Nicki Minaj transformed downtown Manhattan’s Oculus into a palace for her MTV Video Music Awards performance (Aug. 20). Giving the Barbz a taste of what’s to come for her possible tour, the Queens native transported viewers from Radio City Music Hall to the eye-capturing space to perform “Majesty,” “Barbie Dreams,” an a cappella version of “Ganja Burn,” and “Fefe” that features 6ix9ine.
Before her performance, the “Bed” rapper took home the Best Hip Hop Video award for “Chun-Li” which is featured on her fourth studio album, Queen. In an interview with Genius, Minaj shared her process behind a few songs on the album. “Recently, I’ve switched the approach to doing a reference type of mumble track on the beat,” she said. “To me, whatever I do the first time is usually the dopest flow, and I just like to kind of keep that flow and then add words to that flow.”
Although she’s currently promoting the album, Minaj has made headlines for calling to attention stats and respect within the music industry. Through her Queen Radio show on Beats 1, she’s had the opportunity to address controversial moments, which she might continue on Tuesday’s episode (Aug. 21).
On Queen’s album stats, Minaj pinned Spotify for trying to “teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most.” That man she’s referring to is her Young Money cohort Drake. “They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this,” she concluded. She also name-dropped Travis Scott
Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this. #Queen
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
Watch her performance below.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yGeb384QCJI
READ MORE: ‘Queen’ And The Hypocrisy Of Nicki Minaj’s Feminism