Nicki Minaj's 'Ironic' Whitney Houston Quote

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ET caught up with Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin last night as they celebrated the launch of their M.A.C. Viva Glam products, with every cent from the sale of a M.A.C. Viva Glam product going toward the M.A.C. AIDS Fund.  To-date, the M.A.C. AIDS Fund has raised  $235 million which goes to men, women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We want to give back -- we want to give back to people who are suffering with HIV and AIDS," Nicki says about what drew her to the cause. "We want to bring awareness to people who seem to think that they are not affected by a disease like this that kills so many people."

Pics: Fashion Wildchild: Hip Hop Queen Nicki Minaj!

"This is not a problem of the '80s -- this is still a problem that we're struggling with to this day unfortunately," Ricky echoes.

Of course, Whitney Houston's shocking death was still heavy on both the artists' minds, especially Nicki, who gave the late singer a shout out during an interview given prior to her death.

Stars React to Whitney Houston's Death

"What's really ironic is I had just [done] an interview with Paper magazine, and they asked me who do I like when it comes to old school, and they were asking me about Etta James and I said well, I have to be honest, when I want to get in my old school mode I put on the first Whitney Houston album," she shares. "Every single song on that first Whitney Houston album I knew, and I felt like she's a part of my family. I feel like she's a part of everyone's family. She changed the game. We'll never have a voice like Whitney."

"She did so much for all of us. The '80s -- it was Whitney," Ricky says. "But she will be alive forever."

Check out the video to hear the surprising thing Nicki and Ricky have in common when it comes to Madonna. M.A.C.'s Viva Glam products are available online and at M.A.C. counters now.