Hairstylist behind ‘Super Bass’ video and many more dishes to MTV News about the Roman Reloaded rapper’s otherworldly looks. By Rebecca Thomas Nicki Minaj Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage In a way, the evolution of Nicki Minaj from Baisley Blvd.-dwelling MC to global pop phenomenon begins with her hair. In 2008, the Southside Jamaica, Queens, lyricist was still on her mixtape grind, and her look reflected that. In fact, the Playtime Is Over rapper looked like a lot of girls from the Q-borough: makeup from MAC, oversize hoop earrings from the Colosseum on 165th Street and down-to-there Remy extensions courtesy of the beauty supply. But by the time Lil Wayne’s prot
Some Barbz and Kenz have praised the album, but others are disappointed. By Kara Klenk Nicki Minaj Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, the sophomore effort from one of MTV’s Hottest MCs, Nicki Minaj , dropped Tuesday (April 3), leaving critics and fans divided. Critics have almost unanimously panned it , but all maintain that Minaj is an enormous talent whose album shifted focus away from her clear strength, rapping, to make way for more generic pop and dance tunes. The Barbz and Kenz make up one of the most fiercely loyal fanbases around, so Minaj isn’t losing love from them. Still, many are torn about the album. Some have proclaimed their love for the album, calling it “beyond great” and “fabulous.” @Craggleprice tweeted, “The album is amazing!! it’s got Rap, Pop, Dance and Ballads! best album! Drake and Lil Wayne Collabs r amazing! it all is!” Standout tracks among fans seem to be “Beautiful Sinner,” “Va Va Voom,” “Come on a Cone” and “Beez in the Trap.” Others stand by Minaj as an artist but are not into her latest work. @Rudy_Nelson wrote, “It’s horrible! and I’m a fan!” Minaj is also being compared to her pop contemporaries: As @Crucial416 commented, “It’s a great Rihanna album. Terrible nicki album.” What do YOU think of Roman Reloaded? Tell us on Facebook! While critics also expressed disappointment that Minaj split the album down the middle with rap on one side and dance/pop on the other, one MTV.com reader came to her defense. Zachary wrote, “Critics need to stop riding her and give up on trying to ‘box [Nicki] in’ (as she said in ‘Fly’) as JUST a female rapper. She’s expanded into being so much more. Nearly every track on her debut featured her singing and also featured heavy synth productions. ‘Blazin’ anyone? ‘Last Chance’? ‘Dear Old Nicki’? ‘Save Me’? SHE’S BEEN SINGING SINCE THE BEGINNING!!! Her bubblegum Barbie side is what made her famous on ‘Super Bass,’ which combined both strong rap and vocals; why are they telling lies?” Some fans seem to want Minaj to go back even further than her smash hit “Pink Friday.” @SistahSar_casm tweeted, “Not feeling it either smh. … I miss mixtape Nicki.” While @GagaIsMyJudas suggested critics give it some time — writing, “It’s awesome, if they listened to it more they’d love it. I didn’t like it at first but it grew on me” — it seems most of Minaj’s fans don’t heed them. @MsSmartBarbie tweeted, “Frankly I could care less what they think. This was for the fans not for the critics.” Related Videos The Evolution Of Nicki Minaj Related Photos Nicki Minaj’s Red-Carpet Looks Related Artists Nicki Minaj
Clip for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded single with 2 Chainz is ‘real sexy,’ Minaj tells MTV News. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kelly Marino Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News Nicki Minaj isn’t just creative in the studio — she puts it down on the video set as well. With her first album, we saw the Harajuku Barbie and Amber Rose get their “Thelma & Louise” on in the “Massive Attack” clip, and then saw Nicki the Ninja fight for her man in the “Your Love” video. In the clip for “Fly,” the reigning rap queen sang alongside Rihanna in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and then, in the bright and cheery “Super Bass” vid, she proved that even the baddest Barbs just want to have fun. Makes you wonder what Nicki has in store visually for her sophomore LP, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded , in stores Tuesday (April 3). We’ve already gotten the Hype Williams-directed “Stupid Hoe,” but there is no telling what Nicki will do next — though we’ll soon find out. “You’re getting two videos: You’re getting the ‘Starships’ video, which I’m hoping it will hurry up and happen,” she told MTV News on Thursday after her “American Idol” performance in L.A. Fans have already gotten a small taste of the ‘Starships’ vid thanks to the set pics that leaked earlier this month of Nicki in a pink bikini, but the Young Money hitmaker still has to do color corrections before the visual