Video: Kanye West's "Monster"

It's Roman Vs. Nicki in this long awaited video! (Warning: the audio sucks)

MySpace Artist Of The Year

If you want to know how in demand Nicki Minaj was in 2010, try naming her your Artist Of The Year.

Earlier this month I was set to catch up with Minaj at a People magazine shoot in a spacious studio in Los Angeles’ Culver City neighborhood. Things were running behind—as they often do when you are on the set of a photo shoot for a colossal national magazine—and soon Minaj was jumping into an idling Escalade for the quick drive over to a Westside soundstage, where she was due to film an episode of Chelsea Lately.

No problem, I thought—I’ll just sit down with her in her dressing room backstage. But moments after discussing such pressing matters as gender roles and the size of her booty with host Chelsea Handler, Minaj was back in the Escalade, high-tailing it to the airport in order to catch a red-eye back to New York. And just like that, my interview was over before it had started.



From there, however, the plan became to hook up a few days later, when she was back in Los Angeles to shoot a video for her Drake-assisted album cut “Moment 4 Life.” Even if you didn’t know about the ensuing case of laryngitis she was diagnosed with—coming just before the video shoot and shortly after celebrating her 26th birthday in Las Vegas—you can imagine how this turned out. I never was granted an audience with the personality-and-wig-swapping superstar.

But then again, did I really need to?

In 2010, Nicki Minaj was absolutely everywhere.

This year, she sang, rapped and talked her ass off—and, in a way, it was almost fitting that by the time she returned to Los Angeles, she had essentially lost her voice. Yet, even if she couldn’t physically accept the honor, there was no doubt that the Trinidad native was our Artist Of The Year: Throughout the past 12 months, no one seemed to embody the evolving state of the record industry—or found as interesting a way to succeed within it—more than she did.

Whereas many pop star-wannabes spent the past year honing their image and sound, Minaj appeared, in the lean months of 2010, seemingly fully formed. She also seemed to be in a tremendous hurry, lending what would we come to know as her trademark style—equal parts furious rhymes, playful voice swapping tricks and an arresting visual presence—to a bevy of other artists’ tracks. By April, she had already appeared on Mariah Carey’s “Up Out My Face,” Ludacris’ “My Chick Bad,” and Usher’s “Lil Freak,” just to name a few.

But it was her flame-throwing verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” (in which she delivered the now immortal line, “First things first, I’ll eat your brains”) that changed the public’s perception of her forever. Originally released in August as a free download through West’s G.O.O.D. Friday campaign, Minaj accomplished more in 90 seconds than most female rappers did all year, pulling off the herculean feat of besting rap legends like West and muther-effin’ Jay-Z (who, as luck would have it, asked Minaj to perform the song with he and West this past September, at a modest venue in the Bronx called Yankee Stadium).

“Monster” was a where-were-you-when-Kennedy-was-shot?-type moment for Minaj and its gravity was certainly not lost on those who were in the studio when she laid down her now-legendary rhymes. “I was [there] when she did her verse,” recalls Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who, to the shock of indie-rock bloggers everywhere, also contributed vocals to the track. “I remember thinking that it was one of the best verses I had ever heard, but thought it might be the fact that I was sitting in the actual studio and getting my mind blown doing that. Still to this day, though, the verse has complete control over everything. It’s perfect.”

Minaj, of course, didn’t invent the cameo strategy that made her inclusion on tracks like “Monster” so life altering. In 2010, Bruno Mars followed a similar route to stardom, appearing on ubiquitous pop hits like “Nothin’ On You” by B.o.B. and “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy before dropping his solo debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, in October. However, you would be hard pressed to find another artist who proved as vividly as Minaj did that this could be not only a sustainable new industry archetype, but also a hugely successful one.

“Nicki made herself (a star) by just being who she is,” says Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, who was in the studio when Minaj laid down her epic verse for Kanye’s “Monster.”

In total, Minaj was featured on over a dozen different tracks throughout the first nine months of 2010, and nearly all of them became chart-topping smashes. There was a week in October where she had seven singles charting in the Billboard Top 200—at the same time. And while certainly these towering numbers were bound to impress new fans, what was most intriguing about Minaj’s rise is that—in an era when instant-celebrity status has replaced the need for an actual career—she felt like a legitimate star worth rallying around.

“She doesn’t seem to give a fuck,” says Vernon, who ended the year performing at the Bowery Ballroom in New York alongside Minaj, West and practically everyone else who appeared on Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. “Yet she gives a serious fuck about the right things. You can make people into stars—just about anybody, I’ve learned. Nicki made herself one by just being who she is.”

