Nicki Minaj Serves Cleopatra Majesty on NSFW ‘Queen’ Cover Artwork (PHOTO)
Nicki Minaj is serving straight-up greatness on the artwork for her forthcoming album.
On Thursday (June 7), the "Chun-Li" rapper took to social media to reveal the risqué and regal shot that will grace the cover of her fourth studio album, Queen, which drops this summer.
"#Queen 8|10|18 ~ by the legendary #MertAndMarcus," she announced on Twitter, alongside an image which shows the rapper channeling her inner (and outer) goddess in barely-naked and bedazzled garb. "My greatest work to date. Thank you for your patience & love. Pre-Order next week ."
The album cover, photographed by fashion photographers and creative collaborators Mert and Marcus, pictures a skin-bearing Minaj posing on a branch as the sun begins to fall, dressed in nothing more than gemstones and a headpiece that would surely have made a stan of Cleopatra.
The "Barbie Tingz" star's creative surprise comes weeks after she delivered the upsetting news about the pushback of her new record, originally intended for June 15 release.
"The album itself I think I want to put out on August 10," Minaj told her fans via Instagram Live vid. "I want to put out my second single, which I'm really, really excited about, and I want to now start an official countdown."
In the meantime, and as a way of making it up to her Barbz and Ken Dollz for the delay, the Harajuku Barbie vowed to deliver some Queen surprises between June 11 and June 15. Telling by the rave responses to the art, it seems the upset is a thing of the past.
"OKAYYY. Nicki left that pink theme at home & gave the girls ROYALTY. I’m ready for this album," wrote one user. Another exclaimed, "THE LEGEND JUMPED OUT."
What do you think of the album cover for Queen? Sound off in the comments below.