Nicki Minaj has gone from hot prospect to certified rap star, regardless of gender. The Queens rapper's platinum-selling debut, 'Pink Friday,' and recent high profile gig as an opening act on the Lil Wayne-headlined I Am Still Music tour, only raised her growing profile in the music industry. In an interview with HipHopDX, the lap-dancing MC spoke on a number of topics including her Young Money/Cash Money family, her private life and her future plans.

While being part of Weezy's Young Money roster certainly helped her chances at rap stardom, she still had to put in her own work. "Young Money/Cash Money is already a hands-off type of label," explained Nicki. "So once they saw me being successful at my ideas, they were very very happy, proud and supportive. They really really support all of my choices. I've never gone to them and had an idea or a suggestion and had them say "no"... Even if they don't understand it right away, they allow me to explain it. They really treat me like a boss. They treat me like the head of my own company."

Unfortunately, walking and moving like a boss has cost Nicki some of her cherished privacy. "It's the price that you pay," said the 'Moment 4 Life' rapper. "Everyone knows when they get into this game, they kind of know that they're bartering their privacy and they're bartering peace of mind in order to win. None of this comes for free. It's an exchange; you're always exchanging one thing for the other. Obviously what I've gotten so far outweighs the things that I've had to trade in."

While Nicki's stint as opening acting for Weezy's I Am Still Music tour has come to a close, she won't be having too much downtime. First up is the Britney Spears Femme Fatale Tour she is set to open for and that will surely fall in line with more promotion of her debut album.

"I'm super excited about that," said Nicki of the Femme Fatale tour, before she added, "'Good Morning America' in the summer as well, and just starting to work on my sophomore album. I'm really really excited about it. Of course we just put out "Super Bass"... So I'm just working on that and I'm super excited about continuing what I started with 'Pink Friday' and then going all over the world next year. You know, I think the United States has had enough of me for a little bit, and I think I can now pack my bags and go to France and the UK and everywhere else."



Watch Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass'
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