Nicki Minaj in New York City in May 2022.Photo:Kevin Mazur/MG22/Getty

Kevin Mazur/MG22/Getty
Nicki Minajis about to have a very special birthday.
The Queen of Rap, 40, announced in anInstagram Liveon Tuesday that the release date for her upcoming fifth studio albumPink Friday 2has been shifted from Nov. 17 to her birthday on Dec. 8. The rapper opened up about why she made the decision to push the release a second time and expressed just how “proud” of the project she is.

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“The new album date for this incredible body of work that I am so proud of is on a very special day to me and to the Barbz,” the “Barbie World” rapper said. “Pink Friday 2, I am so happy to announce, will be out on my birthday, December 8th.”
“I am so filled with emotion about it because, as y’all know, it’s been a long time coming,” the hip-hop star added.
The superstar explained that the date changed largely because the vinyl pressing of the album wasn’t going to be ready until the week of Dec. 1. She also clarified that the release had “been changed for some time now behind the scenes” and wasn’t pushed because2 Chainzand her longtime friend and collaboratorLil Wayneare releasing their new joint record,Welcome 2 Collegrove, on Nov. 17.
The Grammy nominee also spoke about why it’s taken her five years to drop the follow-up to 2018’sQueen. “I have never in my life been so in love with something that I’m working on,” the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper said. “Pink Friday 2the album is something that has been coming for the last five years. It is the album that I had writer’s block for a long time because I was pregnant and didn’t want to say freaky stuff and all that.”
Minaj thrilled the Barbz back in June when sheannounced her upcoming albumwould be a sequel to her seminal 2010 recordPink Friday. At the time she revealed with a post onX (formerly known as Twitter)that the record, originally slated for Oct. 20, would be pushed to Nov. 17.
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After teasing that her fifth studio album would be “well worth the wait,” she wrote, “I love you guys so much. I am so grateful for the years of support & love you guys have given me. At times maybe I didn’t even deserve all that you have poured into me. Nonetheless, you. will. love. this. Album.”
Earlier this year, the hip-hop icon also contributed the hit song“Barbie World”to theBarbiemovie soundtrack.
source: people.com