A dramatic departure from Nicki Minaj's demonic performances and fluorescent googly-eyed videos, her recent music seems to be stripping away the rapper's signature larger-than-life persona. Minaj's music video for The Pink Print's lead single "Pills N Potions" -- one of our strong Songs of the Summer contenders -- is set to premiere June 6, but we were graced this morning with a 46-second snippet that showcased a more subtle side to Queen Barb.
Of course subtlety for Ms. Minaj isn't exactly true to definition; while the Diane Martel-directed clip features her with loosely disheveled hair and a fresh face casually smoking an e-cigarette, Minaj also cries mercury liquid tears and sits topless, singing earnestly to the ceiling. Like a laid-back Sunday in her fantasy world following a painful breakup, the clip rides on the brink of lunacy while still offering a dose of genuine emotion. Check it out, above, and be on the lookout for The Game as Minaj's love interest.