Nicki Minaj Talks Back-Handed Compliments, Beyonce & Sex (Sorta) With Billboard

Nicki Minaj has scored her latest cover with Billboard magazine. Fresh off of a Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Drake collab (‘Only’), the 31-year-old is prepping for The Pinkprint, her third studio album. Nicki talks hard work, working with Beyonce and back-handed compliments in her latest cover story. Check out a few excerpts.

Working Just As Hard Behind the Scenes as On Stage

I’m on 15 to 25 conference calls every few days strategizing with my team. I think a lot of artists sit back and have it done for them,” Minaj tells Billboard. “Sometimes as women in the industry — if you’re sexy or like doing sexy things — some people subconsciously negate your brain. They think you’re stupid.

Not Resting on Her Laurels

It’s corny when rappers feel like they’ve made it and they don’t have to prove themselves anymore. You should always be competing. You should always be trying to show that you’re the best. My album is going to be important to hip-hop.

Receiving Back-Handed Compliments Once She Did American Idol:

Once I did American Idol, a lot of people would come up to me and say, ‘Oh, you’re smarter than I thought…What does that mean?! Was I making weird faces [that made you think] I was stupid? Thank God I did that show. At least I was able to show my true self, speak and have a mind.