Brooklyn’s] Barclays Center [in October], we had dinner together. They were so giving with advice. I love them so much. It was just a beautiful conversation to have with people we love and we look up to as a couple. They’re so strong.

Is there anything you would care to share from that conversation?

I’d rather keep it private. I know Meek — he understood a couple things that I was explaining to him more when we spoke about it in front of them. We were all laughing so much. It was very late — you know when you get so tired, and it’s just like the giggles portion of the evening?

I don’t know what’s going to happen with he and I. I just know right now we are really, really enjoying each other’s company. So, shout out to everybody in the world that’s just trying to find love or be happy. Everybody should have someone to hold at night. It really, really changes your energy. I find that my energy is very different afterward — if I’m in the bed with him, just hugging him all day. It’s just, like, something about love. You transfer it. It’s infectious.

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