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Trina Talks to Honey Magazine about her New Album “Amazin”
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010t’s been 10 years and you still don’t know any chick with her sweet southern-belle boss talk. But with more femcee underclassmen being ushered in, Trina doesn’t mind sharing the mic with rappers like Nicki Minaj. But don’t get it twisted, she’s forever repping her title as Da Baddest Bitch — this time, a little older and all the wiser. Her fifth album, Amazin, is one part raw, raunchy realness, and two part something new. This million-dollar girl is living a million-dollar life and it’s obvious. From new business deals to her baller boyfriend, Trina is happy. That’s her attitude!
Trina stepped away from the fairytale that is her life for a few moments of real talk about beef rumors with Nicki Minaj, the lips tatted on Kenyon Martin’s neck, and the phone pics seen around the world wide web.
Honey Magazine: This is your fifth album. Are you excited about the release of the new album Amazin’?
Trina: I’m very excited. I worked really hard on the album. I just wanted to make records that were relative to where my life is right now. It was about just having fun, and being happy, and love. Evolving as a woman. It’s been pretty amazing.
Is that why it’s called Amazin’?
Well, I was in the studio and it wasn’t really a name thing — I was just going back from the first album to the fourth album and I was saying, “Wow, really five albums?” It was like a rewind thing. I was just looking at a bunch of footage in the UK and all over the world. I just thought this is pretty amazing. It seems so surreal. As an artist sometimes you don’t realize how much you have done.
The lead single is “Million Dollar Girl.” How was it working with Diddy on that track?
I’m going to be so honest with you. Diddy has been my most favorite artist to work with. When I first heard that he wanted to get on the record, I just thought the label was just saying that to hurry up and press me to get the record done. I had Keri Hilson already in mind. When I got the beat I thought she’d kill it. She has such a beautiful, amazing voice. When Diddy did the record, […] he flew down for the video Super Bowl weekend, just his aura just his presence — it was so professional and humble. He brought great energy on set. He grabbed me one on one. We said a prayer and Ciroc was in the building. I was just amazed. The whole crew was. We were wondering [if] he [was] going to come all ego-ed out.
n the video for “Million Dollar Girl,” you two seemed very comfortable with each other. Did you vibe on set?
He’s a really great person. He’s a business person. I love that. Everything was in a professional manner. He was a perfectionist. He checked everything with the video and it was just like a beautiful thing to have someone of his caliber to be doing the song with. And for him to be there and give pointers and to say certain things, it just made a smooth day.
“Million Dollar Girl” is a different kind of record for you. How have you evolved from the very first single with Trick Daddy to now?
I’m at a good place. Before when I stared, it was just a new face, a new girl. I did a record with Trick. It was very provocative. It was just getting on the record and talking trash, and then I started knowing more and growing more, learning different things about the business. A lot of times as an artist you don’t get to do what you want to do because the label wants to have so much control. This time I had a lot of control to step outside and do what I want to do.
How have you changed?
I’ve grown. I’m not the same chick from when I did Da Baddest Bitch album. There were records and beats that I turned down, because I felt like I did it and I’m just over it. I’m on a new page. I’m still Trina. I still did something grimy and the underground club, the up-tempo, the sexy, the love [songs]. This album has so much more of my thoughts and my character.
What’s your favorite song on the album?
I have a record with Monica. It’s called “I Want It All.” It’s the love hate side. It’s one of those moments where I was in a spaced-out mind frame. And I felt like any other woman would feel if you’re in a bad relationship. One of my most favorites is a record I did called “Capricorn.” It’s not really a rap record; it’s more poetic. I was just expressing what a Capricorn means to me. I’m a Sagittarius. I listened to the record. After I was like, “Wow, this is really a different side of me.”
Is this album more pop?
It’s some pop records on there. I did some stepping outside of the box. I wanted to do something different. It’s just to show a little diversity. To show that I can do different things as opposed to a single rap record.
We heard that you worked with Lady Gaga on the album. What was that like?
She actually co-wrote the “Let Them Girls Fight” record, featuring Kaleena of Dirty Money. A producer I used on my previous album — he produced “Here We Go” — I went back to him and told him I wanted something different. He said, “I got a record for you, and it’s co-written by Lady Gaga.” At this time I didn’t know who she was. She wasn’t the iconic superstar. So I [listened] and thought, “This is fun.” I Googled her. I was really amazed. I loved her work and I was like I want to try it. It’s different.
Have you met Gaga?
I haven’t. I think it would be amazing. I actually got to see half of one of her concerts but I had to fly out and do a concert the same night. Amazing.
You also worked with Nicki Minaj on the album?
Yes, Nicki Minaj is on the album with Lady Saw. It was just one of those records where I wanted a different girly vibe — girls from different places with different types of expression and sound. Nicki was new and it was like embracing a fresh face. Lady Saw is Jamaican. So that was a whole different flavor. I’ve done an all-girl record before but not like this.
People always say you and Nicki have beef. What was your response to her last line in “5 Star Chick” when she says ‘Ask Lil Wayne who the five-star bitch is’?
There is no drama. There has no reason to be no drama. I’ve never done anything to her and she’s never done anything to me. Drama comes from conflict of interest. I saw you in the street. You said something I didn’t like. That’s drama. The rest of that is erroneous information. As far as [Nicki Minaj’s] verse — I was on the record first. When I heard [Nicki’s lyrics], that’s how she feels. Wayne is the CEO of the label that she’s on and I guess that is her way of saying let him solidify to people that she’s a five-star chick. I did my verse being totally me who I am, just being me, and talking slick.
So is it safe to say that your verse on the “My Chick Bad (Remix)” is not targeted towards Nicki Minaj?
On the “My Chick Bad (Remix)”, I don’t see how [my verse] could be anything to anybody — Nicki or anybody. It was just a slick verse — me just talking about my relationship, really. It had nothing to do with a female. I don’t spend too much time worrying about females or just having another female on [my] mind. That’s just not how I roll. I’m focused on music, making money. And everything outside of that really don’t matter to me. It’s a waste of time.
How was first meeting Nicki Minaj?
I met her. She’s a fun person. She has a great spirit. We got along, no issues. And we keep it moving. We don’t got to sleep together. This is an industry. We just got to work together. We just got to get money and do our thing.
Is there anyone on your bad side right now?
I’ve been doing this for 10 years. I don’t get into all that. I had one incident, which I really wouldn’t call it anything. It was just having something to say to let people know that I smile a lot. I’m very humble. You can say I’m glammed up, whatever. I don’t walk around with a chip on my shoulder. I’m making money. It’s a good life for me.
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