Nicki Minaj stunned her fans when she announced her retirement earlier this month.

But before revealing that she was hanging up the mic to focus on starting a family, she had been working on a new album. During an interview for the October issue of ELLE, which was conducted prior to her retirement tweet, Minaj opened up about the highly-anticipated project, which she describes as “fierce, fun, and unapologetic.”

“It’s probably the most excited I’ve been about an album release in a really long time,” she told the magazine. “This one incorporates all the things people love about Nicki, but it also just has a way bigger sound, so it goes perfectly with the [Fendi] collection.”

But unlike the four years between The Pinkprint and Queen, she won’t make her Barbz wait as long for her next project. “I’m happy that we’re not making my fans wait for another album, like I’ve done in the past.”

Minaj had previously discussed her fifth album on her Queen Radio show and revealed that she was working with a mystery executive producer. It’s unclear if she still plans to release it or if it will be her final album. Up until recently, she had been busy in the studio working on new music and made plans to record with several artists.

While her music career remains up in the air, Nicki is gearing up to launch Fendi Prints On, a 127-piece collection with Italian fashion house Fendi. The collaboration, which hits stores in October, came together after Minaj wore a Fendi fur bomber jacket with a matching Fendi bikini bottom on the cover of her “Chun-Li” single.

“I can’t believe that when I was doing that little picture that day, with the Fendi jacket and Fendi panties on…” she said. “I didn’t think that the actual company would think that that was dope. To know that they liked it that much, and now it’s on a T-shirt, is so iconic to me.”

And she is excited to launch her own fashion brand in the future. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!” she said. “I’ve been really strategic and picky on purpose, turning some things down and waiting for the right opportunities. Once people see that you have selling power and you are able to impact a brand in such a positive way, then I think it’s only a matter of time. The Fendi collection alone made me feel like I would love to continue doing this–getting to that boss status. That’s where I would like to take fashion, for sure.”

Source: Rap-Up.com

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6ix9ine takes the stand.

The “FEFE” rapper completed the first day in his Manhattan federal court trial on Tuesday where he testified against fellow gang members of the Nine Trey Bloods. According to TMZ, 6ix9ine spent nearly two hours on the stand, wearing blue prison scrubs, a white undershirt, and his rainbow-colored hair in pigtails.

As current or former Nine Trey members looked on, he revealed that he joined the gang in November 2017, and participated in violent crimes including shootings, assaults, and drug trafficking. At one point, Tekashi nervously ID’d the defendants, Aljermiah “Nuke” Mack and Anthony “Harv” Ellison, as affiliates of the Nine Trey Bloods.

He revealed that he met many of the Nine Trey members on set of his “GUMMO” music video in August 2017. That is also the day he met his manager, Kifano “Shotti” Jordan. Prosecutors showed stills from the video, and Tekashi identified various gang members who appeared on camera.

Tekashi testified that he never had to be initiated or shoot anyone to join the gang. They simply wanted him to release music in order to bankroll their gang activities.

At one point, 69 also ID’d Trippie Redd as a gang member from a rival Bloods sect.

6ix9ine agreed to snitch as part of a plea deal, which will provide key testimony for prosecutors. He said that he started cooperating with the feds the day after he was arrested on racketeering charges in Nov. 2018. Tekashi was facing a minimum of 47 years in prison, but he cut a deal in return for his full cooperation.

Tekashi’s safety has become of concern. U.S. Marshals took Tekashi through a secure tunnel to the courthouse, and he’s been placed under heavy guard in a facility with other snitches.

His snitching has not fared well with others in the hip-hop community including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Meek Mill, who have all publicly disapproved. “69 going up in s federal courthouse today kids! Message of the day don’t be a Internet gangsta… be yourself! #cloutisnottheroute get money,” tweeted Meek, while Snoop posted a photo of the rapper and captioned it with emojis including a rat and police officer.

Source: Rap-Up.com

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