Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is going to need more hours added into the workday after announcing handfuls of new business ventures including a beverage currently in the works. Earlier this week, she sat down with MTV to talk about her many projects, and revealed that she made a conscious decision to tone down her look recently so that she could be more relatable to her audience.  She also spilled the tea on whether she really made out with Lil Wayne for the new video, “High School.” Sip on this. 

On wanting to be more relatable
I knew that I was about to start doing covers of magazines and I wanted a more relatable look. I knew that I was about to launch a clothing line and I want women to know that I’m just a regular woman and I’m not some weirded-out character all the time. I made that conscious effort to tone it down and to try new things. And when I started seeing what my hair looked like, I just fell in love. I was just like, ‘oh my gosh where has this been all my life?’ Because even my fans went crazy, I feel like the whole world went crazy. It felt like I took off this mask — it didn’t feel like that to me — but to the world it’s almost like, ‘oh now we see the real her.’ It was weird.”

On her love scene with Lil Wayne in the “High School” music video
He refused to touch me, he’s so respectful. I was like, ‘Wayne, you could do this.’ But he was acting scared, like, ‘Yo, Nick, this is my dream. I’m gonna be a man after this video.’ He was just being crazy. But if I didn’t tell him ‘Yes, you can do this’ or ‘touch this,’ he refused to do it. He’s a southern gentlemen which people don’t realize.

On whether they kissed
If we actually locked lips, don’t you think we would have put it in the video? Wayne said we had to kiss for the video. He was like, ‘One thing that’s going to sell it is if we really kiss.’ I’m like, ehh.

On how her new music video will help Lil Wayne become a sex symbol
Not only is he my boss, but he’s also like my brother. It’s very weird because I’m just used to Wayne making fun of me, and all of Young Money boys making fun of me, so every time they yelled ‘Cut!’ I was just being picked on. But it’s still like Wayne is still so sexy and so I texted Wayne and I was like, ‘You’re going to have all the chicks back on you,’ know what I’m saying? Because when this video comes out, he looks like art, he looks like a piece of art all tatted up, all sexy, black and beautiful.

On not getting the credit she deserves
[With 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'], I care less about the acceptance and more about me being the lyrical, ill bi**h that I am, knowing that I am lyrically better than most of the male rappers out there — yes, I’m gonna say it. I don’t get the credit that I deserve.

 Along with the drink, Minaj confirmed buzz about her new Beats By Dre speakers and a third solo album being underway.

“I don’t think I can. I really would love to,” Minaj said of not being able to tour. “But I don’t think I’ll have the time, because I’m also going to be launching a few products this year that I’m really going to have to lend myself to the clothing line, I have a drink that’s about to come out and these new speakers that you guys are going to see a commercial for this week or next week. So I have a lot of things that the business side of me has to work on, and I also want to be here so I can write. I obviously am going to start working on the third album very, very soon. I’m getting beats as we speak. I just haven’t started writing, but that’s my biggest priority at this point.” (MTV)