Nicki Minaj has confirmed that a new album is on the way. In the early hours of the morning, she took to Twitter and posted “3.27.26 [disk emoji],” a simple but clear hint that she will release her next project on March 27, 2026. The announcement quickly sent her fans, the Barbz, into celebration across social media.
One fan expressed their excitement by writing that the release lined up with their birthday month and would be “the best gift.” Others, however, speculated that the timing of the announcement may be linked to competition with Cardi B, whose upcoming album Am I The Drama? is currently projected to surpass earlier sales predictions. That project is now expected to move over 200,000 units, potentially coming close to the opening week numbers of Nicki’s last release, Pink Friday 2.
Released in 2023, Pink Friday 2 debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 228,000 units, marking the strongest week for any female rap album in the 2020s so far. While speculation around rivalry persists, there has been no confirmation that Nicki’s album release date was chosen for competitive reasons.
The announcement also follows Nicki’s absence from Twitter for nearly a month. In early August, she had used the platform for a series of critical posts directed at Roc Nation, JAY-Z, Desiree Perez, SZA, TDE’s Punch, and even former NFL player Dez Bryant.
Attention has also turned to whether Nicki will address her recent friction with Ice Spice on the album. The two collaborated on “Barbie World,” but their relationship has been described as complicated. Ice Spice revealed on Keke Palmer’s podcast that tension arose when Nicki attempted to sign her, though she was already under contract with two labels. Despite this, Ice Spice made it clear that she still respects Nicki, calling her “mother” and emphasizing that there’s still love between them.
