Nicki Minaj’s new video for her single “Right Thru Me” shows why she’s already the most talked about female rap artist in music, even though her debut album has yet to be released.
The 25-year-old singer rages like a 10-alarm Bronx fire when her boyfriend accuses her of being a drama queen.
The video ranges from soft words to a war of words as the two threaten, cajole and ultimately caress each other embracingly.
Diane Martel directs the video and model Willy Monfret plays Minaj’s love interest.
“The concept of the video is boy-and-girl relationship drama, you know, all of the intimate stuff as well as the fighting as well as the self-reflecting type stuff,” Martel told Entertainment Tonight.
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“It’s basically just a love story told from the perspective of a very hard girl who doesn’t want to give in but she has to,” she said.
“Right Thru Me” in expected on her debut album “Pink Friday” which will debut Nov. 22. It retails for $13.98, but you can buy it now at Amazon.com through this Improper special offer for $11.99 a 14 percent savings.
“The song to me is very, very personal. I haven’t spoken about an authentic relationship since I’ve come out, so this is my first time where I’m speaking about something very, very authentic that everyone in the world can relate to,” she said in a statement.
Even without an album out, Minaj is already winning industry recognition. She was voted No. 6. on MTV’s Hottest MC in the Game list. She’s the first woman to make the list.
“She showed that not only is she the most talented female right now, she’s one of the most talented rappers,” MTV News’ Shaheem Reid said. “This girl has star power. She took a little bit of [Lil] Wayne’s blueprint … and she just jumped on records.”
A buzz single, “Massive Attack”, was released in April, and in August, Minaj broke big time on the radio over the summer by sample-singing Annie Lennox’s “Your Love,” which hit #1 on the Rap singles chart. It’s slated to be on her album.
Minaj has also demonstrated cross-over appeal.
Christina Aguilera used her on her song, “Woohoo,” Sean Kingston recruited her for the reggae-tinged “Letting Go,” she’s on Usher’s “Lil Freak,” and labelmate Jay Sean uses her on pop hit “2012,” according to MTV.
She lived in Trinidad with her grandmother until age five when she moved to the Queens in New York City.
Minaj, real name Onika Tanya Maraj, says her father drank alcohol, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.