Like many who are close to Minaj, Cash Money Records co-founder Bryan “Birdman” Williams attributes much of Minaj’s attention-getting ability to the fact that she put in years worth of work before taking center stage. After Lil Wayne discovered her delivering a spitfire verse on a hip-hop DVD, and quickly had her to signed to his Young Money Entertainment label (an imprint under Cash Money Records), Williams says that Minaj “did two or three tours with us, just sitting on the sidelines watching” in order to learn the ropes.

“She didn’t know how much grinding we do,” Williams explains, calling from the office he keeps in New York to handle the business of what—thanks to the success of stars like Drake and Minaj—is turning out to be the biggest rap imprint in the Western World. “But,” Williams is quick to add, “she learned that by being around us. So when her turn came, she painted a picture that people liked. It used to be that rappers just rapped. Nowadays, Nicki got a style no other female out there have.”

That style, though, is still in the process of revealing itself, as her hugely anticipated debut album, Pink Friday, demonstrated with a handful of surprisingly tender, R&B-accented cuts. Songs like Minaj’s current hit “Right Thru Me” abandoned her animated flow in favor of a sound that felt more parts Keri Hilson than Kanye mixtape. Not every fan of Minaj’s furious guest spots warmed to this development: One noted critic took to Twitter to ask Minaj’s label to send him a copy of Pink Friday so that he could burn the album’s elastic, Eminem-aided freak out “Roman’s Revenge” and then smash the rest of the CD into pieces.

For others, though, pop-wise tracks like “Fly” and “Right Thru Me” simply illustrate how difficult Minaj is to categorize, a quality that has kept the majority of her fanbase firmly by her side. When it was released this past November, Pink Friday marked the highest first week sales ever for a female rapper and has gone on to sell over half-a-million copies—an amazing number for an artist whose career seemed to question the necessity for releasing an album at all.

However, what Pink Friday really seemed to accomplish for Minaj is that it set the stage for what should be an incredibly thrilling—not to mention long-lasting—musical future. “Nicki feels like a rapper that will not fall through the layers of history,” Vernon says, echoing the sentiments of many this year. “[She’s] someone that will be speaking to many—for decades.”

'Pink Friday' Hits Number One

Congrats to Onika on having the number one rap album in the country on Pink Friday's fourth week.

Video: Nicki On New Video Set

Nicki reflects on her success with Sway on the set of "Moment 4 Life"!

Video: Nicki's Holiday Plans

'Pink Friday' Certified Gold

After only three weeks of being released, Nicki Minaj’s debut album Pink Friday is certified gold! This week, Nicki outsells Kanye West moving 81,870 units bumping it up 2 spots on the Billboard's 200 from #8 to #6. Pink Friday has scanned a total of 560,992 units in the United States alone! Congratulations, Nicki!

Music: "Roman's Revenge" Remix (f Busta Rhymes)

If you're among the younger Barbz and Kenz out there, you may not know that "Roman's Revenge" takes its chorus ("Rahh, rahh like a dungeon dragon") from none other than Busta Rhymes. Busta jumped on the remix at Nicki's recent Hammerstein Ballroom show, and Funk Flex posted this rough studio version. Enjoy!

Video: Nicki On Chelsea Lately

Video: MTV's #5 Woman Of The Year

Photos: Nicki In XXL Magazine

Video: "Monster" Video Preview

Happy Birthday, Nicki!

Today is Onika's 26th birthday. Send your wishes to HB via Twitter @NickiMinaj.

Video: Nicki On Lopez Tonight

Video: Nicki At VH1 Divas

Nicki brought down the house at this year's VH1 Divas show, which this time around was a USO show and salute to the troops, and just aired last night.  Currently only fan videos are available, which I normally don't post, but thanks to these lucky soldiers we get to see Nicki do "Moment 4 Life" as well as the songs that made it to air, "Right Thru Me" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" with Katy Perry.  You can also check out Nicki backstage with Keri Hilson, and a tiny behind the scenes interview at rehearsals.

Photo/Video: Nicki Minaj: Styled To A 'T'

The Girl

Nicki Minaj, the first female rapper to top the Billboard rap chart since Missy Elliott.

The Trend

Swim cocktail! Doing laps in the resort collections at Lanvin, Marc Jacobs and Chanel.

The Look

Yves Saint Laurent bandeau and skirt in water’s-edge-friendly toile.

