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Nicki Minaj Says ‘People Need To See’ Her ‘My Time Now’ Documentary

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Nicki Minaj Says ‘People Need To See’ Her ‘My Time Now’ Documentary

Doc premieres Sunday, November 28, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Tim Kash Nicki Minaj and Tim Kash Photo: MTV News Hip-hop fans have already seen quite a few sides of Nicki Minaj when it comes to her music, including Roman Zolanski, Barbie and a string of other alter egos. But in “My Time Now,” the documentary on Minaj set to premiere Sunday, November 28, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, viewers will meet Onika Miraj, the Trinidad-born girl who came Stateside with her parents in search of a better life. “They’re gonna meet Onika,” she told MTV News about the doc. “Everybody sees Nicki Minaj; they’re gonna meet Onika. They’re gonna hear my story, and it’s such an inspirational story, which I never really wanted to tell. ‘Cause everyone always feels like you don’t want people to know too much. But when I saw what [MTV and production company @radical.media] did, I thought, ‘People need to see this.’ It reminds you that everyone always feels like this is it, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and I feel like that’s what the doc says at the end.” In the documentary, cameras follow Nicki over three months as she travels back to her native Trinidad for the first time in seven years; records her debut album, Pink Friday ; and purchases a home in New York for her mother. “I am amazed at what I’ve seen in this film,” Minaj said in a statement. ” … This film is my heart & soul. The visual component to Pink Friday. My fans are the most incredible humans on this planet. Words could never translate my gratitude. Thank you for standing by me. It’s our time now.” Members of the hip-hop media have praised “My Time Now” for its candid portrayal of the star. “We often approach female artists with skepticism,” TheBVX.com editor Timmhotep Aku told MTV News. “There’s always been this debate about Nicki within the industry and the general public about how authentic her artistry is. And I think the moment when she’s in the booth, when she’s writing her rhymes, she’s going through her take, kind of speaks to her own authenticity. Nick is really a force to be reckoned with, because she’s not manufactured.” Don’t miss the documentary “Nicki Minaj: My Time Now,” premiering Sunday, November 28, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Videos ‘Nicki Minaj: My Time Now’ Sneak Peek

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Justin Bieber To Perform ‘Pray’ At American Music Awards

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Justin Bieber To Perform ‘Pray’ At American Music Awards

‘It’s very uplifting, very motivational,’ he tells Ryan Seacrest of his new song. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Gary Miller/ WireImage Justin Bieber is set to perform at the American Music Awards on Sunday, and the teen superstar has revealed he’ll be playing his new song, “Pray.” “I don’t know if it’s out there … I’m performing ‘Pray,’ ” he told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show Wednesday (November 17). “It’s a very uplifting song, very motivational. It definitely comes from the heart. It’s very beautiful. I definitely thought of Michael [Jackson’s] ‘Man in the Mirror’ when I was writing it.” Bieber also talked about his new album, My Worlds Acoustic, out next week. On the show he teased a small portion of the acoustic version of “Favorite Girl.” “I think that there’s always going to be people that try to bring you down and you just got to prove them wrong,” he said of the album. “I’m just blessed to have devoted fans. My fans just kind of spoil me.” The singer talked about his 2011 3-D flick, “Never Say Never,” saying that “it really shows me.” And he dished about a recent dinner outing with Rihanna . “I don’t know. We all went out for dinner, the label and everybody, and Rihanna was there,” he recalled. “Me and her sat together. I said a couple lines to her. I was just being funny. I don’t remember how it came up, but she was like, ‘You have abs? Show ’em!’ So I did, and she tweeted [about it].” Bieber also talked to Seacrest about wanting to work again with Kanye West , who remixed his “Runaway Love” track. “For sure! He’s a great guy,” he explained. “He’s really cool to work with and his music just speaks for itself. I heard his new album. It’s incredible.” Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Justin Bieber Related Photos 2010 American Music Awards Presenter, Nominee And Performer Highlights Related Artists Justin Bieber

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Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Leaks Online

