Nicki Minaj Quits American Idol; “Time To Focus On The Music” As She Starts Writing For Her Upcoming Rap Album

Nicki Minaj quits American Idol.

The hip-hop diva, Nicki Minaj quits American Idol to focus on her music, as she announces it via Twitter.

Using her Twitter handler @NICKIMINAJ18h, the rapper posted a tweet on Thursday about leaving American Idol, "Thank you American Idol for a life changing experience! Wouldn't trade it for the world! Time to focus on the Music!!! Mmmuuuaahhh!!!"

Fox and the producers of the show said in a statement, "Nicki Minaj is a superstar who brought a level of honesty and passion to 'American Idol' and who had a tremendous positive impact on so many contestants this season. Given her extremely busy career, we understand and respect her decision and wish her the best."

Nicki Minaj was one of the the newest judges on Season 12 of the hit talent competition along with other newcomers, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and a veteran judge of the show, Randy Jackson. Mariah Carey has also announced earlier that she will not be coming back to the next season of Fox's reality singing competition to focus on a tour after the success of her single 'Beautiful.' Furthermore, the tenured AI judge has also expressed before the American Idol Season 12 finale that he will no longer be a part of the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj said that she will focus on hardcore rap for her upcoming full length album, as she traces back her South Jamaican roots. She said in her interview with DJ Peter Rosenberg and Ebro Darden, "I was thinking if I really wanted to, I could go back in and make another pop song like that to sell but I'm choosing not to do it. I'm choosing to get back to my essence and feed the core hip-hop fan."

Nicki Minaj further continued, "I feel like I need this because it's just a more powerful platform for me... Even when I'm on stage performing my rap songs, it's more organic."

Nicki MInaj will start writing rap songs for her third album as soon as she finishes the filming of "The Other Woman" in which she portrays the role of Cameron Diaz' assistant.