Nicki Minaj has said that her experience of poverty makes her more determined and driven to succeed.
Speaking to Contactmusic the Starship singer explained how her "crazy childhood" has given her more faith in herself.
She said: "I never want to go back to being poor. Once you have a taste of that you will always be driven. I know what that felt like and I don't want to feel it ever again.
"So yeah, I mean my childhood was crazy but it got me to the point where I had so much faith in whatever I was doing. I just always feel where there's a will there's a way, and I live my entire life that way now."
She continued to explain that people from privileged backgrounds may find it difficult to cope in the music industry saying: "If you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth and you come into this business you're going to get let down a lot, and it will probably send you crazy.
"This is only for the mentally strong. If you're not, then it's not going to work."
It was recently reported that Nicki Minaj has apparently turned down an offer to be a judge on X Factor USA.
