Nicki Minaj Partners with Beats by Dre

Nicki Minaj has brought her love of the color pink into a new partnership with Beats by Dre. The femcee will appear in a campaign for their special edition, pink Beats Pill speaker; and if you look closely enough, you’ll find it in her latest video, High School, too.

Nicki’s commercial will officially debut during this Wednesday’s episode of American Idol, but until then, check out a behind-the-scenes peek of the shoot below.

Lil Wayne And Nicki Minaj Behind The Scenes Of “High School” Video Shoot

Nicki Minaj Tones It Down For Elle Magazine’s April 2013 Cover: ‘I Felt Naked’

 It’s been the year of revamping for Nicki Minaj, who recently decided to tone down her look while swapping out her wig-maker Terrence Davidson for veteran hairstylist Oscar James. Now she’s taking the ‘new Nicki’ to magazine covers.

As the cover girl of next month’s Elle Magazine, she’s giving Storm from X-Men tease in a black Tom Ford fit and bleach blonde messy hair.  Inside, she dishes to Elle that she felt so vulnerable in front of the cameras once she ditched the bold colors, patterned leggings and crazy wigs, lashes and make up. She also talked about being bullied as a child and her plans to take over the world, while continuing to remind the ladies to treat themselves like a boss.

On her toned-down look
When I saw myself with barely any makeup at, it was such a… like, I’m so, so attached to my pink lipstick, it’s hard. I feel that it’s become a part of me. To go in front of the camera, without pink lips or big ol’ crazy lashes— you know, nothing— I felt naked. It was scary! So this photoshoot was a real accomplishment in my eyes.
On being bullied during her childhood
I went through a lot of bullying early on. Girls made my life a living hell. We had come to America from a different country. My brother and I had accents. It was very tough. So I’ve always put up this wall— it was a self-defense mechanism growing up— because I was almost expecting people to attack me. And I still have it. It’s sad.
Her Advice to the Ladies to Gain Respect
My advice to women in general: Even if you’re doing a nine-to-five job, treat yourself like a boss. Not arrogant, but be sure of what you want— and don’t allow people to run anything for you without your knowledge. You want everyone to know, Okay, I can’t play games with her. I have to do right by this woman. That’s what it’s all about.
On Her Plans For world Domination
My goal in the beginning was to buy my mother a house. Now I realize, Okay, if I really focus and become a key player in business, then I can build an empire. I’m thinking of a legacy that I can be proud of and wealth that my grandchildren can use to go to college. So world domination— in terms of providing for my family— is absolutely my goal.

The issue hits shelves on March 18!

Nicki Minaj Says “Everybody’s Special”: It’s Hard To Take Eyes Off Of Tidday-Game She Has Poppington! [Video]

Nicki Minaj Talks Mariah Carey Feud On ‘My Truth’, Goes In On Barbara Walters

So that drama between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey was for real for real? No publicity stunt here.

Last night on the second installment of Nicki Minaj’s new reality show, My Truth, she was given the opportunity to detail what happened behind-the-scenes of the American Idol drama from her point of view.  While talking to Young Money’s Mack Maine at the studio, she tells him that Mariah kept making a lot of passive aggressive comments towards her which caused her to reach her boiling point and snap.

I just know that I had reached my boiling point.Twenty minutes before that happened, she egged me on and I was like, ‘You know what? Let me go.’ I walked off. I stormed off the stage because I didn’t want to do that. So, I left, and when I came back it was another jab and I said, ‘Okay, now I’m gonna show you…’ She’s admitted that she did not want another female doing the show. Thinking somebody’s coming to steal her shine, nitpicking, and I don’t do well with that passive aggressive s–t. I stay away from mother f–kers. I work and keep it moving. I don’t f–k with the people in the business, but I did the show today and it was good. I made it clear like, if you do that again, I’m gonna do this again. Like, I’m not gonna allow it anymore. I can’t.

She also went in on Barbara Walters for going on The View and telling the studio audience that Mariah told her that Nicki threatened to shoot her.  According to Nicki, Barbara Walters could have called her to get her side but refused to because she’s a little black girl that raps.

I really don’t feel bad for yesterday. Then I hear that Mariah went to Barbara Walters with some more fabrication.  Telling Barbara Walters that I said something about a gun, which everyone knows I’m way smarter than that. Like, wow. I was like, ‘Really?’ My jaw was like open and I was in shock. I’ve never in my life said anything regarding a gun.
I did not say anything right away. I wanted everything to blow over, but you picking up TMZ and Barbara Walters…and now you’ve done opened a can of worms. Am I not good enough for you to get my side because I’m a little black girl that raps? Because if I was J.Lo, you would’ve called J.Lo’s camp. Are we not good enough for you now Barbara? Because you wasn’t even there when I was on the show, Barbara. So I guess I’m not good enough, I’m only good enough to tell people that I’m unpredictable when you don’t f–king know me.
Why would I want to have a rift with someone that I have looked up to my whole life. I’ve loved her. I even told her that in the meeting. I’m happy that Mariah’s on the panel because I think that’s a great thing. You’ve got one of the greatest singers that ever sang ever in the world. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, but the fact that you find something wrong with me being on there? That’s why there’s an issue.
Obviously it’s another ploy to get me off the show.[...]And ain’t nobody gon’ run me off that motha f–kin’ show.”

