Hey Nicki, You're So Fine.
You're So Fine, You Blow Our Minds.
By Simon Doonan
Photographed by Howard Huang
I recently had the chance to chat on the phone with my idol Nicki Minaj. She was readying her new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, for its April release, and here's what she had to say...
SImon Doonan: Hello! I am such a huge fan. You are one insanely creative chick. I worship you! And your video for "Stupid Hoe" is truly demented and brilliant. I watched it so many times
I had to go lay in a darkened room.
Directed by Hype Williams, her "Stupid Hoe" video takes the majestic Minaj legend to a whole new level of hilarious arty hoochie-chic.
Nicki Minaj: Wow! Thank you so much.
SD: In my new book I have a whole chapter about my tragic attempt to become a hoe. I found it really hard to "collect," if you know what I mean.
NM: I hear you.
SD: So I am assuming that you wrote "Stupid Hoe" just for me. Right?
NM: Absolutely. You heard it here first!
SD: Enough about me. Let's go deep. Really deep, and discuss the really heavy, profound stuff. What are you wearing?
NM: Right now? Just a pink T-shirt and a pink thong.
SD: Anything else?
NM: Nope.
Since the beginning of her odyssey, La Minaj has labored tirelessly to exceed the expectations of we fans, and wee fans like me. So, fuck it! Why shouldn't she chill in pink thongs on her day off?
SD: This year, fame came at you like a freight train. How are you handling your world domination? Are you sleeping at night?
NM: Ugh! I have been working sooo much. Success came and now that so many eyes are on me, I feel I have to deliver. And it's a business. No joke. I guess I am stressing more than I
should be, and I think I am becoming more guarded.
SD: I saw you sitting front row next to Anna Wintour at Fashion Week. Genius! Such a fabulous couple. What was going through your thoughts?
NM: Yes! I was screaming out loud inside my head. Me sitting next to the Queen of Vogue! It was such a strange experience. I felt like I was dreaming. And I thought she would be snobby
or something. But she was so incredibly sweet to me.
Not such a surprise here. Anna has always supported eccentrics. Alexander, John, Karl, Isabella, Daphne, Gaga bonjour!
SD: Who are your biggest style icons?
NM: Grace Jones definitely. So amazing. And Cyndi Lauper, I loved her right from when I was a little girl. And Janet Jackson of course. And Boy George. I always loved the way he dressed, and his music too.
SD: What is the freakiest song on your iPod right now?
NM: It's gotta be my song with Big Sean. It's called "Dance (A$$).'
SD: Speaking of which, are you following the presidential race? Do you know what a Santorum is?
NM: What is a what?
I explain Dan Savage's now legendary piece of porno-political sabotage whereby he created one of those new Internet sexual definitions -- you know, like a "Dirty Sanchez" -- and dubbed it "Santorum." Every time anyone Googles the name "Santorum" up comes the Savage definition: The frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the by-product of anal sex. I figured the author of "Stupid Hoe" could handle it, and I was correct.
NM: Well, you learn something new every day.
SD: Do you have time to watch trash TV?
NM: Of course! I love Mob Wives.
SD: Me too!
NM: I love Big Ang! And I love the way those girls talk to each other: "Don't YOU be coming at ME!!!" I love every freakin' moment. And I watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills. Taylor and Adrienne and the girls.
SD: When you are relaxing at home do you ever kick it old school with Ella or Della or Etta or Eartha?
Etta James is on my mind because the great bewigged blues chanteuse died the day of our interview.
NM: When I go old school it's more about Diana Ross and Deniece Williams and Whitney. Her first album is one of my all-time favorites.
SD: You are the queen of creative collaboration. Who's next? Metallica?
NM: Oh my God!!! Well I have to say, for me, genre does not play into it. And I am lucky because I get so many amazing requests. I just had that big one with Madonna. I collaborate when I feel it's right.
SD: Tell me about your new album. What is the vibe?
NM: The album is like a collage of all my emotions. I am not sticking to any particular style. I am doing what I feel without restrictions. So it's very free and very me.
SD: Good luck with it darling! I know it will be huge! And, on behalf of all the stupid hoes of the world, I want to thank you for giving us a voice.
