Iggy Azalea’s 2014 run aside, Nicki Minaj has been the undisputed Queen of Rap since her 2010 debut album, Pink Friday. But who is the King? Minaj’s answer may surprise you.
In a recent interview with Capital FM, the “Truffle Butter” rapper was asked her opinion on Kanye West admitting that she had the best verse on his 2010 single “Monster.” Minaj had surprisingly high praise for West.
“It’s sort of amazing. I keep saying that Kanye — he gave me an amazing opportunity, and because of that I feel like he outshines everyone. He puts people in a position to do better,” Minaj said. “When you are an artist and you can do that for people, then you are the king. You are the one. And that’s how I look at him.”
She went on to explain that in her eyes the feature on West’s song was so amazing because she didn’t expect anyone — besides Young Money head Lil Wayne — to give her an opportunity to appear on a huge song like “Monster,” which also featured rap titans Jay Z and Rick Ross.
Back in December 2013, West admitted to Sway Calloway that he almost took Nicki’s verse off the record because it was so good..
“I thought about taking Nicki’s verse off of ‘Monster’ because I knew people would say that was the best verse …, West said. “So if I let my ego get the best of me instead of letting that girl get the shot, to get that platform to be all she could be, I would take it off or marginalize her, try to stop her from having that shining moment.”
Nicki Minaj’s album, The Pinkprint, is in stores now.
