German-born, Los Angeles resident Kim Petras tapped American rapper Nicki Minaj for the highly anticipated new single “Alone” — out now via Republic Records/Amigo Records.
“Alone” is a steamy club banger about letting your impulses take control. Featuring diamond-selling hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj, one of Kim’s biggest inspirations as a songwriter and artist. The single samples Alice Deejay‘s 1998 eurodance megahit “Better Off Alone.”
“Yeah! It’s Barbie and it’s Kim Petras!” the Trinidadian-born rapper opens the song before the “If Jesus Was A Rockstar” pop singer lets out a “Woo-ah!”
“It doesn’t feel real still. Her singing “it’s Barbie and it’s Kim Petras,” I cried, I was on the floor,” said Kim, referring to Nicki. “She just changed my life in so many ways with that verse and that verse rips, I love her and I’m so inspired by her always, it’s crazy to me. I don’t know how she does it, but she’s just the greatest ever.”
The duo recently completed filming a music video for “Alone.” Kim praised the versatile 40-year-old rapper.
“When the camera’s on, it’s crazy,” said Kim. “She just goes into full superstar. Not that she’s ever not a superstar, but she just turns it on so effortlessly and it’s amazing to watch, and she was so nice to me and the dancers and everyone and was just really inspiring to see and to watch, and she was super encouraging and we just had a blast, so it was the best thing ever.”
Kim, 30, was born a boy in Germany and began transitioning to female at a young age. By age 16, Kim was granted special permission to undergo gender confirmation (top) surgery — becoming the youngest transgender in Germany.
According to a 2007 article written by German publication Stern, Kim had the full support of both parents.
Kim (pictured left) is the first MTF trans to win a GRAMMY for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with British singer Sam Smith at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards.
Kim is also the first trans performer to top the Billboard 100 chart.
“Unholy,” which Kim co-wrote and performed with Sam on the GRAMMY Awards, Saturday Night Live, and the BRIT Awards, quickly became one of 2022’s top pop debuts, skyrocketing to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard Global 200, the worldwide charts on Spotify and Apple Music, and the UK Official Singles Chart.
Kim Petras ft. Nicki Minaj – Alone
SR rated: 2/5 roses
