In September 2012 , Minaj announced the reissue of '' Pink Friday : Roman Reloaded '' , subtitled '' The Re-Up '' , containing an additional disc with eight newly-recording songs and an exclusive behind-the-scenes DVD to supplement the standard edition of the original album . Minaj commented at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards , " I 'm putting lots of new songs on there and I 'm actually going to drop my new single like next week . Barbz , you are gon na spaz . You are gon na love it . You are gon na go crazy ! " Production of the project was a main focus on Minaj 's three-part E! special , '' Nicki Minaj : My Truth '' , which aired in November 2012 . On '' On Air with Ryan Seacrest '' , Minaj stated that " I feel like the music is such a better representation of me where I am now as an artist in my career . As long as people can hear the music , I 'm good . " Musically , " Freedom " is a hip hop and R&B song that follows a similar style to other Minaj songs heard on her debut album , '' Pink Friday '' . The song features street-slang bravado and " venomous " rapping in the verses with thin , fragile vocals over whipsy soft pop choruses . The instrumentation in " Freedom " mixes together smooth ambient riffs , pop-inspired crystal-clear synthesizers , and a smooth R&B beat , creating a sonically breezy soundscape . Lyrically , Minaj is still confrontational yet reflective , talking about her life in the spotlight and rise to fame . In the lyrics , Minaj states how other rappers " in the competition " will never thank her for opening the doors for them , and how they do n't even thank their creator Jesus Christ for helping them get far , saying : " They 'll never thank me for opening doors / But they ai n't even thank Jesus when he died on the cross / 'Cause your spirit is ungrateful , bitches is so hateful , I remain a staple . " Charley Rogulewski of '' Vibe '' said " The old Nicki Minaj is back on her latest track " Freedom . " " , while going onto note the songs " dreamy " production and compared it to " Right Thru Me , " " Your Love " and " Save Me " off her debut album . '' Entertainment Weekly '' reviewer Kyle Anderson called the song " middle-of-the-road R&B " and criticized Minaj for choosing to make music that appeals to pop radio , instead of being unique . Josiah Hughes of '' Exclaim ! '' was critical of the song , saying it was : " by-the-books Nicki , as she delivers venomous raps on the verses before giving saccharine-sweet melody a whirl on the choruses . Surprise , surprise — the whole thing is delivered atop poppy , crystal clear synths . " The video was shot in black-and-white at Dungeness , Kent , United Kingdom . It begins with a stairway set in a foggy setting leading up to the sky . Then angles of different scenery are shown such as a deserted area with a boat next to railroad resembling Noah 's Ark , railroad pathaway , and a True Cross with a key hung over it . Minaj is shown fading into clouds , before she raps her first verse wearing a black flowing dress and a crown of thorns . Minaj has various wardrobe changes in the video . Minaj is then seen dressed as a queen , over a balcony with a spiral chandelier behind her . Various clips of nature are shown such as waves , birds , and grass . Minaj is then seen singing the chorus in a blonde wig , in a vast space , with a lot of fog . Minaj raps her second verse sitting on a throne donning a black wig similar to the on she wore in her previous music video for " I Am Your Leader " . After scenes of nature and of Minaj , the video transforms into color . The video concludes as Minaj is seen with a stray-like face , walking in the wilderness , while clips of Minaj singing continue throughout the video . It closes with the stairway , seen in the beginning of the video
2012 MTV Video Music Awards
2012 MTV Video Music Awards
Freedom (Nicki Minaj song)