Nicki Minaj has targeted November 23 as the release date for her highly aniticpated but still untitled debut.
Minaj made the big announcement via her Twitter page, stating “Yes it is time. November 23.”</p>
While the full production credits are still being finalized, Minaj revealed that she has been working extensively with Swizz Beatz. In addition, she plans to the use the project as a vehicle to strip away the Minaj image to display her true personality.
“The album is coming along just spectacular. I been doing a lot of work with Swizz [Beatz] and the stuff that we been coming upon is magical,” explained Minaj, real name Onika Maraj, to MTV News. ‘When people hear the album, they’re going to get to know Onika. And no one knows Onika. I really didn’t think I would be this excited about the songs that I’m coming up with. I’m really, really proud.”
Despite her immense popularity, her Young Money label has been reticient to release her album following the lackluster reception for her first single “Massive Attack.” However a b-side named “Your Love” was leaked and became an instant sensation, catapulting Minaj to her first #1 hit on Billboard Rap chart, and the first female to achieve that distinction in over 8 years.
Despite promises to show her regular personality, Minaj assures faces of her dramatic fashion choices and quirky rhyme techniques will get that on her album, starting with a secretive alter ego she has dubbed Roman Zolanski
The name derives from the acclaimed director Roman Polanski (Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown), who is also infamous for a still unresolved sexual assault case of a 13 year old girl in the 1970s.
“I’m gonna let the album do that,” she stated regarding details of the her character. “As of now, you’ll know Nicki and you’ll know Roman, my crazy alter ego Roman Zolanski. But you’ll meet Onika before the year ends.”
Her mentor, Lil Wayne, is still serving a 1 year sentence for attempted gun possesssion. Based on their conversations, she expects the Young Money leader to complete a prolific run of songs after his release.
“”He’s hilarious, always making me laugh whenever I talk to him. He’s his same self it seems to me, just even more business-minded. I speak to him often,” she disclosed. ‘I know when he comes out, it’s gonna be a problem, ’cause he’s one of those people that needs to get out his thoughts. So I would imagine he would probably be in the studio for 60 days straight. He’ll probably do three albums the day he comes home.”
The video for “Your Love” has been completed and will be released this month.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 