Nicki Minaj Debuts “Bed Of Lies” Featuring Skylar Grey: Listen

Nicki Minaj has two sides to her, as reenforced by her latest music. One moment, she acts ruthless as if to show that the male-dominated hip-hop industry cannot contain or intimidate her – see “Only,” featuring Chris Brown, Drake and Young Money label boss Lil Wayne, for the latest proof. The next, Minaj acts vulnerable, to signal in pop-informed songs that she’s getting personal. New song “Bed of Lies,” off her third studio album The Pinkprint and featuring in-demand songwriter Skylar Grey at the piano, falls in the latter category.

Without warning, Minaj debuted “Bed of Lies” earlier today (November 16), a few days after she and Grey performed a snippet on stage during the MTV EMAs. It’s a more pointed and detailed version of debut Pinkprint single “Pills N Potions,” as she confesses to popping pills and actually considering overdosing, due to a love taking advantage of her but also growing increasingly distant. Hear it below.

Already, Grey has praised “Bed of Lies” for being confessional – a rare glimpse into Minaj behind the scenes, at a time when she’s nodding off during interviews. (“When I heard that she was taking the song I was surprised because it’s not a typical kind of song for her. I was very excited when I heard what she did with it. She seemed to take it to a very personal place,” she said to Billboard.) Yet at the same time, there’s also this anthemic quality to it, as if Minaj was also in search for a good stadium sing-along.

Time will tell if it comes in handy during next year’s Pinkprint tour.

[via Stereogum]

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