is complete. Minaj plans to first release the video for her 2 Chainz-assisted single “Beez in the Trap.” “I actually finished the editing for ‘Beez in the Trap,’ which features 2 Chainz, and … I love that video,” Nicki gushed. She guessed the ‘Beez in the Trap’ clip would come out Tuesday in conjunction with her album release, but couldn’t say with 100 percent confidence. Regardless of its drop date though, Nicki promised quality. “It’s real sexy,” she boasted. “There’s a clean version and an explicit version, and it’s goin’ to be poppin’.” To celebrate Tuesday’s (April 3) release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded , we will be examining the “Evolution of Nicki Minaj” throughout the week. Check MTV News every day to see how the Southside Jamaica, Queens, Barbie went from a promising mixtape standout to rap’s reigning queen. Related Videos The Evolution Of Nicki Minaj
Top 9 take on their idols, with surprising results. Who soared? Who sunk? Here are our grades! By James Montgomery Joshua Ledet and Heejun Han Photo: Getty Images We can all probably agree that the highlight of Wednesday night’s “American Idol” was Jason Der
MC serves up hip-hop and pop on the bipolar Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which leaked online Wednesday. By Rob Markman Nicki Minaj Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Search for Nicki Minaj ‘s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded in iTunes, and you’ll find that it’s tucked tight in the hip-hop/rap section, but putting Nick’s sophomore album in the confines of a single genre only tells half the story. The album was illegally leaked onto the Internet on Wednesday night, but when Barbs officially unwrap Roman’s new LP on April 3, they’ll find a culmination of her musical growth neatly sequenced in a symmetrical pop/rap package. The first half of Roman Reloaded recalls Nicki the Ninja’s mixtape days, where she spewed nothing but venom on tracks like “I Get Crazy” and “Itty Bitty Piggy.” The album opener, “Roman Holiday,” isn’t unfamiliar, but the theatrical track which Nicki brought to life at the 2012 Grammys makes more sense in the context of the LP. The vaudevillian hook gives way to some pretty clever rhymes that many may have missed during the much-panned televised performance. “Anyway stylists go get Bulgari/ I am the ultimate Svengali/ You bitches can’t even spell that/ You hoes buggin’ repel that,” she spits before getting schizophrenic, switching up to a flow that has hints of the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Sure, Nicki is a pop icon, but these days, so are Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. The Young Money superstar refuses to give up any rap ground, however, and the first seven tracks from Roman Reloaded are unapologetically street. The Hit-Boy-produced “Come On a Cone” and “I Am Your Leader” are both anchored by bass-rattling beats and both find Nicki (as Roman) inviting haters to her figurative male genitalia. On the latter, the Female Weezy pounds her chest alongside Rick Ross and Cam’ron, baiting her competition with lines like: “Nunchuck her, no time to duck her/ Sign of the cross ’cause this is her last supper.” Roman Reloaded has more rap features than her 2010 debut: 2 Chainz shows up for “Beez in the Trap” and Wayne appears twice, once on the title track and then again on “Sex in the Lounge.” Nicki then gives the hood some inspiration with Nas, Drake and Young Jeezy in tow on the uplifting “Champion,” but shortly after that, the bipolar LP takes a sharp turn. Rather than mix hip-hop with her ever-growing pop sensibilities, Nicki presents Roman Reloaded as a two-parter. If cassettes were still the music medium of choice, there’d be a stark contrast between the A and B sides. RedOne’s pulsating sound dominates on the Harajuku Barbie’s current top 10 single “Starships” and continues for five songs straight — the sequencing is not coincidental. “Pound the Alarm” is an adrenaline-laced fist-pumper, and “Whip It” proves that the reigning rap queen picked up quite a few tricks touring alongside Britney Spears last year. “Automatic” is another sweat-inducing dance anthem that should keep Minaj on the charts while her rap fare will keep her in the conversation amongst the hottest MCs. Over the course of 19 tracks, the Barbs should find a song to suit their every mood. “Fire Burns” for when they’re nursing heartbreak, “Marilyn Monroe” for when the world seems to be just too much and “Hov Lane” when they want to celebrate their relative victories. Since her come-up days, Nick has refused to be put in a box. With her cocksure rap demeanor, it’s hard to ignore her hip-hop roots, but when you factor in her ability to craft a popular tune, the possibilities become endless. Roman Reloaded is a further realization of those infinite possibilities, so instead of defining Nicki Minaj by category, maybe it’s time to give her own genre. What do you think of Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded ? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Nicki Minaj