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Leaks Online

Rapper’s debut LP hits Web less than a week early. By Jayson Rodriguez Nicki Minaj Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/ WireImage Pink Friday came even earlier than expected. Nicki Minaj’s debut album leaked online on Wednesday (November 17), less than a week before its scheduled release date. The project was originally slated to arrive on Friday (November 19) before shifting to November 23 and then finally settling on November 22. The Pink Friday tracks floating on the Web include collaborations between Nicki Minaj and A-list artist like Kanye West, Rihanna and Drake . On “Fly,” featuring Rihanna and produced by J.R. Rotem (Sean Kingston, Nicole Scherzinger), Nicki Minaj rhymes about chasing dreams over the slow, tickling number. “Such a heavy burden placed upon me,” Nicki raps. “But when you go hard, you name becomes yays, Yankee stadium with Jays and Kanyes.” “This song is a female empowerment song,” the female lyricist wrote earlier this week in her Pink Friday Diaries Facebook journal. “But then again, it’s not specific to just women. It speaks about flying, soaring high in the face of every single solitary adversity that comes your way. I speak about how the media has attempted to box me in and how that has made me feel suffocated.” The Harajuku Barbie and new GQ Man of the Year Drake trade rhymes on “Moment 4 Life,” where the Toronto lyricist continues to stoke the flames of the two Lil Wayne prot

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will.i.am Reveals Science To Making Hit Records On ‘The Seven’

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on will.i.am Reveals Science To Making Hit Records On ‘The Seven’

Black Eyed Peas producer says ‘if you want a song to be a big #1 smash, then you have to play a Michael Jackson song while you’re making your song.’ By Mawuse Ziegbe will.i.am on “The Seven” Photo: MTV As the mastermind behind inescapable jam “Boom Boom Pow” and record-disintegrating smash “I Gotta Feeling,” will.i.am has been rockin’ bodies — and those are just the hits he’s pulled off for the Black Eyed Peas. The producer/rapper has also powered chart-winners for stars Usher , Estelle and John Legend and has recently turned his hitmaking skills toward fellow MC Nicki Minaj. On Wednesday’s (September 29) episode of MTV’s “The Seven,” will, who teamed up with Minaj for her peppy Pink Friday offering “Check It Out,” broke down his approach to creating chart-busting tracks. He said he mines inspiration from some of music’s most game-changing artists when he puts together a record. “We call it ‘A-B-ing.’ Anything you make, there’s nothing new under the sun. So there’s always an ‘A and B’ to whatever your approach is,” he said. “So if you want a song to be a big #1 smash, then you have to play a Michael Jackson song while you’re making your song.” He said using an artist such as Jackson as a benchmark will usually let a producer know if a track really has that ‘It’ factor. “What you don’t want to do is have a ‘hit record’ and then turn it on and it isn’t as loud as Michael Jackson’s.” Minaj, who experienced will.i.am’s skills firsthand on “Check It Out,” said hopping in the studio with the Peas frontman was a singular experience. “That’s when I knew he was a freaking, next-level … not even a human when he recorded me,” Minaj told “The Seven.” “The word ‘producer’ … means different things depending on who’s using the word. will’s the only producer that produced me. He really sat there and he got this weird sound, and I was like, ‘What?’ ” In addition to drawing an insane performance from will, the Young Money Barbie marveled at his ability to quickly craft the cheery instrumental. “The beat wasn’t even done,” Minaj recalled. “He made the beat on the spot.” Minaj’s awe for will appeared mutual. The Peas lyricist said the hip-hop upstart is way more than just a rapper with a rollicking flow; she’s an artist. “Her being a dope rapper, a dope MC, is just an element of the Nicki factor,” will said. What are some of your favorite will.i.am-produced hits? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “The Seven” every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Artists Will.I.Am Nicki Minaj

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Nicki Minaj Calls VMA Pre-Show Set ‘An Amazing Look’