Nicki Minaj is all things to all people — well, at least she is to herself. Since she burst on the scene as the mistress of the mix tape two years ago, the 26-year-old Trinidad-born rapper has assumed enough personalities to rival Sybil. Minaj has affected alter egos from Harajuku Barbie to Monica Lewinsky and her latest incarnation, Roman Zolanski. Now with a chart-topping debut album, Pink Friday, the Young Money princess is playing a new role: superstar.

This is quite the month for my favorite femcee. You have the new CD, a new MTV documentary and a new lipstick for MAC. If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up turning into Oprah and ruling the world.

Yes! I hope so. I love me some Oprah. It’s the beginning stage but I never imagined in a million years that this would be happening. It’s quite surreal.

Are you happy with your first CD?

Of course! It’s amazing. Honestly, sometimes I get tired of some of the songs because they have been with me for so long but overall I never imagined that it would be something that I would cherish so much and be so proud of. Obviously, I’ve done mix tapes before but having the album out feels like I am finally a real artist, like I have the stamp of approval as an artist from myself.

You’re ready to be the superhero and not just the sidekick?

Exactly. That’s why in “Roman’s Revenge,” the song I do with Eminem, I say “I am not Jasmine, I’m Aladdin.” It’s time for the girl to be the main character, you know?

Well, you’ve always been a superhero to me and part of your weaponry has always been your makeup. It’s fitting that you now have your own lipstick.

Isn’t it cool? Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m inspired by color and everyone knows I love pink. Actually, when I was first doing shoots people would always ask me to change my color of lipstick. Normally people wear different lipsticks, but pink is my thing and to change it would be like me changing my name when I walk out of the door.

A lot is made about your costumery, but tell me a bit about your personal style.

When I’m just at home or in the studio, I’d rather be chill. I like to dress down on my personal time but when it’s time to go out it’s on. I do like a pop of color.

And I know you have been vocal in saying that it’s not all sex all the time, but you always wear body-con stuff.

Yeah, but to me it’s less about wearing the tightest thing than wearing what makes me feel confident. Sometimes if something is too tight I’m not confident, I’m like, Don’t look!

I saw your documentary, “My Time Now,” and I have to say that parts of it, like when you cry talking about your grandmother’s passing, are heartbreaking. How hard is it to open up like that and talk about things like your dad doing crack?

It’s very hard and to be honest, he kind of caught me off guard when he asked me about my grandmother. I wasn’t prepared to answer that question. But that’s when you get the raw emotion and if being open about the things that have happened in my life inspires someone then it’s cool with me. I’ve done my part.

I thought it was also very important to show you in the studio, producing, writing on the fly, showing yourself as a creative person.

Well, it’s hard to be a female rapper but it’s more tough being credited with the work that you put in as a female rapper because people assume that you’re not the brains behind the operation or that you’re not the one writing these lyrics. So letting people come into my world and see that I am doing these things is good for all girls.

That brings up an interesting point because I would be pretty remiss not to mention your spat with Lil’ Kim. When she badmouths you and others doesn’t that just make it even harder for female rappers?

It does, it does. But the thing that I want to promote is that if you see someone doing their thing, give them their props. We all have it hard and face the same challenges as female emcees. Show some mutual love and respect for each other so that it doesn’t get nasty. And she can be a nasty character.

Speaking of characters, I wasn’t sure which of your alter egos would show up today. I was hoping for Roman.

[Nicki Minaj laughs and puts on a thick English accent.] Sometimes if it’s really early in the morning, Roman gets cranky and doesn’t want to get out of bed. Roman is lazy, you know, he wants to stay out all night and not wake up so I send Nicki out into the world. Roman has to be conjured up and now you’ve conjured him.

You’ve said that Roman is a sister. Please tell me he helps out with your hair and makeup.

Of course. Roman is leading the way when it comes to makeup and hair. He’s gay!

Nicki Gets Her First Grammy Nomination

Congrats to Miss Minaj on her first ever Grammy nomination!  She is up for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group with Ludacris for "My Chick Bad".  The big show will air live from L.A.’s Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Video: Your First Look At "Monster"

This sneak peek of Kanye West, Jay Z, and Nicki Minaj's upcoming video (with Rick Ross) gives us a few behind the scenes moments and gives you an overall feel for the clip. Can't wait for its premiere!

Nicki On Her Record Breaking 1st Week Sales

Nicki also reveals that her next two videos are "Moment 4 Life" and "Save Me".

