When Nicki Minaj released 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded' back in April, critics frowned at the over abundance of dance-pop songs on the collection. With the 'Re-Up,' Minaj returns to her original sound that ushered her into the rap spotlight. And now she has a few choice words for the critics.

In an interview MTV News, the Queen Barbz insists that she isn't worried about criticisms anymore. In fact, Minaj maintains that the 'Re-Up' is to hush naysayers who think she has abandoned hip-hop altogether.

"'The Re-Up' is what I do naturally. It's what I came into the game doing," she explains. "So I actually don't have the fears about it being critiqued. I guess when I started doing dance songs, then there was more like a question mark there, 'cause I had never done it."

"But the songs I'm doing on the 'Re-Up,'" she adds, "I haven't even gone into it thinking about criticism. I've already mastered [rap]. When people hear it, they will hear stuff that Nicki Minaj has already mastered. I don't need approval on that."

True indeed. Songs like 'Freedom,' 'Boys' and 'Va Va Voom' are great reminders of what makes Minaj such a fierce artist in pop music -- her humor, lyrical ability and her infectious flow.

Now that she's not looking for critics' approval, Minaj vows to continue taking risks with her music whether they like it or not. "[Artists] don't always get the praise but in the long run, they get the respect," she says. "Because most artists in this business are so petrified of thinking outside of the box that they will remain in one little box for their whole careers. And to each his own, but I feel like as women, we gotta dare to be different."

And that's what 'Freedom' is all about.

Watch the Nicki Minaj 'Freedom' Video

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