Nicki Minaj is proud she has made it as a rapper without ever dealing drugs.

The Trinidadian ‘Check It Out’ hitmaker had a tough upbringing in New York, but never went to the wrong side of the law, and is glad she and fellow rapper Drake are giving the music genre a positive image.

She told Rolling Stone magazine: “At one point you had to sell a few kilos to be considered a credible rapper.

“But now it’s like Drake and I are embracing the fact that we went to school, we love acting, we love theatre, and that’s ok – and it’s especially good for the black community to know that’s ok, that’s embraced.”

A number of rappers have previously admitted to dealing or have been arrested for selling drugs, including Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg. Nicki believes in karma, however, and this is one of the reasons she openly talks about her father – who was a violent drug addict – put her family through, even though he still lives with her mother.

She added: “It’s the price you pay when you abuse drugs and alcohol. Maybe one day your daughter will be famous and talk to every magazine about it, so think about that, dads out there who want to be crazy.”

Nicki’s debut album, ‘Pink Friday’ is out now.