NM: You are so very welcome!
*RELATED:
Nicki Minaj in PAPER -- How Far She's Come!
Nicki Minaj: Scene Stealer
SEE ALSO:
Mary J. Blige: Hail Mary
MIA: Rebel With a Cause
Adele: 2011 Beautiful Person
Janelle Monae: I Am, I Be
SImon Doonan: Hello! I am such a huge fan. You are one insanely creative chick. I worship you! And your video for "Stupid Hoe" is truly demented and brilliant. I watched it so many times
I had to go lay in a darkened room.
Directed by Hype Williams, her "Stupid Hoe" video takes the majestic Minaj legend to a whole new level of hilarious arty hoochie-chic.
Nicki Minaj: Wow! Thank you so much.
SD: In my new book I have a whole chapter about my tragic attempt to become a hoe. I found it really hard to "collect," if you know what I mean.
NM: I hear you.
SD: So I am assuming that you wrote "Stupid Hoe" just for me. Right?
NM: Absolutely. You heard it here first!
SD: Enough about me. Let's go deep. Really deep, and discuss the really heavy, profound stuff. What are you wearing?
NM: Right now? Just a pink T-shirt and a pink thong.
SD: Anything else?
NM: Nope.
Since the beginning of her odyssey, La Minaj has labored tirelessly to exceed the expectations of we fans, and wee fans like me. So, fuck it! Why shouldn't she chill in pink thongs on her day off?
SD: This year, fame came at you like a freight train. How are you handling your world domination? Are you sleeping at night?
NM: Ugh! I have been working sooo much. Success came and now that so many eyes are on me, I feel I have to deliver. And it's a business. No joke. I guess I am stressing more than I
should be, and I think I am becoming more guarded.
SD: I saw you sitting front row next to Anna Wintour at Fashion Week. Genius! Such a fabulous couple. What was going through your thoughts?
NM: Yes! I was screaming out loud inside my head. Me sitting next to the Queen of Vogue! It was such a strange experience. I felt like I was dreaming. And I thought she would be snobby
or something. But she was so incredibly sweet to me.
Not such a surprise here. Anna has always supported eccentrics. Alexander, John, Karl, Isabella, Daphne, Gaga bonjour!
SD: Who are your biggest style icons?
NM: Grace Jones definitely. So amazing. And Cyndi Lauper, I loved her right from when I was a little girl. And Janet Jackson of course. And Boy George. I always loved the way he dressed, and his music too.
SD: What is the freakiest song on your iPod right now?
NM: It's gotta be my song with Big Sean. It's called "Dance (A$$).'
SD: Speaking of which, are you following the presidential race? Do you know what a Santorum is?
NM: What is a what?
I explain Dan Savage's now legendary piece of porno-political sabotage whereby he created one of those new Internet sexual definitions -- you know, like a "Dirty Sanchez" -- and dubbed it "Santorum." Every time anyone Googles the name "Santorum" up comes the Savage definition: The frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the by-product of anal sex. I figured the author of "Stupid Hoe" could handle it, and I was correct.
NM: Well, you learn something new every day.
SD: Do you have time to watch trash TV?
NM: Of course! I love Mob Wives.
SD: Me too!
NM: I love Big Ang! And I love the way those girls talk to each other: "Don't YOU be coming at ME!!!" I love every freakin' moment. And I watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills. Taylor and Adrienne and the girls.
SD: When you are relaxing at home do you ever kick it old school with Ella or Della or Etta or Eartha?
Etta James is on my mind because the great bewigged blues chanteuse died the day of our interview.
NM: When I go old school it's more about Diana Ross and Deniece Williams and Whitney. Her first album is one of my all-time favorites.
SD: You are the queen of creative collaboration. Who's next? Metallica?
NM: Oh my God!!! Well I have to say, for me, genre does not play into it. And I am lucky because I get so many amazing requests. I just had that big one with Madonna. I collaborate when I feel it's right.
SD: Tell me about your new album. What is the vibe?
NM: The album is like a collage of all my emotions. I am not sticking to any particular style. I am doing what I feel without restrictions. So it's very free and very me.