Photos from the Hawaii set leaked online Wednesday, revealing Nicki with greenish-blue hair. By Rob Markman Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News Green hair? Check. Pink bikini? Check. Exotic shoot location? Check. Must be time for another Nicki Minaj video. On Wednesday morning, pictures from the set of Nicki’s “Starships” video leaked online with the Young Money rap queen decked out in a pink bikini, pink heels and greenish-blue hair. Yesterday Nicki arrived in Hawaii and shared the experience with her fans via Twitter. “The kids @ the airport were like: waikikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!! I bust out laughin,” she wrote . The multi-faceted MC engaged her followers and of course let off an obligatory Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded tweet, once again reminding fans of her sophomore album’s April 3 release date, though we’re sure a good portion of her 10 million plus followers already have the date marked on their calendars. The three photos that made their way onto the Internet only show Nicki, some production hands and a few female models, but it’s the male eye candy that has the female Weezy the most excited. “Can’t wait 2get on set,” she wrote . “Dem male modelz iz poppinton #starshipsvideo.” The top 5 Hottest MC finalist dropped her RedOne-produced single on Valentine’s Day, and while the pop track doesn’t show off much of Nicki’s lyrical prowess, it has clearly resonated with music fans — it is currently sitting at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. During an interview after her 2012 NBA All-Star Game performance in February, Nicki told MTV News that though she began as a rap artist, she is completely comfortable with her hold on popular music these days. “I guess I am pop culture just because what I’m doing seems to be popular. When people want to do what you’re doing, it’s kinda popular,” she said. “I don’t ask girls to wear pink hair; they just do it. It’s not about black or white; I think it’s just a statement. It doesn’t matter which color you are; it’s just a statement of being fearless.” She also predicted big things for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. “April 3 is gonna be a doozy. It’s gonna be crazy,” Nicki said of her album release date. “It’s gonna be important for just hip-hop culture and pop culture. It’s gonna be very big.” Are you excited for Nicki’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded ? Leave your comment below! Related Artists Nicki Minaj
Young Money queen Nicki Minaj is gearing up for the release of her anticipated sophomore album, Roman Reloaded, and in preparation she just dropped the title track featuring her YMCMB boss, Lil Wayne . Produced by Rico Beats , Nicki drops her auto-tuned pop vocals for her brash rhyme style. She even throws a few shots at Lil Kim, female rappers and talks about her Grammy performance, which was widely criticized. Check out “Roman Reloaded” below. Is this the Nicki Minaj you want to hear? Leave your review in the comments. RELATED: Nicki Minaj Before She Was Famous [VIDEO] Sorry Barbz! Nicki Minaj’s “Stupid Hoe” Video Banned From BET! [VIDEO] Lil Wayne Disses Watch The Throne [VIDEO] Lil Kim Responds To Nicki Minaj: “You Must Be The Stupid Hoe” [VIDEO]
‘Hottest MCs top five/ You need money, I got mines,’ Nicki Minaj raps on upcoming album’s title track. By Rob Markman Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News / Getty Images Nicki Minaj let off another shot Thursday night (February 23). We’re still more than a month out from Nicki’s April 3 release date for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, but the Young Money beauty is continuing to release new music at a manic pace. First, there was the schizophrenic “Roman in Moscow.” Then, the tongue-in-cheek “Stupid Hoe.” Nick then chose the Grammy Awards to debut her, um, spirited “Roman Holiday” single, and on Valentine’s Day, she dropped the RedOne-produced pop affair “Starships.” On Thursday, Minaj gave New York’s Hot 97 DJ Funk Master Flex the green light to premiere her latest single, “Roman Reloaded,” featuring Lil Wayne. “I guess I went commercial, just shot a commercial/ When I flew to the set, though, I ain’t fly commercial,” Nicki raps on the kinetic track. Flex — who is known to brag and boast when he plays an exclusive record — dropped his signature bomb sound effect countless times before he got past Minaj’s opening bars. The