Losing a parent is never easy, and Nicki Minaj would know all about that. In a new interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, released on Thursday, January 4, the rapper touched on how the death of her father, Robert Maraj, influenced the direction she wanted to take with her new album, ‘Pink Friday 2.’
A hit-and-run car accident tragically killed Robert in Long Island, New York, in February 2021. Paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries. Robert was 64, per The New York Times.
Nicki Minaj Talks About Her Father’s Passing
During her sitdown with Ebro, the ‘Hard White’ artist recalled her last conversation with her dad, just days before his death.
Minaj explained that her father had plans to fly out to Los Angeles to help out with her son, Papa Bear. The coronavirus pandemic’s flight restrictions had prevented Robert from seeing his grandson earlier.
But when flying became safe again, Robert desired to reunite with his daughter and meet her bundle of joy for the first time.
While holding her son, Minaj recounted her phone ringing – it was her dad.
“I normally would not have picked up because I don’t like to be on the phone with the baby there. I would’ve called him back. Something said, ‘Pick up the phone,’” she explained.
When she picked up his call, Robert asked if he could take a flight to see her and the baby, to which Minaj responded with a resounding yes.
She welcomed Papa Bear just a few months prior, and he was already proving himself to be quite the handful.
So, naturally, Minaj didn’t hesitate at the thought of her parent coming out to offer her some assistance with her son, which was sure to relieve some stress for the new mom.
She was also quick to agree with the idea of her “amazing” dad coming out to Los Angeles, given that his energy had been infectious to the point where he “livens up the whole house.”
The father-daughter duo hadn’t always maintained good terms. Minaj had previously detailed how her father’s addiction problems had impacted the family. However, she pointed out that their relationship had improved significantly before his death.
“Yes, we were going to get help,’” she remembered thinking.
Nicki’s Dad Never Got To Meet Papa Bear
That same night, however, Minaj received some devastating news. Robert had been involved in a severe car accident.
“It was my mother telling me that my father was in an accident and, that she didn’t know what was going to happen and she would call me back. And then, everything started spinning,” she said.
Understandably, the news of Robert’s accident left Minaj shell-shocked since she had just spoken to her dad and planned for his arrival in the upcoming days.
It was equally heartbreaking to hear about Robert’s accident since he had been the happiest she’d heard him in a while. Minaj would later learn that her father had passed away.
She had already started working on her album when she made the decision to compose a song titled ‘Are You Gone Already.’
The Queen of Rap dedicated this sentimental track to her father, with the intent that it would serve as the opening track on ‘Pink Friday 2.’
“I call my son Papa Bear. So I’m telling my father, ‘You never got to meet Papa.’ And then, I begin to explain the time from my mother first calling me, telling me he was in an accident, to her calling me, telling me that he didn’t make it.”
Check out additional moments from Nicki’s sitdown with Ebro below.
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