Nicki Talks To Elle Magazine

When you hear the 5’2’’ neon-wig-wearing Nicki Minaj spitting out growls, cartoon voices, and tightly wound lyrics on verses for Mariah Carey, Usher, Kanye West, Ludacris, Drake, and Lil Wayne, it’s obvious why the critical masses have dubbed her Lil’ Kim 2.0. (Not that Kim’s too pleased with the comparison—this past summer, she accused Minaj of cribbing her style.) But the 25-year-old Queens native, who grew up listening to Salt-N-Pepa and Lauryn Hill, is more concerned about keeping up with the boys. “When I write, I don’t try to compete with any other female rapper,” she says. “The only way you’re going to push your pen is to think, I’ve got to shut these dudes down.” And that’s coming from the only female rapper signed to Cash Money Records, which released Pink Friday last week, a debut ­album filled with boombastic club anthems sung by her alter ego, “Roman Zolanski,” ­collaborations with Will.I.Am and Drake, and so-bizarre-they-work hooks (she samples Annie Lennox in the slow-jam single “Your Love,” check it out below).



You have a few alter egos, so who am I talking to? Nicki the Ninja? Nicki the Boss?

You’re definitely talking to the Boss right now. I don’t think I even go by Ninja and Boss anymore, I just go by Nicki Minaj and Barbie.

Wait, but who is Roman Zolanski?

Roman is a weird little alter ego who is very flamboyant and doesn’t give a damn. You know when I’m doing really weird voices, growling, being real crazy, and talking like Anna Nicole Smith? That’s Roman.

Ah okay. I think I get it.

Roman rapped on “Bottoms Up” with Trey Songz. And then Barbie rapped on "Your Love". I think I just confused you ten times more.

What’s the craziest request for a verse you’ve ever gotten?

I’ve turned down like a billion of requests for sexually explicit lyrics. People just have to just start understanding that it’s not the only thing I have to talk about, it’s not the only thing I want to talk about, it’s not the only thing I’m going to talk about. I just have to take control of my brand because longevity is very important to me, and I wasn’t just going to please a couple of people then look back, and think “Wow, what did I just do to myself?” So I had turn a lot of people down, and there are a lot of people who were offended. I won’t name names, but they have to get over it.

Speaking of sex, I heard that your fans ask you sign their boobs?

Oh yeah, big boobs, little boobs, dry boobs, sweaty boobs, they don’t care. It doesn’t seem weird, though. It feels so empowering, and the girls are so happy about it. I really don’t even remember the first boob I signed, but now I can’t go anywhere without signing at least a hundred.

Video: Nicki On Jimmy Kimmel

Video: Nicki On Regis & Kelly

Video: Nicki Minaj: My Time Now

Photo: Nicki In Rolling Stone

Check out the accompanying article in December's issue.

Video: New Clip From 'My Time Now'

Nicki's MTV documentary airs this Sunday at 10pm.

Video: Nicki On BET Music News

Video: Nicki On Access Hollywood

Video: Nicki's Ebony Magazine Shoot

Video: Nicki Minaj: The New Now

Check out Yahoo Music's latest sit-sown with Nicki.

Video: Another Sneek Peek At 'My Time Now'

My Review Of 'Pink Friday'

Okay, so we've all heard the album, and we all love it, right?!  Well, here's what I think about Nicki's debut.  Feel free to share you opinions in the comments.

1. I'm The Best
Nicki introduces us to the album with this cocky little number. This is a great, upbeat start. "What the fuck they goin' say?" She really is the best. ♥♥♥♥

2. Roman's Revenge (f Eminem)
What can I say about this track that Nicki doesn't say herself? It's so great to hear her take swipes back at her public enemy number one, Lil Kim. Nicki goes hard, rahh rahh, like a dungeon dragon. Eminem brings the heat with his super fast verses and clever puns ("I swear to God, I'll piss a Happy Meal off"), although he may have crossed the line using the word "faggot" on the record of such a gay-friendly artist. ♥♥♥♥♥

3. Did It On 'Em
Hood Nicki is alive on this track and want you to know you're da dun dun. Nicki skillfully crafts pun after pun in the album's most boastful track. SB provides his Nicki hype in the background, and the simple, head nodding beat rides perfectly behind Nicki's number twos in the air. "You used to hair now you're gone, Nair." ♥♥♥♥♥

4. Right Thru Me
Nicki's latest single is a bittersweet ballad about a rocky relationship that is worth saving in the end. This is the first song where fans heard Nicki speak on her experience in love. ♥♥♥♥

