But, by just being myself, I end up touching a lot more people who might never have paid much attention to a female rapper.
Interpretation
Authenticity can resonate with others and create unexpected connections.
In this quote, Nicki Minaj highlights the importance of being true to oneself and how this authenticity can reach and inspire a wider audience, particularly those who may not have previously engaged with her art as a female rapper. It illustrates the power of individuality and the impact it can have in breaking barriers and attracting attention in unexpected ways.
In practice
In a speech about embracing individuality at a music festival.
When you're a girl, you have to be everything, You have to be dope at what you do, but you have to be super sweet, and you have to be sexy, and you have to be this and you have to be that and you have to be nice, and you have to - it's like, I can't be all of those things at once. I'm a human being.
I want to show little girls that the possibilities are endless. That's my goal - to not only do it for myself, but to show them I can do whatever I put my mind to.
I don't mind being called a weirdo. There are a lot of people in hip-hop who are probably never going to get what I do. But, by just being myself, I end up touching a lot more people who might never have paid much attention to a female rapper.
As a little girl growing up in Southside Jamaica Queens, if anyone would've told me I'd have my own perfume one day, and be able to inspire young black girls everywhere, to go into Macy's or Nordstrom's and see their face staring back at them - I wouldn't believe them.
I'm very proud of the colour of my skin and that I'm inspiring people from all backgrounds, but I think it will be great for the next mixed-race or black female principal dancer if she doesn't have to be asked about that.
Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.
You have to recover the capacity to imagine yourself as an ideal and figure out how to project that into the world.
It was Jesus who gave me peace when the shark severed my arm. I trust in Jesus whenever I'm going through a hard time. I see all the beautiful things that have come out of my situation. I'm able to share my story with young girls who have few role models, and I can help others cope with what they have been through.
Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.
There has been nothing more impactful on my life and meaningful to me than the introduction of Christ. That, hands down, blows away every joke I've ever written.
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