Nicki Minaj Cusses Out Mariah Carey During 'American Idol' Audition -- Caught on Tape!

Nicki Minaj Attends ‘Pink Friday’ Perfume Launch At Macy’s

What isn’t Nicki Minaj doing nowadays? She has busted her window of opportunities wide open…
After successfully launching a nail polish collection with OPI and a lipstick with MAC Cosmetics, Nicki has now entered the perfume industry with a new fragrance, titled ‘Pink Friday’.  Yesterday, after making a few promo stops at area radio stations as well as ‘The View’, she was spotted at Macy’s Herald Square for the official launch of her new perfume.
The bottle of the fragrance, features a woman wearing a pink wig and gold Nicki Minaj nameplate. While on the View, Nicki briefly spoke about what influenced the design of the bottle and gave thanks to the people who continue to support her:

They were like, ‘What do you want in your perfume bottle if it’s one thing you could have?’ And I said ‘If it’s one thing I could have it would be a pink wig.’ And they were like, ‘Really?’ They kinda didn’t want to make me feel bad. They were like, ‘Well, we’ll try, let’s see what happens,’ and they brought me a sketch of it and I was mesmerized. I never in my life as a little girl growing up in Southside Jamaica Queens, if anyone would have told me that I would have my own perfume one day and be able to inspire young black girls everywhere to go in Macy’s or Nordstroms and see their face staring back at them, I would have never believed it. I want to just thank everybody who supported me for such a long time and [gave] me a chance for me to be me.

American Idol Nervous About Hiring All Black Judges Panel

According to TMZ reports:

Nicki Minaj may well become a judge on “American Idol,” but it will be at the expense of Mariah Carey, who we’re told hung up the phone when she was told Nicki was the top candidate.
Sources connected with “Idol” tell TMZ … Mariah was led to believe she would be the only woman on the judge’s panel. Choosing Nicki would not only crush that expectation, it would add insult to injury because Nicki (29) is a lot younger than Mariah (42).
As for the composition of the judge’s panel, we’re told by no means is it a done deal. There are 2 scenarios being played out. First, it’s unclear if Randy Jackson will come back as a judge or a mentor. If he leaves the judge’s panel, there will be another spot to fill.
The second scenario … we’re told some of the honchos believe it’s a mistake to have 2 women and a man on the panel, and a 4th male judge would be necessary.
As for who’s still in the running, we’re told Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Enrique Iglesias are leading the pack.
And there’s one other thing. Sources connected with the show say they’re worried … if the judge’s end up being Mariah, Nicki and Randy … middle America might not welcome the blackout.

Nicki Minaj Brings Out Foxy Brown @ The Roseland Ballroom

Trinis unite!
After their surprise performance at Hot 97′s Summer Jam didn’t go as planned, Nicki Minaj and Foxy Brown united on stage last night at the Roseland Ballroom.  The performance was part of free show put together by Nicki Minaj and sponsored by Pepsi as a ‘make good’ for her pulling out of Summer Jam after she was disrespected by Peter Rosenberg.
Almost two hours into the show, Foxy hit the stage showing mad love as she performed the ‘BK Anthem’ and two additional tracks from the ‘Broken Silence’ album. Nicki, meanwhile, gave her the ultimate compliment while disregarding her rivals,  ‘There aren’t any other female rappers who have opened doors for me than you’…and Lauryn Hill’.  Foxy looked absolutely stunned and taken aback as she was leaving the stage and fans kept chanting her name. She promised them that she would be back out very soon.  [...and As happy as I was to see Foxy, it looked as though she hasn't evolved since the 90's.]
Other surprises of the night included an appearance by Killer Cam and Drake who performed ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Make Me Proud’ . Lil Wayne was the final surprise, appearing on stage for ‘Take It To The Head’, before performing ‘The Motto’ with Drake.
Peep the flicks below:

And here’s some snippets from the show

2 Chainz Ft Nicki Minaj “I Luv Dem Strippers” [Video]

New Video: Nicki Minaj – “Pound The Alarm”

Nicki Minaj brings an international dance party to her native country of Trinidad for the visual of, ‘Pound The Alarm’. Dressed in a carnival costume, she parades the streets of Trini with some of the best dancers the country has to offer while dancing to the Euro Pop track.
Watch it below:

Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Gabrielle Union, Fat Joe

 Rapper Fat Joe performed during the Radio One Fest in Miami, Florida.

