Nicki Minaj is stepping into her next calling. The highly-decorated rapper and mother of one announced during her Queens Radio show that she will be launching her very own record label.
Minaj brings onboard Patty Lauren, a longtime associate of Minaj’s that goes by Patty Duke. Lauren will serve in the capacity of A&R at the newly formed label.
“Well, I have a record label now,” Minaj said in the announcement. “Because I believe so strongly in loyalty, and because I spent my whole life giving to others that turn around and s— on me, Patty Duke is the first A&R on my label.”
The two business partners are already hard at work in building a roster of talent. Minaj stated during the Friday (March 3) episode of Queens Radio that she has signed Bronx Artist London Hill, Dutch-Ghanaian singer Nana Fofie, Baltimore rapper Tate Kobang, and Queens, NY native Rico Danna.
The name of Minaj’s record label has yet to be revealed with the “Win Again” music artist promising to tell her fans on the next radio episode. One thing that’s certain, Minaj is making this next move the best move and taking her role very seriously as a music trailblazer and the first female rapper to own a record label at the mainstream level.
“When I get behind an artist, y’all know how I do s— for people that’s not even signed to me, imagine what [I’ll] do for the ones that’s signed,” Minaj said. “I understand the importance of somebody else doing the heavy lifting for you, sometimes.”
She continued, “I understand why people are coming out and they’re so microwaveable, and they’re here today and gone tomorrow — because there’s no structure, there’s no real person that believes in them that’s like, ‘Nah, [I’m going to] make it my business to see you shine.’”
Minaj recently released her single, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” which samples R&B artist Lumidee’s 2003 hit, “Never Leave You (Uh Oh).” The single is available across music streamers now.
Check out her artists below:
