Rap star Nicki Minaj doesn't understand why so many artists are "petrified" of "thinking outside of the box".

The larger-than-life star is famed for her controversial lyrics and isn't afraid to make a statement with her outlandish dress sense.

Minaj is currently promoting hip-hop offering 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded the Re-Up', and is proud that she experiments with her urban roots.

She told MTV News: "You wanna know what's crazy about people who take risks? They don't always get the praise but in the long run, they get the respect because most artists in this business are so petrified of thinking outside of the box that they will remain in one little box for their whole careers. And to each his own, but I feel like as women, we gotta dare to be different."

Her latest album is a re-release of 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded', and features different album artwork, a second disk and a DVD.

Minaj feels comfortable with the record, even though she knows she might be slammed for re-releasing previously heard tracks.

She continued: "The Re-Up is what I do naturally. It's what I came into the game doing. So I actually don't have the fears about it being critiqued. I guess when I started doing dance songs, then there was more like a question mark there, 'cause I had never done it."