Nicki Minaj silences retirement rumors, promises her biggest album yet and global tour
Nicki Minaj insisted she’s not stepping away from music and hinted that her next album and a possible world tour remain on track. She stressed that the project planned for release in 2026 remains in motion.
In an impromptu Twitter Spaces session late on October 15, the Queens-born rapper dismissed her earlier statement about quitting and assured her audience she is steering her own path. “I am the conductor of this train,” she began. “Okay? When I want it to slow down, I slow it down. When I need it to speed up to give everyone a heart attack, I speed it up. But right before everyone thinks they’re about to go ‘Poof!’, I press the brakes. Why? Well, I don’t explain myself to c####, but I’ll explain myself to you. Why is because I can.”
That came just 24 hours after she shocked fans with a message declaring she was done with music and canceling her upcoming album. “Ok I’m not going to put out the album anymore,” she wrote. “No more music. Hope you’re happy now [JAY-Z]. Bye, Barbz. Love you for life.”
Her announcement followed a stream of accusations aimed at JAY-Z and Roc Nation, with Minaj suggesting they tried to pressure her into touring and releasing new songs. “They came BEGGING the QUEEN for a tour & album,” she claimed. “I said NOPE!!!!! Wanted to patch it up. They needed help from the QUEEN & the BARBZ.” She also mocked his failed bid to build a casino in Times Square: “It was a resounding NOOOOOOOO… just like the casinooooooooo.”
By Wednesday night, her mood had shifted. Minaj revealed she had recently written a “beautiful new song” and hinted her upcoming project could rank among her finest work. “Just know that I’m very happy with you guys and with the next chapter,” she added. “Nothing is going to stop that. We are in the best musical place I’ve ever been in, ever in my life. And just complete musical clarity.”
She went on to say the album will land in the “top two” of her career and described this creative phase as a reintroduction to her artistry. “I don’t want to say rebirth, but like almost like an introduction to myself when I started. But not talking about the sound, which is normally what people talk about, but the person.”
Minaj also dropped a hint that a world tour could still be on the horizon. When a South African fan asked about a Johannesburg show, she replied that she would have her team investigate the possibility.
These comments arrive amid her ongoing dispute with Roc Nation, which she has accused of blacklisting her, deploying bots against her, and profiting from the TIDAL sale without offering her a share of the proceeds.