5. Fly (f Rihanna)
This one has single potential, with a catchy, beautifully sang hook and good message. Nicki will rise above the challenges that face her. She came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive. These two divas certainly make a dynamic duo. ♥♥♥♥♥

6. Save Me
This song has no rapping. Instead, Nicki sings about driving for miles to get to the man she loves and crying on his shoulder. She has lost herself and this time, she needs to be saved. I absolutely love the drum and bass beat that kicks in from time to time on this track. This is unlike and song I've ever heard, especially by Nicki, who calls this her most personal song yet. ♥♥♥♥♥

7. Moment 4 Life (f Drake)
Nicki speaks here about her moment in the spotlight finally arriving. She's put in years of work to get here, and she's so happy to finally be dropping this album and being at the top of her game. Drake joins in, and he can relate since he is the hottest new male rapper out, as well. ♥♥♥♥♥

8. Check it Out (f Will.I.Am)
I'm a fan of the song sampled here, "Video Killed The Radio Star" so this was a fun way to revolutionize the song for this decade. The music has Will.I.Am written all over it, and once you hear the song, you wonder why they didn't work together sooner. These eccentric emcees mesh very well together, and this party song will have you moving. ♥♥♥♥

9. Blazin' (f Kanye West)
Nicki called this the album's most important verse after recording it. She has proven a lot of haters wrong with her success and she's none too modest about it now. "Your game over, bitch, Gaterade, wet towel". Kanye puts in work here, too, and together, its feels like you're blazin'. ♥♥♥♥♥

10. Here I Am
This song addresses the media and the critics who've taken shots at Nicki over the years. She may not be what you thought she would be, or what you want her to be, but here she is. And she can only do Nicki. The vocals in the song are crazy and Swizz really brings his A game on the beat. I think Nicki's made her point with the release of this top notch debut. ♥♥♥♥♥

11. Dear Old Nicki
This is a letter to the Nicki of a few years ago, before Nicki got signed to Young Money. Fans often compare the Nicki they see before them to the person she was a few years ago. Nicki has grown, changed, and evolved. She misses the old days as much as the Barbz, but is also excited about the new directions her life id taking. As long as the old Nicki doesn't disappear forever. I'm not a huge fan of the beat on this one, though. ♥♥♥

12. Your Love
This song was pre-Pink Friday and was added by popular demand. This a good, fun love song but it doesn't really represent the Nicki we see before us today. It's a little slice of Old Nicki, right here on the next track. ♥♥♥♥

13. Last Chance (f Natasha Bedingfield)
Another song with pop radio potential, "Last Chance" talks about seizing opportunity. I'm ready to shoot, one bullet in the gun. Natasha doesn't have a lot of notoriety in the states, but the girls sound great together. ♥♥♥♥♥

I'll update tomorrow with my review of the bonus tracks.

Videos: Nicki Takes Over Billboard.com

Video: Nicki At The AMAs

'Pink Friday' Out Now!

Congratulations to Nicki Minaj, as her debut album just hit iTunes!  Download it by clicking the pic above and pick it up from Best Buy for more exclusive tracks.

Photos: 'Pink Friday' Album Art

Photos: Nicki In Ebony Magazine (Updated)

Preview: 'Nicki Minaj: My Time Now'

Rap-Up.com got a peek at Nicki's upcoming documentary with MTV and posted this today:

Nicki Minaj’s Barbz will have to wait until November 28 to watch her MTV documentary “Nicki Minaj: My Time Now,” however, Rap-Up.com scored a front row seat to view several segments of the hour-long production in advance.

Produced by Radical Media and executive produced by MTV’s Dave Sirulnick, the doc provides an intimate look at the person behind the pink lipstick and elaborate wigs. “‘My Time Now’ really allows viewers to see part of [Nicki's] world that she hasn’t given people access to,” Sirulnick reveals inside a conference room at MTV’s headquarters in New York City.

The feature presentation showcases the Queens rapper traveling to her native Trinidad, which she hasn’t visited since the death of her grandmother seven years ago. Hugging cousins upon her arrival, the 25-year-old star lets down her guard. “I don’t want to act like Nicki in front of you guys,” she says, before cameras catch her purchasing $12,000 worth of merchandise for the family she’s just reunited with.

“Everything in Trinidad reminds me of family that’s no longer here,” Nicki tells director Michael John Warren during an intimate sit-down. After Warren asks the solemn-faced artist if her deceased grandmother would be proud of all she’s accomplished, the unthinkable happens: Nicki Minaj cries. But not for long. As tears stream down her face, the rapper quickly reaches for a pink mirror to look into, and hide behind, to prevent her mascara from running.

