Nicki Minaj opens up about being a mother in new interview: ‘I had to work to support my family..'
Nicki Minaj has firmly established herself as one of the most influential and powerful figures in music today. From humble beginnings to being crowned by Billboard as the best rapper of all time this year, Minaj's rise to superstardom has been nothing short of remarkable. But behind the glitter and fame, the rapper reveals in a new interview just how much she had to sacrifice, especially when it came to motherhood and living a 'normal' life.
A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj)
Reflecting on her relentless drive, Minaj said, 'I was one of those little girls who could understand if an adult was stupid. The lack of discipline around me made me want to be the opposite. Then, I'm not always. But I believe in working hard to get results. I had to earn everything, I had nothing and I wanted it more than the others. And when my friends drank or smoked weed or wanted to go to clubs, I went, yes, but not so often. Everyone said I had a 'natural high'. I was like that: happy but determined. I told people: 'I can do it'. Almost as if I knew it.'
A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj)
This early focus and determination propelled her forward, but it came at a cost. When asked about what she gave up to reach the peak of her career, Nicki Minaj did not shy away from discussing the sacrifices surrounding motherhood. 'As a woman, I put off becoming a mother. A lot of women in the industry, especially older than me, haven't had children. Some don't regret it, but others do. I put it off. And then I didn't go to every Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthday party because I had to work to support my family. I think the price was not having a 'normal' life. Today, things are different, because I can give my son what I couldn't have, but there are things I would like to ensure for him and that I have to figure out how to give him. When we go out, for example, I have to worry about someone taking pictures of him. So every day I have to decide: is it more important to go for a walk with my son or to avoid him being photographed?'
A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj)
Minaj's story is also a testament to grit and merit in an industry where nepotism often reigns. She rose to superstardom on sheer talent and a relentless work ethic — no silver spoon in sight. Reflecting on her journey and the criticisms she has faced, 'I have heard every possible criticism about me and I have thought about giving up many times. Thank goodness I didn't. I hope that my story can be an inspiration, and push children, adults, anyone not to give up.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Imtiaz Ali dropped Diana Penty from Ranbir Kapoor's Rockstar after 3 weeks of workshop; actor says ‘he felt I wasn't…'
Billboard unveils a comprehensive 75-artist R&B ranking, spanning decades. Stevie Wonder tops the list, followed by Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson. The lineup honors Black musical legends, considering vocal talent, career impact, and cultural significance.
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
11-year-old Taylor Swift knocked on every Nashville door, had them slammed in her face; now she writes the rules
Taylor Swift has changed the pop culture game for the foreseeable future. Today, she's the force even presidential hopefuls wait on for an endorsement, given her influence on youth and the massive power she holds to sway millions with one powerful post. But her rise wasn't some overnight sensation with one song blasting off the charts. It's been 19 years already since the 'Cruel Summer' singer stepped into the business, and while many know her early songs were bedroom tracks she wrote in high school—over breakups and the chaos of growing up—it didn't just catch a label's eye that easily. Before the Grammys, before the record-breaking tours, before she was Taylor Swift, she was just an eleven-year-old knocking on the doors of Nashville, the place she now calls home. Her refusal to sing anything she didn't write made her walk away from multiple deals… until the right one came along, Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Records. 19 years ago today, Taylor Swift released her first single 'Tim McGraw'. Also read: Body found near Taylor Swift's home identified: Who was Eric Wein, the 13th victim of the Rhode Island's serial killer havoc? Taylor Swift was just eleven when her parents, Scott and Andrea, realised their daughter was different. They sold their family home in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and moved to Tennessee to be closer to Nashville, the land of country music. Her father took a job there, and her mother gave up her own career to manage Swift's. They would watched her fill notebooks with lyrics and perform at county fairs, all for one shot at Music City. Swift soon flew to Nashville with demo CDs, singing karaoke tracks that, in her own words, made her sound like a chipmunk. Her mom stayed in the car with her younger brother while Swift went door to door on Music Row asking for a record deal. ''Hi, I'm Taylor. I'm eleven. And I want to be a country music singer. Could you please pass my CD to the right person?'