Those that know me (or just follow me on Twitter) know I love me some Nicki Minaj! But what’s more is I’ve been down with the Minaj movement since before the “Barbie” era (Nick knows wassup!) and it’s rare that I’ve seen a really thorough interview with the female rap powerhouse that isn’t recycling the same questions in a remixed fashion. Miss Info sat down with Nicki for Complex’s cover story and really touched on some interesting topics with the YMCMB raptress. From marriage to children to some ladies in the game she feels are on her coattails, the two cover it all. Check out some highlights below.

Marisa Mendez


Nicki on Marriage, Kids and Retiring:
In 2022, I’ll definitely be married and I’ll definitely have my two children. OK, I might have three, but I do want at least one boy.

(Miss Info: Wait, you don’t feel like you need a girl?) Yeah, ‘cause you think I’m going to dress her up in wigs. No. [Laughs] I really need a boy in my life. A baby boy. Because…I’m so attached to my little brother and I felt like that was my real son. And boys, they’re just so, I don’t know… My heart just melts when I see them.

(Miss Info: OK, so in the next 10 years, married…)
Oh, I will definitely be married.

(Miss Info: Will you still be working?)
I always said There’s no way I could still be doing rap, ‘cause what will I still be talking about? But now that the public has given me this opportunity to do all types of music, I might have more longevity. As long as I can continue to experiment, then I might be doing music in 10 years. I know that I don’t feel like I need to be doing music in 10 years to feel fulfilled. And I don’t want to be one of those people who doesn’t know when to call it quits. Let’s just say that.

Nicki Talking about how People Don’t Give Her Solo Credit:
Doing the Super Bowl with Madonna doesn’t really change Nicki Minaj’s personal goals. My goal right now is still to put out Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, sell five million copies eventually, and tour every country in the world. That’s what I’ve been working toward. So while the world is talking about, “Oh my God, I can’t believe Nicki Minaj was at the Super Bowl!” I’m mixing and mastering my music. In my scheme of things it’s way bigger.

my goal the whole time has been for people to see me as a stand-alone artist. I came out with Young Money, the biggest hip-hop label in the world at that time. And then it was, “How do I branch away from Lil Wayne?” One of my biggest records was with Drake, “Moment 4 Life.” Even with the Super Bowl, it’s Madonna’s moment. I’m just sharing in that moment. It’s not Nicki Minaj’s moment. Nicki Minaj at the Grammys—that’s my moment. I’ve just been constantly on this quest to stand alone.

Nicki Talking About Labels and Other Female Rappers:
I didn’t know who I was as an artist [when I first started]. I knew who I was as a person. My morals and everything, they’re still the same. And then I took it upon myself to create this artist, Nicki Minaj. I wanted to do what a label cannot do. Now, labels are going to think they can re-create this. [Laughs.] But they can’t.

When I first got in, doing freestyles and mixtapes, I did a song called “Still I Rise.” I was talking about how so many women were pulling me down and ripping me apart. I said, “Every time a door opens for me/That means you just got a better opportunity to do you/Better understand these labels look at numbers and statistics/If I win, you win, it’s just logistics.”

So in order for my theory to be proven right, I have to open doors for women. The up-and-coming females who wanted to get in—when you guys are coming out and dissing me, and all that negativity….They saw me as a threat instead of seeing me as “she’s going to open the door for us.” I never came into what I’m doing dissing anyone. I gave everyone their props and it’s unfortunate that people felt intimidated and attacked me. Then it became a ripple effect. But now it’s all love. My music is a way for me to have fun. Sometimes I’ll say things and I’ll laugh. But it’s all love. I’m in a great place and I just wish everybody the best.

A breakdown at Miss Info’s spot and the full interview here.