The production moves forward as the Pink Friday creator admits her father fell victim to crack and stole from the family, including the video games her younger brother owned. On the other hand, she praises her mother, a woman who “kept us together even when she was embarrassed.” As a sign of appreciation, Nicki signs the dotted line on a stack of papers and hands over the keys to a new home to her mother.

Fans of the Young Money collective may question why the entire team is absent from the doc, but Warren felt the extra additions weren’t necessary. “Nicki was like, ‘Why aren’t you bringing anyone else into [the documentary]?’” he states. “I only bring people in when I feel like the artist hasn’t given me enough. She gave me so much material to work with.”

Before the 20-minute preview ends, the animated lyricist explains exactly where her alter-ego Roman Zolanski comes from (“Roman is a crazy boy who lives in me. He was born out of rage. People have conjured him up. Now he won’t leave”), erupts into a rant after another artist seemingly acts lackadaisical in returning a favor (“When men are assertive, they’re bossed up. When I’m assertive, I’m a bitch. You have to be a beast to get respect”), and discloses the real reason behind her crazy smile (“My happiness comes from seeing life without struggle”).

Nicki Minaj: My Time Now airs Sunday, November 28, at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Nicki On Hot 97 With Angie Martinez

Click Here to listen to Nicki's chat with Angie, where she actually addresses her "beef" with Lil Kim.

Video: Nicki On David Letterman

Video: Nicki At A Chicago Club

Check out some professional footage from one of Nicki's latest album release partoes on Chi-city.

Photos: More From The 'Pink Friday' Shoot

Photo: VH1 Divas Pin-Up Poster

Video: Nicki On Wendy Williams Show

Video: "My Time Now" Trailer

Take a peek at Nicki's MTV documentary My Time Now, airing November 28th at 10pm

Video: 97 Seconds With Nicki Minaj

Nicki To Present At AMAs

Nicki will be presenting an award for her first appearance on this Sunday's American Music Awards.

Pink Friday Diaries: "Here I Am"

Here I am is the 2nd song I recorded for the album. It was originally going to be called "Letter to the Media". I felt there were things I needed to get off my chest. I changed it because after listening over and over, it sounded as tho it could apply to an intimate relationship as well. It's funny... this song is probably the last song people would expect to here from me but it has to be in my top 3 faves on the album. I'd listen to this song for hours on the plane or at home and pray for the day when I'd truly feel accepted. For me. Not for who everyone thinks I am. Not for who people want me to be. But for me. Here I am. Hate it or love it. Here I am. I've given all I had to give. I fought. I failed. I won. I cried. I laughed. I screamed. I'm ready. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But Here I Am. Preorder Pink Friday on iTunes now.

Pink Friday Diaries: "Blazin'"

Blazin: On Blazin I worked with Music and Fashion Icon Kanye West. His verse is absolutely amazing. The song makes u feel like ur flying to another realm. It takes over your mind for 5 minutes and forces u to get lost in a melodic, whimsical world. It feels like I'm blazin. Preorder Pink Friday on iTunes.

Pink Friday Diaries: "Moment 4 Life"

Moment 4 Life: is about 2 kids that grew up on the same block. They shared their dreams of making it as rappers. They laughed together, they cried together. One day they realize that their dreams have come to fruition. Though they know all things come to an end, they celebrate. They wish that they... could have this moment 4 LIFE. Preorder Pink Friday on iTunes.

Oh yeah barbz, Moment 4 Life features Drake! I was really looking forward to our collaboration and it lived up to every one of my expectations. It feels like a marriage made in heaven ;)

Pink Friday Diaries: "Save Me"

Save Me: This song feels like a soundtrack to a movie. It paints a vivid picture of a girl who has it all but still feels very much alone. She's turned into a monster and pushed the one person who truly loved her away. She drives hundreds of miles, falls to her face sobbing, and begs him to save her. Preorder Pink Friday on iTunes now.

Video: Nicki On E!

Nicki In Billboard Magazine

On the surface, Nicki Minaj is a cartoon: a vivacious, va-va-va-voom 26-year-old girly girl with a fondness for silly voices, hip-hugging Barbie-doll costumes, anime facial expressions and day-glo accessories.

But three years ago, Minaj, born Onika Maraj and raised in Jamaica, Queens, was just another tough, street-wise, potty-mouthed chick who couldn't keep a job.