—that's how she introduced herself. Nobody called back. Some even shut their door, saying 'girls won't make it', but rejection didn't crush her. She came back home, realised karaoke wouldn't cut it, and picked up a 12-string guitar. Her parents said her hands were too small for it, but she practised till her fingers bled, taped them up, and kept going. By 12, she had already written 'The Outside' and a Christmas song that ended up on her early releases. At 13, Taylor Swift landed a development deal with RCA. A big breakthrough was on the line, but when they wanted her to record songs she didn't write, she walked away. The now 14-time Grammy winner was dead set on only singing what she wrote. Soon after, she signed with Sony/ATV Publishing, becoming the youngest to do so in Nashville. Taylor's middle school days were rough, while other kids talked about quizzes, dressed up, and played around, she wrote music. She once said industry rejection felt kinder than what she faced in middle school. When she met Scott Borchetta, he wanted to sign her, but had just left Universal. She signed anyway. No big building, no fat budgets, Swift and her mom used to sit on the floor stuffing promo CDs into envelopes for radio stations. Back then, Swift was hands-on with a social media platform called MySpace, pre-Instagram, pre-Twitter era, replying to fans herself. When her first single didn't hit on radio, she took it online. Her page blew up. Her team used that fan response to prove to the radio that the audience was already there. Even after breaking through, she stayed close to her fans, signing autographs until the last person went home smiling. By 2008, she wasn't just opening for Rascal Flatts, she was outselling most of the industry. Her mom said, 'She never once said she wanted to be famous. Her happiest moments are after writing a killer song. If that's where she finds joy, she'll be just fine.'
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
75 best R&B singers of all time revealed: Usher and Chris Brown's spots might surprise you
After a much anticipated 10-year gap, Billboard has finally taken a seat and provided a fresh list of iconic talent from the R&B genre of music dating all the way back to the 50s. Last released in 2015, the list has now expanded to 75 entries instead of the previous 35 and has been created considering solo artists' (not group performers) ranking along six critical sectors: vocal prowess, body of work, career longevity, industry achievements, game-changing influence, and enduring generational/cultural impact. The list has been released progressively in honor of Black History Month. The last 25 names in the batch were published on Monday (June 16), followed by the next 40 being introduced in the period up until Wednesday (June 18). The top 10 honorees were timed to be revealed on June 19 to commemorate the Juneteenthholiday. ALSO READ| Chris Brown belts out tunes in jail and leaves heartfelt note for an inmate: 'Thank you my brother…' 1) Stevie Wonder 2) Aretha Franklin 3) Michael Jackson 4) Beyoncé 5) Whitney Houston 6) James Brown 7) Prince 8) Mariah Carey 9) R Kelly 10) Marvin Gaye 11) Ray Charles 12) Usher 13) Sam Cooke 14) Curtis Mayfield 15) Isaac Hayes 16) Mary J Blige 17) Janet Jackson 18) Al Green 19) Smokey Robinson 20) Otis Redding 21) Donny Hathaway 22) Luther Vandross 23) Teddy Pendergrass 24) Bill Withers 25) Patti LaBelle 26) Chris Brown 27) Chaka Khan 28) Erykah Badu 29) Diana Ross 30) Gladys Knight 31) Anita Baker 32) Lionel Richie 33) Alicia Keys 34) Donna Summer 35) Babyface 36) Toni Braxton 37) Frank Ocean 38) Maxwell 39) Roberta Flack 40) Aaliyah 41) Brandy 42) Barry White 43) Dionne Warwick 44) SZA 45) D'Angelo 46) Rihanna 47) The Weeknd 48) Lauryn Hill 49) Bobby Brown 50) John Legend 51) Rick James 52) Stephanie Mills 53) Jill Scott 54) Jazmine Sullivan 55) Natalie Cole 56) Joe 57) Tevin Campbell 58) Peabo Bryson 59) Fantasia 60) Ne-Yo 61) Ashanti 62) Anthony Hamilton 63) Musiq Soulchild 64) Ledisi 65) Teena Marie 66) Keith Sweat 67) Tank 68) Phyllis Hyman 69) Bobby Womack 70) H.E.R. 71) Keyshia Cole 72) Jackie Wilson 73) Etta James 74) Summer Walker 75) Ruth Brown ALSO READ| Diddy circle: Justin Bieber cuts Usher off; 'terrified' Kanye West finally reunited with kids, but still not in US The decision of who gets to be featured on the list rests with Billboard staff members.
