Nicki Minaj announces retirement; gives reason

Nicki Minaj on Thursday surprised fans by announcing that she was retiring (presumably from music) to “have my family.“

Nicki Minaj, who is engaged to boyfriend Kenneth Petty, made the surprising announcement on Twitter. She also asks fans to continue “reppin” me even as she threw one to her perceived detractors, who she says she hope “are happy (with her announcement) now.”

Her tweet: “I’ve decided to retire & have my family. I know you guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me, in the box- cuz ain’t nobody checkin me. Love you for LIFE .

I’ve decided to retire & have my family. I know you guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me, ? in the box- cuz ain’t nobody checkin me. ? Love you for LIFE ????

— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) September 5, 2019

Back in August, Nicki Minaj told fans in her Queen radio show that she and boyfriend, Kenneth Petty, were going to get married in about 80 days. That announcement came after the couple were spotted getting a marriage licence at Bev Hills Courthouse in Los Angeles.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ARiS9nYMa/

Meanwhile, Nicki’s tweet isn’t really that specific about what’s she’s retiring from although many seem to assume she meant music.

She first burst into the scene when her debut album Pink Friday came out in 2010. Mega-hits like Super Bass, Anaconda and Starships then established her as one of the world’s biggest female rappers.

But in 2018 there were signs the wheels might be coming off the Minaj-machine. Her fourth album Queen failed to top the charts in the US – leading her to lash out at everyone from Spotify to Travis Scott (whose album Astroworld did go to number one).

Then she cancelled the entire North-American leg of a joint tour with Future. Nicki said it was because she “simply doesn’t have the time to rehearse… to give the level of show I need to give.” But there were unconfirmed reports of low ticket sales.

Back in June, Nicki released her latest single, Megatron, and said that an album is in the works.

For a star who’s known for bold, sometimes conflicting, statements – it’s far from a given that she’s being genuine with this latest announcement. But the timing could make sense as some fans have speculated that she’s already married Kenneth Petty in secret.