Nicki Minaj let Vogue Italia into "Barbie World" in a new interview.
Minaj's fan base, knows as 'Barbz,' are among the most dedicated in pop culture, to the extent that some have even doxxed those who aren't fans of the multiplatinum rapper. Although Minaj has told Barbz not to threaten anyone on her behalf, she stands by them and told Vogue Italia about inside jokes she maintains with her fans.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to do enough to thank them," she told the publication, translated from Italian to English.
She continued, "We have our own sense of humor. If you get it, great. If you don’t, so be it."
Sometimes, the Barbz joke about their queen, like Minaj's iconic “Did I lie?'” meme, which was filmed during her Tidal interview with rap journalist Elliott Wilson in 2020.
"I hate how I look in that video. When they started using it I was like, ‘I'm going to block you!'" Minaj joked. "Then I gave in, it’s actually really funny."
Last year, Minaj spoke to Vogue U.S. about her fans being one of the earliest named fan bases in hip-hop, around the time when Justin Bieber referred to his fans as 'Beliebers' and Lady Gaga dubbed her fans 'Little Monsters.'
"Now, every single artist gives their fans a name. But it doesn’t matter, because the Barbz are still superior," Minaj said. "They are different because what they do, they do it with passion and love. Sometimes people do things, and it’s rooted in revenge or vengeance, and that doesn’t really go anywhere. It doesn't take off. But the Barbz and I really love each other."