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘As an underground female rapper, that’s the biggest accomplishment so far,’ she tells MTV News. By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Tim Kash Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News People are still talking about Nicki Minaj’s colorful performance at the VMA pre-show with special guest Will.I.Am, and she recognizes what a big milestone it was in her young career. “That was an amazing look,” Nicki told MTV News right after the main show Sunday night. “I’m so thankful to have that opportunity. As an underground female rapper, that’s the biggest accomplishment so far.” Nicki also threw kudos to her Young Money family member (and Twitter ex-husband ) Drake. “Our divorce isn’t finalized yet,” Nicki joked before assessing Drake’s performance of “Fancy” with Mary J. Blige and Swizz Beatz. “No, he was amazing. He’s always spot-on. I thought Mary sounded like honey. Honey! Amazing. And, of course, my baby Swizz Beatz was up there. I loved it.” The day after the show, Nicki was back in her hometown of New York performing as part of the Jay-Z and Eminem’s Home and Home concert series . Minaj came out with Jiggaman and Kanye West for “Monster.” “I’ve just been blessed to be on a song with two living legends,” Nicki told DJ Drama recently on his Gangsta Grillz radio program. “In my book, Jay and Kanye are icons, and I never in a billion years would have thought I would be on a song with one of them, let alone both of them. I’m happy people think I murdered the record. It just feels exciting to be a part of that collab. Seriously.” Minaj’s VMA pre-show performance won over some new fans as well as her peers. “I think Nicki Minaj is the truth,” Katy Perry said of Minaj . “I think she is amazing, and I love her sense of style. I love her beautiful figure. It’s hot.” “What I love about Nicki is she has the eye of the tiger and she is fearless,” Minaj choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson said. “These are the components that I saw about three years ago in Lady Gaga. I thought, ‘This is going to be fantastic.’ Her swag is amazing.” What did you think of Nicki’s VMA pre-show performance? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos VMA 2010: Nicki Minaj And Will.I.Am Performance Related Photos Nicki Minaj’s Wildest Looks Related Artists Nicki Minaj

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Katy Perry Calls Nicki Minaj ‘The Truth’

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I can’t believe she hasn’t even put out a record yet and she’s still Nicki Minaj!’ Perry tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Audrey Kim Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj at the 2010 VMAs Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj presented the Best Male Video award together at the VMAs , and it was evident that the two fun-loving pop stars shared a kinship. Their love of colorful costumes and fun music make it easy for fans to understand why they might get along, and Perry explained just what she loves about the Young Money princess. “I think Nicki Minaj is the truth,” she told MTV News at her alma mater, Santa Barbara, California’s Dos Pueblos high school, where she performed Tuesday night. “I think she is amazing, and I love her sense of style. I love her beautiful figure. It’s hot.” But it’s about more than just the aesthetic. She thinks Nicki has that certain “it” factor. “I like her whole attitude. She’s so funny and a chameleon, and you really don’t know exactly what you’re going to get from her, but you know it’s going to be entertaining at every corner,” she said. “She’s really fun. She belongs in this world. I’m very excited for her record. I can’t believe she hasn’t even put out a record yet and she’s still Nicki Minaj! It’s amazing.” When talking about fellow pop stars like Lady Gaga , Perry pointed out that the “over-the-top” aesthetic only works if the performer also has a “spine.” “Some people that are just like, ‘Look at me, I have something on my face or head’ — I don’t want to be specific because I don’t even know what I’m trying to say — they’re just not following through,” she said. “I like all that theatrical stuff, but at the end of the day, I like to strip it all off and sit down with my guitar and write a song.” Like Perry, Nicki hopes that her music can tell a story and resonate with people. “This album is my heart and soul,” the rapper said about Pink Friday, which arrives in November. “This is me explaining every single relationship that I’ve ever been in and explaining it in a way that every woman in this world can understand it.” Share your thoughts on Nicki Minaj in the comments! The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there’s plenty of MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com. Related Artists Nicki Minaj Katy Perry

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Nicki Minaj Debuts Some Dance Moves In VMA Rehearsal