"The last job I had was as an office manager in a little, tiny room where I literally wanted to strangle this guy because he was so loud and obnoxious," Minaj recalls. "I would go home with stress pains in my neck and my back. That's when I went to my mother and said, 'Look, I'm not going back to work.' I'd been fired like 15 times because I had a horrible attitude. I worked at Red Lobster before that and I chased a customer out of the restaurant once so I could stick my middle finger up at her and demand that she give me my pen back. I swear to God I was bad."



Thankfully, Minaj has found a much more productive way to channel her fury. After being discovered by rapper Lil Wayne a couple of years ago off the strength of a street DVD appearance and becoming the first lady of his Young Money crew, Minaj has become one of rap's most attention-grabbing MCs and this decade's Queen Bee.

Universal Motown president Sylvia Rhone marvels at Minaj's mic skills, noting that she has "proved that she can go toe-to-toe with today's top male rappers." The buzz began last year when she appeared on Robin Thicke's "Shakin' It 4 Daddy." Even Jay-Z took notice, making a suggestion for her verse. "I had never met Jay at that point," Minaj says, "but he told Robin Thicke that if I did the song I should say, 'I be, I be, I be, I be, I be on that money shit.' So I took that line and just ran with it."

Ludacris' platinum-certified "My Chick Bad" single and the Young Money hit "Bedrock" further boosted Minaj's credibility. Then there was Usher's "Lil Freak" and Trey Songz' "Bottoms Up," which showcased her range as she masterfully reconfigured her raps to fit the R&B-driven and club-heavy songs, respectively.

But it was last month, when Kanye West released "Monster," a new song featuring Minaj, Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Bon Iver, that skeptics-mostly male-finally recognized she was more than a hip-hop Jessica Rabbit. "Can we just talk about Nicki's verse????????!!!!!!!!! I toooooooooooooooold yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallll!!!!!!!!!!!" tweeted West, who, just weeks before, had dubbed Minaj the "scariest artist out right now" with the "potential to be the No. 2 rapper of all time" after Eminem.

"When I do songs like 'Monster,' when I'm on a record with Jay-Z and Kanye West, when I'm on a record with Wayne and Em -- I definitely think the dudes give me respect," Minaj says. "They haven't come easy but I think people are starting to give me more props."

To seal the deal, Minaj leaked the single "Roman's Revenge" a couple of weeks ago, which served as the official introduction of her most belligerent persona, Roman Zolanski. On it, although Minaj claims not to be directing rhymes at her, it seems the rapper takes aim at Lil Kim, who's targeted Minaj in recent rants for not paying sufficient homage to the female rappers who have come before her.

"'Nicki she just mad 'cause you took the spot,' word, that bitch mad cause I took the spot? Well, bitch, if you ain't shitting then get off the pot/Got some niggas out in Brooklyn that'll off your top," Minaj raps on the track.

"'Roman's Revenge' is where I've become a different human being," Minaj says. "I didn't give a damn who I offended, whose feelings I hurt -- this needed to be said, and it cracks me up when I listen to it. I'm a maniac on that track. I knew true hip-hop fans would love this."

Minaj credits mentor Lil Wayne for sparking that fire in her. After she dropped out of the second leg of Wayne's 2009 I Am Music tour, he kicked her out the crew -- a turn of events that wasn't made public. "I started to record by myself and I lost track of what I was doing and who I wanted to be," she says. "It wasn't until I linked back up with Wayne that he gave me this speech. He said, 'What happened? You were hot,' and it just hurt me so much. I wanted to prove to him that I was still hot. It hurt my ego so bad that I went back with a vengeance."

Surprisingly, Minaj's solo attempts haven't been quite as ferocious as her guest features have. Although first official single "Your Love" reached No. 4 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the track wasn't even meant to be released. "I didn't like the song and I didn't put it out," she says. "Someone stole it out of the studio and put it on the Internet and I cried because I was mortified. I was humiliated and remember telling Drake, 'This is going to ruin my career.' "

That track followed the now unofficial lead single, "Massive Attack," which Minaj says she pretends doesn't exist to avoid feeling further embarrassment. The track charted but fell off soon after and was, according to Minaj, one of the low points of her career.

However, follow-up singles "Check It Out," which peaked at No. 14 on the Rap chart, and "Right Thru Me," topping out at No. 24 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, were well-received but not like "Your Love." But then in comes "Roman's Revenge," No. 56 on the Hot 100, and, as Minaj anticipated, a fan favorite.

"She has done well [on radio]," WQHT (Hot 97) New York VP of programming Ebro Darden says. "'Your Love' was huge, 'Right Thru Me' is growing, and it seems like 'Roman's Revenge' has people interested as well. She developed a following long before she had music on radio."