veteran DJ taunted his competitors for several minutes with the exclusive before playing the record in its entirety. “Roman Reloaded” seems to be a return to the hard-core rap style Nicki first entered the game with on mixtapes like Beam Me Up Scotty. Not only does the reigning rap queen throw shots at other rap chicks, she puts all her accomplishments on full display shouting out Mattel and their commemorative Nicki Minaj Barbie doll and toasting her inclusion on MTV News’ Hottest MCs in the Game VII list. On Sunday, during a half-hour special on MTV2, the YMCMB queen was announced as the #4 Hottest MC , and she must have hit the vocal booth soon after to lay the vocals. “Hottest MCs top five/ You need money, I got mines,” she spit with an unwavering confidence. It’s all wrapped up with a simple-but-menacing hook. “Bang-ba-bang-bang, my clique bangs,” she raps in between her cocky verses. To cap it all off, YM boss Lil Wayne jumps on the drum-driven street hit with free-associative rhymes about popping pills and sexing groupies. How the title track will fit on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded remains to be seen, but as a standalone, it proves that when it comes to simply spewing rap bars, Nicki Minaj is still the queen bee. What do you think of our list? Sound off on MTV News’ “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” using the hashtag #HottestMC! Related Videos ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’ Related Artists Nicki Minaj
We did a little math… From moment of conception to birth takes anywhere from 38 to 40 weeks, in case any of you were wondering. And we all know that Valentine’s Day is a special day for lovers to get their loooooove on. So we crunched some numbers and looked at celebrities born between the last week in November to the middle of December and figured there was a chance their parents came together during the love season and maybe even on Valentine’s itself! Hopefully YOU will only be popping out December babies if you plan on it! Continue reading →
Another day, another magazine cover for Nicki Minaj ! Young Money’s other big breadwinner covers the March issue of VIBE Magazine talks about readying Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and discusses how things done changed since Pink Friday came out. Peep a few quotes from the issue below: VIBE: You’ve said before that you didn’t really have fun recording Pink Friday. Nicki Minaj: I felt like I had something to prove to everyone who said a female rapper could not make an album unless she was talking about her pu$$y. And so I went above and beyond to prove that I could not talk about sex and not talk about my genitalia and still have a successful album. And I proved that. And now my time for proving things to my critics is over. I don’t really need to prove anything to anyone else anymore. Is it still hard to get your way as a woman in this industry? It’s not hard to get your way when it’s your way or the highway. People either follow suit or they’re not around. I don’t really like the sound of that, ‘cause that sounds like a temper tantrum. I’m just very black and white when it comes to my business. There’s really no gray area. I really don’t have a lot of small talk with people I work with. It’s pretty much let’s get the job done. In the beginning, if people didn’t know me they’d probably assume I wasn’t smart or wasn’t business savvy. But once you sit and talk to me, it’s a different story. You were heavy on the fashion scene last year around Fashion Week with Anna Wintour. Do you feel like you’ve been accepted by the fashion world? Yeah, I realized more recently that even if it’s for a fashion magazine, I’m not gonna change who I am. When I was doing photo shoots last year, I kept on being told, “This is what we want your hair to look like and this is what we want you to look like,” and it really, really stifled my creativity. So the other day I was talking to a photographer, and he said, “You know what, I like your everyday looks so much better than when you do photo shoots for magazines.” And I was like, “So do I, you’re absolutely right.” I’d been getting more and more frustrated for a while. But I’ve made up my mind that when you see a Nicki Minaj magazine cover from now on, it’s really going to reflect me and it’s going to be something that I creatively had a hand in, because I don’t have to do it anymore. I don’t have to do things just to please people. It’s okay to do what I love because what I love, my fans love. And they’re really the only ones that should matter. The fashion world will have to come to Nicki Minaj, as opposed to Nicki Minaj trying to go to the fashion world. Source Continue reading →
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