New York:
Nicki Minaj on Thursday surprised fans by announcing her retirement from rap, saying she was going to focus on family.
The provocative 36-year-old known for hits like “Super Bass” is engaged to music executive Kenneth Petty, and she recently said a wedding is in the cards in the coming months.
“I’ve decided to retire & have my family,” tweeted the wildly successful rapper raised in the New York borough of Queens.
“I know you guys are happy now,” she continued. “To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me, X in the box – cuz ain’t nobody checkin me.”
“Love you for LIFE.”
Minaj’s profanity-laced lyrics, skin-baring music videos and unique, animated flow first catapulted her to fame in 2010.
It’s not clear if Minaj is done with her career or merely taking a temporary rest.
Over the course of her decade-long career, Minaj has been nominated for 10 Grammys, earned a Guinness World Record in 2017 for most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a solo female artist and hauled in five MTV Video Music Awards.
Earlier this year Minaj was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the first female rapper to officially sell 100m albums and singles.
After signing a music deal in 2009, Minaj released her first studio album, Pink Friday, a year later, peaking at No 1. Her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded also hit No 1.
Last month she appeared in rising star Megan Thee Stallion’s song “Hot Girl Summer.”
In June 2019 she released a single entitled “Megatron” and said she had a new studio album in the works, which would be her fifth.