SD: Good luck with it darling! I know it will be huge! And, on behalf of all the stupid hoes of the world, I want to thank you for giving us a voice.
NM: You are so very welcome!
*RELATED:
Nicki Minaj in PAPER -- How Far She's Come!
Nicki Minaj: Scene Stealer
SEE ALSO:
Mary J. Blige: Hail Mary
MIA: Rebel With a Cause
Adele: 2011 Beautiful Person
Janelle Monae: I Am, I Be
Your Comment
Posted at 1:52 on Feb 10, 2012
Nicky, WHY U SO!??!?!?/111?!??!?!!!!
Posted at 2:04 on Feb 10, 2012
Lol I loved that interview... Aye Nicki
Posted at 2:28 on Feb 10, 2012
meh. I was expecting a better interview. This looks more like a fan speaking to an artist instead of pulling an amazing 5 minute conversation regarding her album, her looks or even Madonna and the super bowl. Papermag what went wrong?
Posted at 3:57 on Feb 10, 2012
I don't care what they talk about as long as its Nicki. I LOVE YOU NICKI!!!
Posted at 4:12 on Feb 10, 2012
The pictures are GORG but I agree with Mariana, this interview was just blah. Nicki handled it very well but the interviewer seemed more like an overzealous fan than someone who was trying to do his job well and ask quality questions.
Posted at 5:06 on Feb 10, 2012
These kinda interviews are the best. Totally random & tell us things we won't find out from all of those other generic interviews that have the same questions over and over and over again. I LOVE YOU NICKI!
Posted at 5:09 on Feb 10, 2012
Cool interview. I love Nicki's look here. She should always go for something like this, it becomes her.
Posted at 8:42 on Feb 10, 2012
Dumb interview but Nicki looks beautiful.
Posted at 12:21 on Feb 11, 2012
Your so cutie nikki minaj
Posted at 2:49 on Feb 11, 2012
Go nicky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 4:00 on Feb 11, 2012
Haven't cared for any of her songs. I think her 5 min of fame should be ending soon.
Posted at 6:40 on Feb 11, 2012
Dumbest, most talentless hack ever. i can get past her being downright ugly, but the complete lack of talent is insurmountable.
Posted at 7:33 on Feb 11, 2012
Ewwwww.
Posted at 12:44 on Feb 12, 2012
These pictures are fantastic,
She looks very herself, colorful, rebel but the all thing is classical and really pretty.
This girl is hell of a thing !
Posted at 4:16 on Feb 12, 2012
Hey nicki just wanna say thanks for the showcase thus far....but yo, you gotta get your boobies leveled off. i mean those jokers are crooked as a question mark...thanks. Love kimmie
Posted at 10:27 on Feb 12, 2012
I love yu soooooooooooooooo much wife
Posted at 4:32 on Feb 13, 2012
Any artist that has to disguise the fact that their talent is "so-so" by dressing in weird get-ups tells me they're not worth a ticket to their concert. Adele doesn't have to "put on an act" like Nicki, she just lets her talent draw the crowds.
Posted at 9:19 on Feb 13, 2012
Your Grammy performance was complete and total GARBAGE!
Posted at 9:23 on Feb 13, 2012
Wow, what a horrible performance last night. Possession? Really? YUCK.
Posted at 10:19 on Feb 13, 2012
as my kids would say...."epic fail"
Posted at 11:47 on Feb 13, 2012
So there was a producer, director and even rehearsals for the grammys, right? I assume some one saw Niki Minaj's projectile abortion and said, "wow, this is great, we have to put this on tv, shes really talented."
They dare put her on the same stage as Adele, Sir Paul and the Beach Boys? WHat were they thinking? She was, at best, patetic and a very poor excuse for musical talent.
Posted at 12:07 on Feb 13, 2012
She IS hidious.
Posted at 2:29 on Feb 13, 2012
poop
Posted at 8:20 on Feb 13, 2012
She will hopefully be a has been within a year. This girl is terrible!!!!.
Posted at 9:02 on Feb 14, 2012
I don't know why you think so many eyes are on YOU!!!! Your digusting...Just sayin....
Posted at 9:08 on Mar 12, 2012
What colour green was used on ur hair !?!?!?!?