 Nicki Minaj shoots a carnival themed music video for her single “Pound The Alarm”, off her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded in Trinidad, WI.

 Singer Rihanna has one hand over her heart and looked upward at the stars as she accompanied family members to a local funeral home to view the body of her late grandmother Clara Brathwait in New York City on Thursday. Rihanna, who affectionately referred to her to Ms. Brathwait as GranGran Dolly, tweeted on Saturday, “Goodbye grangranDOLLY get your beauty rest until I see you”, along with multiple photos of her and her grandmother. Later Rihanna and family were spotted out to dinner at TGI Fridays restaurant.

Actress Gabrielle Union, left, and entertainment exec Cathy Hughes of Radio One are among the celebrities and VIP’s who skipped the Essence music festival to be in Miami this weekend.

Nicki Minaj Talks Staging Lil Kim Funeral Rumors, Reuniting With Foxy & Beef With Hot 97 On The Breakfast Club

Nicki Minaj’s beef with Hot 97 continued this morning as she hit up rival station Power 105.1fm to speak to Angela Yee, DJ Envy and Charlamagne of The Breakfast Club about the weekend incident.   During the brief call to the station, she addressed rumors that she was planning to have a funeral for Lil Kim during her stage show as well as Lil Kim’s claims of her only snagging Foxy Brown for her show after Lil Kim reunited with Missy Elliott and Eve for a show the week prior. She also revealed she wasn’t expecting nor did she care to receive an apology from Hot 97 DJ Peter Rosenberg and that the issue went far beyond her being disrespected as the only female on the bill.

Check out excerpts from the interview below.

On whether she really planned on performing ‘Starships’ that night
After all was said in done, I wasn’t going to do ‘Starships” and I think people know that, I mean I’m way smarter than that. I know what people wanted to see and I think it was just someone trying to be sarcastic, but like you said, it was horrible timing, it was in bad taste and everybody makes mistakes but you’ve got to own your mistake.
On other celebrities who have been supportive ever since the incident
We all salute Lauryn [Hill]! She gave an amazing statement about this whole thing and no one has said anything. Nas retweeted that and no one has said anything, [Fabolous] tweeted last night and you know him and [Foxy Brown] showed me so much love.
On linking up with Foxy Brown
I reached out to her a few months ago […] [Foxy Brown] has always been a part of my line up and I’ve known I was doing summer Jam for maybe a year now, so people are very crazy to think that this is something that I just decided to do. I’ve just always really loved her. I’ve always made it known how much I loved her and Lauryn Hill, and so when she found out about the drama, I thought she was going to be disappointed but instead she called me and was like ‘Yo Nick, I am riding with you, we are all here and were not leaving this hotel, we support your decision”, and that was how we all went out. Everyone came out to dinner with me that night and everyone supported the decision. Everyone was like. ‘Yo, Wayne was completely right and we made the right move.’
On whether she was really going to have a staged funeral for Lil Kim at the Summer Jam
[DJ Envy], I don’t even want you to finish that sentence because that’s not in my character and that’s ridiculous. Lets stop with all the rumors that are giving people false hope that they are relevant please. I’m not about to bring death on my stage, my stage is about life and love and that’s it, PERIOD. It was about us bigging up each other, myself and Foxy. No one, who is irrelevant was going to be made relevant on my stage.
On pulling the female card
I’m not using the female card. I am a female. Like, it is what it is, and like I said last night, you should think before you pass the only woman on the bill, something should have kicked in and said ‘You know what? Wow! This girl I may not like one or two of her songs but she is holding it down for every woman in Hip Hop right now at this moment’ and if you don’t understand that or respect that you are freaking stupid.
On whether she’s wants an apology from Peter Rosenberg
No, no, no, I don’t want an apology, I don’t care about an apology. the only thing I cared about was handling my business last night because Flex is right, I do handle my own I don’t ask anyone to speak for me and I typically go at things like a boss and what people don’t understand is that, me having loyalty to Wayne and Young Money and Cash Money that is a boss move and if you don’t have loyalty to your family, you will never understand what is to be a boss.
No one has the right to treat you like this. I don’t care who you are, and if you are working at a freaking top company and it doesn’t have anything to do with music and if you are walking into the boardroom and you are the only female in there and you hear men making fun of you and insulting you, you’re not going to walk into that room. You’re going to say, ‘you know what! check yourself and get your sh-t together because I’ve put my work in at this company just like every man here and until you can respect me, I’m not even sitting in that room’.
People were saying well you should have still walked on that stage and showed them, I don’t have to show them anyone sh-t, I don’t have to show sh-t, that’s one thing and its not happening anymore. I’m going to show you by what I don’t do. And what I don’t do is perform at a place where people don’t respect me. If the fans say one thing then let the fans say it but you don’t interject that thought into peoples minds before I come on stage.