What did Nicki Minaj say about Eminem? Rappers collaborated over 2010 hit Roman's Revenge

Nicki Minaj, who has been credited for having the highest album sales week for two straight decades, appears to have a bittersweet professional relationship with Eminem, her senior in the industry, as well as collaborator at a time.

Despite sharing a spot in the rap world for over two decades, Nicki and Eminem have collaborated just twice, having first worked together on the track Roman's Revenge back in 2010.

According to Billboard, it was Minaj who approached the Mockingbird rapper to collaborate with her on the track. After mulling over asking him to collaborate for a long time, Nicki finally "went out on a whim."

"I sent him one record, and he didn’t love it. He didn’t say, ‘I don’t love it’; he just said, ‘Can you send me something that’s a little more me?’ I sent him an email and thanked him for that, just having enough respect. Sometimes people don’t respond. He had the respect, at least, to treat me like a peer," Minaj told MTV News.

Roman's Revenge - released through iTunes Store - was performed by the rappers' alter egos, Roman Zolanski (Nicki) and Slim Shady (Eminem), and was assumed to be the Starships rapper's comeback for Lil' Kim as a response to the comment she had made about Minaj's rise to fame. It allegedly started a feud between the two.

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Roman's Revenge was considered the key track of Nicki Minaj's debut album

Following the release of Roman's Revenge, Nicki Minaj decided to add the track to her debut studio album which was released the same year - Pink Friday.

In a 2010 MTV interview, the Truffle Butter rapper called the track "the most fun song on Pink Friday." Minaj also clarified that she hadn't collaborated with Eminem but with Slim Shady on the track.

When asked by the host who offered a crazier character, Nicki Minaj responded laughing, "It has got to be Slim!"

James Cruz - the former manager of Minaj - revealed in a VladTV interview that it was her dream to do a record with the iconic rapper. Cruz further added:

"Because of the relationship with Paul Rosenberg and the Interscope from the G-Unit years, I talked to Paul, and we got a record done. I think it was a day of mastering when she was supposed to master her record, I had the Eminem Roman record."

He further commented:

"I can’t tell you, but to be able to give that dream come true, to have that Eminem record, man… It was just like to be able to give that to Nicki and see the light in her eyes and the smile on her face, and her giving me that A&R credit — that was just amazing."

Six years after Roman's Revenge was released, Nicki Minaj wished Eminem on his birthday through Instagram, recalling how their collaboration consisted of sending records back and forth, sending him love.

On his part, the Houdini rapper gave Nicki a special shoutout while thanking everyone for their birthday wishes a day later on X (then Twitter), which she screenshotted and responded to on her Instagram handle.

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Nicki confessed Roman's Revenge wasn't about Lil' Kim

Shortly after the release of Roman's Revenge, Nicki Minaj was in an interview with DJ Khaled on Miami's 99 Jamz, and when asked whether the track was about Lil' Kim, the rapper said:

"No, I’m talking about everyone who has been in interviews talking and I think it’s good for people to hear me respond to ….People have said so much about me, So I don’t ever single anyone out because no one is worth being singled out. No one is worth having their name mentioned out of my mouth and they never will get that."

The Super Bass rapper also added that she had been "a nice guy" for a long time, complimenting others from day one and giving them their props. But as a rapper, she couldn't speak about the things that were being said about her.

"I use my music to say what I have to say," Nicki added.

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Eminem released his twelfth studio album - The Death of Slim Shady - earlier this year, in July. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is set to release the deluxe edition of her fifth studio album - Pink Friday 2 - Gag City Reloaded - later this year, on September 13.