Facing an ongoing legal battle over an alleged debt, Nicki Minaj pivoted to a new digital revenue stream by launching a $10-a-month subscription service for exclusive content on X on August 2, 2026. The “Barbz Premium” tier went live on her official profile, promising unreleased freestyles, behind-the-scenes tour footage, and direct replies from Nicki. The move comes days after court filings in her $5M contractor lawsuit surfaced online.
Minaj announced the plan in a voice note to fans, saying “the labels don’t own me, the Barbz do” and that she wants to control her own rollout. X confirmed her account was one of the first to test the new “Creator Premium Video” feature. Within 6 hours, social analytics firm SocialBlade estimated over 80K sign-ups, generating roughly $800K in instant revenue.
The launch sparked debate about artists bypassing streaming for direct-to-fan platforms amid low DSP payouts. Other rappers including Cardi B and Ice Spice liked the announcement post, hinting at similar moves. With her Pink Friday 3 still delayed, the X plan gives Nicki a way to monetize while fighting the lawsuit.
