A new six-part documentary chronicling Nicki Minaj’s ascension to the Queen of Rap throne is coming soon.
The “We Go Up” rapper–who also serves as Maxim’s Creative Director and a partner with sports betting app MaximBet–dropped a trailer for Nicki on Instagram, where she recently became the first rapper to pass 200 million followers.
“I never wanted to be mainstream,” she says as her 2018 banger “Chun-Li” plays in the background, Billboard points out. “Mainstream came to me.”
A central theme deals with Minaj’s battle make it in the traditionally male-dominated hip-hop scene. “I’m fighting for the girls who never thought they could win,” she says.
There are also allusions to issues with self-medication, self-love, and a largely “unsupportive” music industry. But it’s the trailer’s tail end that brings the most telling insight into Minaj’s drive: “I have to make music in order to stay sane,” she says.
“I took some time to perfect this very intimate, delicate, electrifying, inspiring body of work,” Minaj adds in trailer’s IG caption.
“As I decide on a home for this project, I can’t help but reflect on what I’m including in this doc. Some things are so personal, it’s scary. It’s like NOTHING you’ve seen before & I need it to be handled with care. Love you so much. Thank you for the continued support.”
While we wait for Nicki, fans can look forward to the August 11 return of Minaj’s Queen Radio on Amazon’s Amp live radio app followed by the Rick James-sampling new single “Freaky Girl” on August 12.
