Nicki Minaj is getting real about her thoughts on the current state of music. The “Super Freaky Girl” rapper spoke to Jada Pinkett Smith for Interview Magazine‘s fall 2022 cover story, published on Oct. 18, where the two discussed motherhood, business, and the former being labeled as “sexy.” However, Minaj couldn’t help but also share her music opinions as well, particularly in regard to the sound artists are adopting now — and how it sounds all too familiar.
“They lose me when I’m seeing the person who they are trying to be like or sound like more than I’m seeing who they are.”
“What I’m seeing now is that so many new artists are trying to become the person they looked up to instead of giving us a new flavor! And it’s irking the crap out of me!” Minaj told Pinkett Smith. “I know I could see so much talent in some of the new artists, females, males, whatever. But they lose me when I’m seeing the person who they are trying to be like or sound like more than I’m seeing who they are.”
To her point about artists’ copy and paste method, Minaj added: “If I’m hearing too much of that artist who already has hits out, when I’m finished listening to your song or watching your performance, I’m going to go and play that artist. I’m not going to go and look more into you, because you’ve just reminded me so much of the other person. Now you just woke up all the other hits that they had in my head, and it’s later for you.”
The rap star also recalled the days when she first fell in love with rap, crediting icons like JAY-Z, DMX, Wu-Tang Clan, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Eve, MC Lyte, Left Eye of TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, Lil Kim, and Foxy Brown, all who she said had “their own unique thing.”
Minaj concluded her thoughts with a word of advice for today’s up-and-comers, saying, “I want to urge all the new artists to just believe in yourself, trust that you are that superstar that you loved coming up, and get that something special! Please! For God’s sake!”
Minaj’s latest interview comes days after she called out the Grammys for recategorizing her “Super Freaky Girl” song as a pop track rather than rap. In a series of social media posts she shared on Oct. 13, Minaj criticized the Recording Academy for “moving the goal post,” noting that their decision for her song doesn’t align with how the award show has previously categorized rap songs, citing tracks like Doja Cat’s “Say So,” Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” and Latto’s “Big Energy.”
The Recording Academy did not respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment, but nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards will be unveiled on Nov. 15 so we’ll soon find out if Minaj’s song ranks among the nominees.