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Making the Band’ choreographer backs up Young Money queen for pre-show performance. By Shaheem Reid Nicki Minaj at her VMA pre-show rehearsal on Saturday Photo: Rachel Goldner/ MTV News LOS ANGELES — Nicki Minaj is so popular right now she can shut down the scene anywhere she goes. On Saturday (September 11), her fans who happened to be downtown got a big surprise as Nick rehearsed her VMA pre-show performance , practicing “Your Love” and her brand-new single with Will I Am, “Check It Out.” Although Nicki’s performance was outside, fans, members of her entourage, various MTV crewmembers and anyone sitting in one of the J.W. Marriott hotel’s lounges could see Nick go to work. “Get it! Get it!” veteran choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson — who MTV viewers will remember from Diddy’s “Making the Band” — yelled after every Minaj “ow ow!” at the beginning of “Check It Out.” “Get it, girl!” Gibson encouraged again. Two female dancers started in front of the crowd and grooved to “Your Love,” then there was a reveal of the Young Money queen, who stood with her head down and arms folded. Wearing a pink tank top, black leather jacket and black leggings, Minaj moved forward and danced in sync with her backup ladies. Expect plenty of movement and plenty of energy come Sunday night. Nicki — who’s known for her lyrical acumen and facial expressions (she made those faces in rehearsal too!), but not for dancing — can hold down some steps. “Amaaaazing,” Gibson yelled at the end of another run-through. There were a few mechanical problems with a key piece of equipment for the stage that’s also an integral part of Nick’s reveal. However, the crew seemed to have the matter under control toward the end of rehearsal. During her last practice round, Nicki and her dancers switched up the entire beginning of the show. Instead of just playing “Your Love,” Nicki went right into “Check It Out.” There was also smoke that time and more applause from Nick’s biggest cheerleader today, Laurie Ann. After the rehearsal, Nicki walked through the lobby taking pictures and even giving a couple of hugs to fans. “Oh my God. She is so real!” one lady said after taking a pic with Nicki. The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News’ VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos VMA 2010 Exposed Related Photos VMA 2010: Rehearsals Behind The Scenes At The 2010 VMAs Related Artists Nicki Minaj

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Nicki Minaj Calls Drake Twitter Marriage ‘Mischievous’

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Drake is just my little brother, and I kid with him all the time,’ Minaj says. By Shaheem Reid Drake and Nicki Minaj Photo: Getty Images Nicki Minaj promises there were no “Drickis” born in the 24 hours she and Drake were “married.” This past weekend, Nick called into Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 and spoke to DJ Drama about a myriad of topics, including her recent Twitter marriage to (and divorce from ) her fellow Young Money rapper. “Drake is just my little brother, and I kid with him all the time,” said Nicki, who will be performing at this year’s VMA pre-show . “We were just being crazy. I think we were a little bit bored. There’s really never a dull moment. I wouldn’t say we were bored; I would say we were being mischievous. “I was doing an interview, and every day, I see some things written about me that aren’t true,” she added. “I wanted to give the blogs a bit of payback and put my own story out.” When asked if she were still single, Nicki coyly answered, “I’m always single. I don’t date boys. I don’t like boys. It’s true. I don’t change. I think boys are yucky, and that’s it. Nothing more to say.” When it comes to the kings of hip-hop, however, Minaj had plenty to say — especially when she’s on a track with them. Nicki recently appeared on the Kanye West/ Jay-Z collaboration “Monster,” which also guest-stars Rick Ross and Bon Iver. Minaj has gained a swell of support from fans who say she has the song’s show-stealing verse. “I’ve just been blessed to be on a song with two living legends. In my book, Jay and Kanye are icons, and I never in a billion years would have thought I would be on a song with one of them, let alone both of them,” she said. “I’m happy people think I murdered the record. It just feels exciting to be a part of that collab. Seriously.” Nicki also revealed that she has moved to Los Angeles and is still hard at work on her debut LP, Pink Friday. That means no days off — even on Labor Day. “I know a lot is riding on this album,” she said. “I wanna make everybody proud. There are some people that are rooting for me out there. I wanna go in.” What did you think of Nicki and Drake’s Twitter “marriage”? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Nicki Minaj Drake

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Drake And Nicki Minaj: A Timeline To Twitter Matrimony

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

A look at the ‘super-close’ Young Money stars’ relationship. By Mawuse Ziegbe Drake and Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News Drake and Nicki Minaj are two of the biggest MCs reppin’ Young Money and on Friday, the hitmaking rappers made major headlines when they tweeted that they had tied the knot. Even if unions announced on social-networking sites aren’t recognized by law, the duo’s strong bond is undeniable. Here’s a timeline of Drake and Nicki Minaj’s moments in the spotlight on their road to Twitter matrimony:

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Drake and Nicki Married

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

“I love Nicki Minaj/ I told her I#39;d admit it/ I hope one day we get married just to say we f—ing did it/ And girl, I#39;m f—ing serious/ I#39;m with it if you with it/ #39;Cause your verses turn me on, and your pants are mighty fitted,” Drake raps in the song. Drake and Nicki Minaj announced via Twitter Friday that they are married, leaving many people wondering if the Young Money rappers are being serious or playing a joke, Billboard.com reports. “U scurred? @drakkardnoir u ready to ma

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