Lil Wayne, who was recently released from jail, says he's "not shocked at all" about Minaj's success. "Both Drake and Nicki Minaj are both born stars," he says. "I am just blessed to have them on the team."

Cash Money president Bryan "Birdman" Williams isn't surprised either, stating that Minaj has the right team -- including new managers Sean "Diddy" Combs and James Cruz -- to help her reach the top. "If she looks at us and our accomplishments, we've laid out the blueprint for her to accomplish a lot," he says. "She stands on her own with her talent, but a strong team is what makes or breaks an artist."

Now that Minaj has laid the groundwork, Universal Motown VP of marketing Katina Bynum says the label can begin rolling out a structured marketing plan for "Pink Friday." iTunes has a preorder promotion that instantly gives buyers a copy of "Roman's Revenge" upon purchase. MySpace will host a contest where selected winners will get a one-on-one experience with Minaj. "Maybe a shopping spree or meeting her backstage at a show," Bynum says.

"There will also be a release-week event -- either a performance or an album release party in New York or Los Angeles."

Minaj is set to do an AOL Sessions performance and a "24 Hours With Nicki" webisode series will air as well. Yahoo is shooting exclusive footage for a "New Now" episode and an in-studio video performance and interview. "As we go forward, we're talking about a partnership with Foursquare for a performance and maybe a Nicki look-alike contest to take place simultaneously in different cities," Bynum says.

Currently, there's a flyaway radio contest and a $1,000 shopping spree competition going on across the country. A tour is also in the works for next year. And while details are scant about her future ventures, Minaj is working with MAC makeup to start her own line, hopes to get into acting and wants to start a children's charity. She also plans to further develop her live show, working with choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson and a voice coach.

But for now, Minaj is fine-tuning the final details of "Pink Friday" and continuing to cement her status as the baddest bitch in the building-even if it means summoning the angry girl from a couple of years ago.

"I push people around me but I don't push anyone more than I push myself," she says. "I tell people all the time, 'You want to work for me? You have to give 250,000%,' because when I'm in the booth, I don't half-ass it. I demand perfection from everyone around me and if you can't live up to that, then bye-bye."

Video: Keyshia Cole's "I Ain't Thru"

Pink Friday Diaries: "Fly"

FLY is one of my absolute faves. I wanted to work with Rihanna for a long time. I'm very proud of her accomplishments; especially since she was born on an island like me :). This song is a female empowerment song. 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. After years of being dragged thru the mud, I've mustered up the courage to re-define myself. I believe that I represent an entire generation. My fans have become my family; and together we have become a movement. Get ready for it. We came to win. Pink Friday - iTunes Preorder Available Now.

Video: "Check It Out" UK Version

Peep the UK version of the video featuring Cheryl Cole. I think it looks cheesy and sounds cheesy as hell since they added her in in post. But here it is, so check it out.

Photo: A Peek At The 'Pink Friday' Shoot?

Rap-Up just posted this pic, saying it's part of HB's album art for Pink Friday!

Pink Friday Diaries: "Did It On 'Em"

"Did it on'em": This track follows Roman's Revenge on the album and is a ball of cocky arrogant diva bitchy insanity! Sometimes u just wanna "SHIT on'em" lol. This arrogance comes only when u mix the cute ghetto girl with the queen of England. Lol. Preorder Pink Friday on iTunes.

Preview Pink Friday!

You can now hear snippets from the new album at HMV!

::Listen Here::

Pink Friday Diaries: "I'm The Best"

Nicki is taking some time out just for her Facebook fans to give us some insider info on each track of the album. She'll be talking about a track per day, starting at the top.

"I'm The Best" is the intro to my album. It chronicles my journey from underground rapper to border-line mainstream artist. It speaks about the doubters in my life and it speaks about overcoming every challenge I was ever faced with. It's a toast to the girls who've gone hard. Who've been told they'd never make it. It's also the only song where I speak about my family and childhood. Though hard to speak about at times, it's necessary for my healing process. #itsPinkFridayHoe ;) Preorder now on iTunes.

Video: Nicki Meets Perez Hilton (Updated)

Video: Behind The Scenes Of "I Ain't Thru"

Photos: Black Men's SSX Tribute Magazine

Yes!  I finally found a copy and scanned EVERY NEW PHOTO- OVER 35 PICS!  Please give my site credit if you post these elsewhere.  Thanks, and enjoy...