In a revealing interview with Vogue, Nicki Minaj, the Queen of Rap, gets candid about her past struggles with addiction. Minaj reflects on the challenges faced by celebrities who battle substance abuse in the limelight and shares how her father’s addiction has shaped her perspective on this issue.
The Queen Lets It All Out
Nicki Minaj, in her role as Vogue’s December cover star, sat down for an interview where she answered 73 questions and made several honest revelations. The rapper confessed that she had been addicted to Percocet, an opioid painkiller, which she was prescribed years ago to alleviate severe menstrual cramps. She expressed:
“No one told me that this was a narcotic and this was addictive. Luckily I was able to ground myself. But — once an addict, always an addict. I feel like if you’ve ever experienced addiction to anything, which I have, you always have to think twice and three times about the choices that you make.”
However, she acknowledges the lasting impact of addiction, stating “….once an addict, always an addict.” This realization, she said, has made her more cautious about the choices she makes in life.
Minaj Discusses Substance Abuse Amongst Artists
During the interview, Minaj also reflects on other prominent artists who have grappled with substance abuse while in the spotlight. She mentions legendary figures such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Prince, highlighting how addiction can lead these talented individuals to retreat from public life or battle silent personal struggles. She stated:
“Look at some of our biggest celebrities. They eventually either get laughed out of wanting to go outside anymore, like Michael Jackson, or criticized, like Whitney Houston, or they fight silent battles, like Prince. These are some of the greatest of all time. And one day they decided, ‘You know what? I’d rather self-medicate and be in my own world.’”
Nicki Gets Vulnerable: Opening Up About Her Father
Minaj’s own perspective on substance abuse has been shaped by her childhood experiences. She opens up about her father, Robert Maraj, who struggled with crack cocaine addiction during her upbringing but later got clean in rehab. Tragically, Minaj’s father passed away in February 2021 in a hit-and-run car crash, Minaj continued to say:
“I feel like I will always consider myself to be just like my father. I think about watching my father go back and forth, and I just wish that at the time I understood that he wasn’t doing it because he wanted to. Now I realize, those people weren’t making those choices because they wanted to hurt their family. Addiction took over their bodies and their lives. They were victims too.”
Pink Friday 2 Album Is a “Gift”
In addition to her candid revelations, Minaj says her new album, Pink Friday 2, is set to be released on December 8th. The rapper says the album is her “biggest gift.”
“I am so filled with emotion about it because, as y’all know, it’s been a long time coming. This entire album will be the biggest gift I have ever given humanity thus far. I can stand by that. I will bet any amount of money that Pink Friday 2 the album is going to make people fall in love immediately.”
Rapper Slash Therapist
In recent social media posts, Nicki Minaj addressed concerns about her fan base, the Barbz, who have been making online threats on her behalf. Additionally, she showcased her peacemaker persona by mediating a dispute between rappers Soulja Boy and J. Cole.
Trina Opens Up
Nicki Minaj’s vulnerability in her Vogue interview echoes through the hip-hop world. In a moving conversation, Trina, the Miami rap icon, recently opened up about her own experiences with pain and the process of healing after multiple tragic losses, including the death of her niece and mother. Trina encourages those dealing with grief to find inner strength and move forward.