After more than a year of anticipation, Nicki Minaj unveiled her mobile game Nicki Minaj: The Empire in the iTunes store on Tuesday and the Google Play Store today (Dec. 7). Now, as fans work to climb the ranks of hip-hop super celebrity with the option to record their own rhymes and win special awards from Minaj herself, Billboard is sharing an exclusive behind the scenes look with the app’s star.
Nicki Minaj: The Empire was developed with gaming heavyweight Glu Mobile, the company responsible for Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, Britney Spears: American Dreamand Katy Perry Pop, and offers a world of gameplay options sure to excite Barbz and Boyz. In addition to the narrative gameplay where users can rock virtual stages, customize their crib and host parties, The Empire empowers players creative inklings with functions to write and record their own songs in-app. For those just starting out, there’s a “raplibs” (think Mad Libs) function that helps write lyrics for you. And for those more advanced, there are recording functions where users can showcase their talent rapping over in-game beats — including Minaj’s own tracks — with the entire player network voting up their favorites.
“My favorite part of the game is obviously when my amazing fans get to rap with me,” says Minaj in a behind-the-scenes video. “I think is the one thing they would never have expected for me to add into my game. The first time I played it and I recorded a rap, I felt like a kid on Christmas.”
Minaj has also promised prizes like concert tickets to the game’s high scorers and special shout outs to her favorite rappers each month.
“It’s something that I would have loved to have when I was starting to rap,” she continues. “It’s something that will definitely build your skills and get you heard by a lot of people. I’m very excited to hear the raps my fans are going to upload. I know it’s going to be fun, I know there are some people who are actually going to be good and that’s also interesting and inspiring.”
Watch the behind-the-scenes video here:
https://youtu.be/L1h3OZ28aTk?t=85
