Out on stands next week, Billboard Magazine is featuring Nicki Minaj on the cover of the Friday, Nov. 15 issue. With the cover story, she begins the promotion trail for her upcoming third solo studio album "The PinkPrint," the third installment of her "Pink" trilogy, which were succeeded by "Pink Friday" and "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded."

Apart from plugging her album, which is out Dec. 15, the "Anaconda" rapper and entertainer talks candidly about success, work ethnic and hands-on approach towards her brand, BET reports. 

"People don't know how heavily involved I am in my own career," she says frankly in an interview with Billboard. "I'm on 15 to 25 conference calls every few days strategizing with my team.I think a lot of artists sit back and have it done for them. Sometimes as women in the industry - if you're sexy or like doing sexy things - some people subconsciously negate your brain. They think you're stupid."

Perhaps it was luck when she released her platinum-selling No. 1 debut in 2010, but you can excuse the fact that Minaj became the first female rapper to top the Billboard 200 since Eve in 1999. 

There's a reason why the crossover hip-hop princess has reached the echelon of success that has allured others in the industry, on both sides of hip-hop and popular dance music. It's because of her savvy as a businesswoman and creative force of nature that the "Pills 'N Potions" rapper has made history, Billboard reports.

At the moment, Minaj has the most Billboard Hot 100 hits of any female rapper in history and is No. 5 among all female artists on the chart, right behind Aretha Franklin, Taylor Swift, Dionne Warwick and Madonna.

Five days prior, the singer posted the artwork for the deluxe edition of her upcoming album on Instagram, gaining praise by MTV for its minimalist look. Minaj took no credit, thanking the "Kanye West team." She indicated that the artwork was conceptualized by way of the iconic Chicago rapper's creative think tank DONDA, which designed some of the most recognized recording packages in the last decade, such as G.O.O.D Music's "Cruel Summer" compilation album and John Legend's "Love In The Future."

On October 26, the Los Angeles-based rapper, 31, also revealed the cover art for her third single "Only" which features Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown via Instagram. And like BET writers remarked, she has been landing magazine covers left and right.

But that doesn't mean she'll rest on her laurels any time soon, according to Billboard: "It's corny when rappers feel like they've made it and they don't have to prove themselves anymore," Minaj said. "You should always be competing. You should always be trying to show that you're the best. My album is going to be important to hip-hop."