M.I.A. Says Nicki Minaj "Runs" The Rap Game, "It's Been A While Since A Female Rapper Has Come Up"

United Kingdom rapper M.I.A. recently shared her thoughts on Young Money's Nicki Minaj and said the femcee was running hip-hop.

The "Swagga Like Us" collaborator credited Minaj's strong work ethic has a contributing factor to her success.

M.I.A. returned the compliment to her collaborator in an interview on 102.7 KIIS-FM's "New Music Show." "Nicki Minaj runs hip-hop," she told DJ Skee of the Harajuku Barbie, whose debut album is due November 23. She also shared why she thinks there's so much buzz surrounding the Young Money femcee. "She works hard and that's what it is. She's focused and that's good," she explained. "It's been a while since a female rapper has come up with that much... She's got a really good work ethic, and I get her."

M.I.A. is known for speaking her mind on artists and recently lashed out at pop star Lady Gaga.

"I can't talk about Gaga anymore," she said. "All I'll say is, it's upsetting when babies say ga-ga now. It used to be innocent. Now, they're calling her name." "You can't really say that Gaga is culturally a change," Maya said. "Madonna was truly unique." "Madonna is the one," Maya said. "Madonna did amazing songs. She had an amazing sense of style, without a stylist. And she was flawed, and sometimes she admitted it. I'll fight the fight for Madonna."

Recently, the rapper said she had the "perfect" record for Jay-Z.

"I really want to produce for him. ... I have got the perfect song for Jay-Z!" she smiled. "In fact, that's the best one that I had for my album which never made it. [It was] the first song I was really into and the song that actually made my album go in the direction it did, [but it] never actually made the album. But I want to give it to [Jay-Z], because I think it suits him more. It's insane. He's never done anything like that."

Despite her respect for Jay, M.I.A. recently said she would choose Nas over Jay as her favorite emcee.

"I love Nas records, in the car, in the radio, or whatever," M.I.A. told radio personality Angie Martinez in an interview. "[One day] I'm having a conversation with the cab driver and he's asking me [who I like better between Jay-Z and Nas], and I like both of them equally, but, yeah, Nas. Of course I have love for Jay-Z, I've performed with him and he's on my remix and stuff like that, and at the same time, it's important that people respect Nas because he's done a lot because and I'm making sure that people know that about him. Just because he's not like a private jet around the world, yacht, kind of guy, that needs to sort of be clear."

Check out a recent M.I.A. interview down below: