Nicki Minaj Set To Break 5-Year Hiatus With Announcement Of 5th Studio Album

The "Queen of Rap," Nicki Minaj, is set to give her fans what they have been anticipating!

After a prolonged break from the music scene, the 40-year-old is gearing up to make a powerful comeback. After a series of standalone singles since the release of her album "Queen" in 2018, the renowned rapper is ready to deliver what her devoted fanbase, the Barbz, has long been yearning for. 

The versatile artist sent fans into a frenzy, confirming her first album in five years. The highly anticipated album arrives five years after her successful release "Queen," which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Her previous studio albums, including "Pink Friday" (2010), "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" (2012), and "The Pinkprint" (2014), all achieved top-five positions on the all-genre albums chart, with "Pink Friday" and "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" even reaching No. 1.

Taking to Twitter on June 5, she announced the upcoming release date, October 20, 2023, with a message that read, "10/20/23 The Album ??." Several artists responded to the tweet, like upcoming rapper Ice Spice — whom she recently collaborated with — simply putting up an emoji, "?."

City Girls artist J.T. also excitedly wrote, "LETS F**KING GOOOOOOOO." This fan said, "WE USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES THIS." While another netizen got so emotional and noted, "OH MY GOD, I'M GOING TO PASS OUTTTTT."

Although no other details have been given yet, Billboard reported that the still-untitled work could be her first official release under her newly established record label, Heavy On It. The announcement of her brand came earlier this year during an episode of her popular show, Queen Radio. 

Minaj has undoubtedly come a long way from a challenging upbringing to paving her way into the music industry as a backup singer for aspiring rap artists in New York. Her talent and dedication caught the attention of rapper Lil Wayne, leading to collaborations on mixtape recordings, including her debut, "Playtime Is Over," released in 2007.

Years later, she is finally hailed for her unwavering consistency and immense influence, receiving the highest accolades bestowed upon an artist, affirming her well-deserved place in music history.

The mother-of-one's tireless efforts over almost two decades were recognized, as she received the prestigious title of the greatest female rapper of all time by Billboard. In celebration of five decades of hip-hop, the renowned publication unveiled its "Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time" list.

Notably, the "Chun-Li" hitmaker was the sole woman in the esteemed top ten, sharing the ranks with iconic figures like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Tupac, and The Notorious B.I.G. Her inclusion among these legendary names solidified her undeniable impact and contribution to the genre. 

While she might be well known for her achievements in music and fashion, she is also renowned for her acting roles in movies like "Barbershop: The Next Cut." The Blast recently reported that the "The Other Woman" star had expanded her creative horizons into animation. 

The songwriter will add to her illustrious career by taking on a lead voice-acting role in the highly anticipated animated series "Lady Danger." The show, based on the acclaimed comic book series by Alex de Campi, will be produced by Amazon Freevee. 

In fact, not only will Minaj showcase her voice acting skills, but she will also serve as an executive producer. The impressive team behind the project includes 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) of G-Unit Film & TV, Brian Sher, Paul Young, and Mike Griffin of Make Good Content. Starbucks Industries has been chosen as the animation studio for this exciting venture.

According to a report from (Deadline), the exciting new series written by Carlton Jordan and Crystle Roberson is set to feature an afro-futuristic secret agent. This agent must hide her true identity while facing off against formidable villains intent on destroying Earth and its inhabitants.