Nicki Minaj, Always in Control

Of course Nicki Minaj is famous. She wrote and performed that favorite anthems of twenty year old guys, "anaconda". All the lyrics fit to print, a so called satire to a handful, selling the objectification of women to the masses. How timely a selection.

Nobody notices she copied the style of a murdered singer once again. No, this isn't the style of the singer sade at all, its selena written all over it. She's copied her before and she's done it again. Complains about cultural appropriation but then does it herself. RIP selena

I'll believe others here when they say Roxane Gay is an "incandescent" writer, and I'll believe others when they say that Nicki Minaj is a real talent. I've got not problem with that. But this article doesn't make either case. First, every human being in the world makes compromises. It's part of being human - and I'd like to think sophisticated writers would understand that, and perhaps reveal those to the reader to humanize her subject. To say she's never compromised is a cliche written by a freshman journalism student. Second (and I'm only on the subhead), we're told she fought her way to the top, but I defy you to find any mention in the article of Nicki doing any fighting. There was no conflict I could see here at all - it's an endless stream of adoration, success, breakthroughs and praise. We jump right from getting flashes of inspiration as a waitress in Queens to being the first female artist signed to her label. I'd be there is a real story in between, a story of a real human being managing to do some incredible things in the world, but we won't read about it here. This is hagiography.

These comments remind me of the end-of-year awards type issues of Rolling Stone magazine I used to thumb through as a teen in the eighties. Readers' best and worst lists. They would usually run along these lines: Most loved: Madonna. Most hated: Madonna. Most talented: Madonna. Least talented: Madonna.

I have liked her collaborations and solo work, but did not like the unnecessary cat fight she engaged in with Mariah Carey on Idol...for all her merits, Minaj is nowhere near Mariah's league, despite of course Mariah's pitfalls.

Nicki Minaj is a woman who likes what she does, and apparently so do others. She is a confident, genuine woman who doesn't mind if you don't agree with her, because it wouldn't matter much to her if nobody likes her. Rapping is a passion, and she'll do it if she wants, just like how she went her first five years without gaining much attention. Love her or hate her, she worked hard to get to where she is, and she is completely her, in mind and body.

At almost 72 years old, Nicki Minaj would seem to be the most alien singer to my age group--but I like her! She doesn't try to be what everyone expects but what she wants to be, which is what I like about her. I respect anyone who doesn't try to bend themselves to what will make money but what will make a statement. I admire her.

To all those "baffled" or "reviled" at the "talentless" Nicki Minaj, consider this: This year, Complex.com posted an article listing "The Best Rapper Alive, Every Year Since 1979." They named Nicki Minaj the best rapper alive in 2014 -- the only woman on the list. Unless you deny that hip-hop is music or something (in which case I can't help you), then at least grant her that a well-respected music publication crowned her the best in the world in a notoriously competitive, male-dominated genre. Vulgarity aside (male rappers are never vulgar), she is extremely good at what she does: rap.

She may be talented, but the content of her music is disturbing. Even my teenagers daughters said that she is not making the world a better place for them.

Hip hop is NOT music. It is unstructured noise. Minaj is no Ella Fitzgerald or Nina Simone.

I certainly admire her for making it to the top; but it is the hip hop industry itself that has sold out and compromised from its once-pure and soul-shaking roots, and Minaj has gone along for the ride

I'm a 60-year-old white woman who grew up in Appalachia, and in response to all the naysayers: oh please, relax a little. Nicki Minaj delights me. I don't have to approve of her in every detail. She is an unafraid entertainer with bold style. She doesn't have to be more than that. As for her music—well, I confess, I don't actively seek out her music, but her songs are fun when I hear them. And honestly, music is only one component of her performance and her outsized persona. She's one of those entertainers like Madonna and Gaga who make sense only as a complete package of music, style, imagery, and persona. That "only" bothers me, though; for good or ill, the ability to become a pop icon is even more rare than great musicianship.

It's really extraordinary, in the same week as we are excoriating Harvey Weinstein for mauling women, to be examining the 'achievements' of Nicki Minaj, whose infamous "Anaconda" video was one of the vilest, most revolting items of poison for young minds ever to be promoted by our debased music industry. What, you fail to see the connection between the tastes, predilections, habits of producers like HW & the corrosive content being pounded directly into your kids' brains by the likes of Miley Cyrus (Disney asset!) or Minaj? Or perhaps you imagine there are no Harvey Weinstein types at Warner Music, or in the other great music label "owners?" It's part and parcel of the same phenomenon, in which the willingness to be exploited as a provider of obscene content -- in private, for HW, or on a public concert stage -- is far more important than actually having any talent. Content-wise, Nicki Minaj has nothing to offer. If you intend to clean up Hollywood, you had better include the music industry. Let's get back to basics: actual musical ability, having something to say that matters, resisting the impulse to use a sex act as a means of drawing attention to yourself. Great stars succeed on the merit of voice, discipline, creative versatility, good taste. Streisand, Midler, Lopez, Mrs. Carter, inter alia. One Republic. Adele. Minaj? Cyrus? Nothing to applaud folks. Not a thing.

I was as stuck by the phrase "always in control" as was another reader. It sets the tone for the interview. I am happy that Ms. Minaj represents the Black Hilary Clinton of her generation: tough, uncompromising, focused. But life always throws a curve ball when we least expect it. Life changes in 7 year cycles (more or less). Lets hope that Ms. Minaj's curve balls are further away so that she can expand further. But something feels - as I read thru the course of this article - that the curve ball is coming up. Perhaps it is that another crest of the wave that only approaches that seemed ominous to me. She is a strong woman. But so was Cleopatra.

Well, not my thing, but years ago when I saw some of the very first street rap and break-dancing, I said to myself that this will become some form of great popular art, like Rock 'n Roll before it. Clearly, Ms. Minaj is one of the greats of this particular thing.

Contrary to what most believe, this woman is highly influential in the modern world. I think instead of trying to fathom why the article appears here you should ask yourself why you've taken the time to read. I'll tell you why, because you see a strong independent black woman with record breaking data, and hit records. She deserves to be here just as much as any other performer. Don't be so quick to react, you need to research and learn that Nicki Minaj has been a hit for over a decade now. There are no other words needed. Well done Nicki, well done.

I just wish when she was on American Idol, Steven Tyler had been on with her. Everyone would have had a blast except maybe Simon if he was on too. He might have had to seek therapy.

Thought the Queen was Mary J Blige. Did she abdicate?

Not sure if New York Times readers are Nicki's primary audience.. but I saw her in concert and have listened to her music over the years – she's the only consistently good female rapper out there today.

I like her 'Anaconda' youTube vid ... funny, vile, imaginative. I like Leo Moracchioli's home made thrash metal cover of it better.

Sorry Nikki and NYT: No one is always in control. 20 years from now she'll be old and no one will care. Can she control that?

OK, she may be great at hip-hop but why not do a front page for someone who is an amazing new talent , a complete singer/musician who changes the whole picture..............his name is Jacob Collier........

I love Roxane Gay. She seemed like the perfect person to interview Nicki Minaj. Her intellectual prowess combined with her strong grasp of pop culture and Black culture should have yielded an incredibly insightful interview. But I have to say I was disappointed. It seemed to lack an objectivity that I expect from Ms. Gay. I didn't need her to cut Nicki Minaj down or criticize her for criticism's sake, but the almost-worshipful way she described the encounter made me question if I could trust her as the narrator to be critical, if criticism was called for. There also seemed to be a lot of telling about Nicki Minaj and not much showing. It's very easy for me to believe Nicki Minaj possesses a high level of intelligence, but i would have preferred concrete examples to add to my own mental narrative as to who she is, rather than just taking Ms. Gay's word for it. I know the last interview I read with Nicki Minaj for the NYT ended with Nicki Minaj ending the interview early over a question she perceived as disrespectful. Perhaps the NYT was fearful of the same fate here. I don't really feel I learned anything here.

I love this article because: 1. Ms. Gay's writing and storytelling is superb. "He brushes the wig so carefully, so lovingly, that for a moment, I want to be that wig. ...arranging her robe to her liking. There is regality in how she sits. That she is wearing a bathrobe is utterly inconsequential. A queen is a queen regardless." 2. It's shows the precision, passion, craft and talent behind Ms. Minaj's success, which also includes energy from an inextinguishable divine fire.

This is why women should write about women. This is magic. Thank you, Roxane and Nikki.

Let me guess, Ms. Minaj is about to release an album.

I prefer listening to my Mom's music. Carole King, Phoebe Snow, Donna Summer were not only great artists, but also empowered women on so many levels. My generation's music objectifies women who sings frivolous songs.

I'm certainly not her intended / target audience. But -- and this will give away why -- her season on "American Idol" was one of the most fascinating ever. Outside of the unnecessary Mariah/Nicki drama, which took away from the contestants ... I enjoyed her immensely. Learned about her. And what always shone through, underneath all the 'stuff,' -- was she was different. Authentically different. A striver and a survivor. I may never listen to another Nicki Minaj track, but I'm sure glad she's out there.

Comments in this article proves Nicki Minaj's point. her agency and her right to do as she pleases have all contributed to her success. I do find it interesting that she cares about the props the industry gives out. People talk and have subjective views. None of that at the end of the day takes away from all the hard work and talent that have made Minaj successful. Surely few of the men and women the industry likes to champion above Nicki have reached the financial success she has. Money > words.

Minaj and her cohort of auto-tuned mini-talents are a triumph of style over substance. What ever happened to real music?

Great article - makes for entertaining reading! It gives us a peak into the glamour of the Fashion Week and Rap/Hip Hop worlds. Its Inspiring too, to watch the lives of people who navigate their way from less glamorous work, like waitress jobs - to the top of the music universe. Whether you like a particular music, dance, or theatre - the skills needed to be great (discipline, hard work, and talent) seem to be ...the same.

Dear Ms. Minaj, Does "uncompromised" mean never subject to sexual harrassment?

It's truly humbling to know such creatures exist. Perhaps there is other life in the universe, only not from other planets.

Can she really dress and undress herself like that all by herself with those nails? If so I'm even more in awe. Make fashion queens the lead story every day and brighten an otherwise dreary world for us all.

Sade vibes xoxo

Nice article, but Nicki is NOT the queen of hip hop......

Ms Minaj is a true talent. She has created her own space in the music industry.

Yas Nicki (not Nicole) Yas!

I am so in love with these beautiful images of Onika. Perhaps this album may allow her many fans to see who she really is outside of the theatrical version of her.