The nominees for the 2012 BET Awards were announced Tuesday (May 22) at BET Studios in New York City during a press conference that was attended by Astro (from X Factor), A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Frankie Beverly (of Frankie Beverly and Maze), Melanie Fiona, Diggy, DJ Khaled and Mindless Behavior.

Kanye West leads the pack of nominees with seven nominations, followed by Beyonce with six nominations, and her husband (and Kanye’s mentor) Jay-Z with five. Other artists with multiple nominees include Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Drake and J. Cole.

Samuel L. Jackson was announced as the host of the 12th annual show, which has been hosted in the past by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Damon Wayans, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Jamie Foxx, among others. Last year’s show was hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Hart.

Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj are the only confirmed performers so far for this year’s show, which will also present the legendary soul/funk group Frankie Beverly & Maze with the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other performers will be announced soon, but for now, check out the full list of nominees below!

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist:
Big Sean
Drake
J Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist:
Diamond
Trina
Nicki Minaj
Brianna Perry

Best Male R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Usher
Trey Songz

Best Female R&B Arist:
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyonce
Mary J Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna

Best New Artist:
ASAP Rocky
Big Sean
Diggy
Future
Meek Millz

Best Group:
Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce da 5’9)
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Mindless Behavior

Best Collaboration of the Year:
Beyonce ft. J Cole- “Party”
Big Sean ft. Kanye- “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay”
DJ Khaled & Crew- “I’m On One”
Drake, Tyga, Lil Wayne-”The Motto”
Wale/Miguel-”Lotus Flower Bomb”
Kanye/Jay Z- “Otis”

Video of the Year:
Beyonce-Countdown
Beyonce-Love On Top
The Throne-Ni**as in Paris
The Throne-Otis
Usher-Climax

Director of the Year:
Beyonce (Alan Ferguson)
Chris Brown (Godfrey T)
Kanye West
Hype Williams
Benny Boom

Subway Sportsman of the Year:
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
Victor Cruz
Lebron James

Subway Sportswoman of the Year:
Skylar Diggins
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Best Movie:
Good Deeds
Jumping The Broom
Laugh At My Pain
Red Tails
The Help

Coca-Cola Viewer’s Choice Award:
Beyonce- Love On Top
Chris Brown- Turn Up The Music
Mindless Behavior- Hello
The Throne- Otis
Wale & Miguel- Lotus Flower Bomb
Drake ft. Tyga & Lil Wayne- The Motto

Best Actor:
Don Cheadle
Common
Kevin Hart
Denzel Washington

Best Actress:
Angela Basset
Regina King
Zoe Saldana
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson

Young Stars:
Diggy Simmons
Astro
Keke Palmer
Jacob Latimore
Willow Smith

Best Gospel Artists:
Yolanda Adams
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Kim Burrell
Trinitee 5:7

Centric Award:
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese

Tune in on July 1st at 8pm when the 2012 BET Awards airs live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium!

Will you be watching … and who you want to win?

Lil Kim dropped by Power 105′s “The Breakfast Club” last week where she revealed the root of her beef with Nick Minaj.

“Me and Slim were friends for four years, and we decided we were going to do business together. I was over there at Cash Money, and I was getting ready to be partners with him. When I was over there, we were working a lot. I was in Miami and he would put me in the studio.”

Kim says when a song she did with a then-unknown Nicki Minaj for Baby’s solo album didn’t take off as he predicted, all communication between her and Cash Money was nixed, and Nicki randomly started dissing her on tracks.

“The problem with her is, she was very catty with it. I never had a problem with her. I was always nice with her. Always. She was a very obnoxious person, but I was very nice with her. From the time I saw her in that dressing room, the story she told, I don’t even know what the heck she was talking about. That’s not even how it happened.

“But from the moment that I met her, I was always cool with her. But after that, it almost seems like, when they realized, OK, we need Kim, we want to study her swag, that’s what it kind of felt like because I was around for a long time. They were like, OK, let’s study her swag and I think they wanted to get that record just to stamp that I was OK with what was going on.”

Kim also recalled when she and Nicki were together at a birthday party for Diddy’s oldest son, and Nicki “rolled her eyes” at her.

“After that whole Cash Money situation with the song, we’re at Justin’s birthday party. Perfect time to come up and say, ‘Hey, we did the song together.’ Nothing. And she looked at me and rolled her eyes, and I was like, really? Every single record she made was coming at me … She was coming at me in the Puffy record and in the Jay and Kayne record.”

[...]

“She wanted to be the only female out there. So when Baby said we not f*ckin’ with this chick cause you can’t stand next to her, she loved it! She didn’t want to stand next to me.” Lil’ Kim added that in the music industry men pit women against each other and Kim said, “Don’t come at me indirectly in records…..don’t do that. At the end of the day, she should have just said ‘I don’t care, you my b*tch, I want to do other stuff with you.”

The Breakfast Club crew asked Lil Kim if there was any chance that she and Nicki Minaj could reconcile in the future, and her response was very straight-forward:

“It will never happen.”

Check out the full interview below:

[YBF, C&D]

DJ Khaled transforms an underground subway into an action movie in his new music video for “Take It To The Head” featuring Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne.

Drake, Busta Rhymes, and Birdman also make cameos in the visuals.

Check out the video below:

Nicki Minaj finds love with Nas, who plays her boyfriend in the music video for her latest single “Right By My Side.”

“Right By My Side,” which features Chris Brown, who also appears in the Benny Boom-directed clip, serves as the latest single from the Young Money rapstress’ sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.”

Check out the video below:

Nicki Minaj and Big Sean made music together when they collaborated on the remix to Big Sean’s “Dance (A$$)” song … but did they “collaborate” together on a sex tape too?

Probably not … but some “source” told All Hip-Hop they did.

Our source tells us exclusively that Nicki Minaj allegedly has a sex tape that is set to leak any day now, and you will never guess who her co-star is! No, it is not her rumored fiancé, Safaree, or her Young Money boss, Lil’ Wayne.

Our source tells us that the man who is in the alleged sex tape with Nicki Minaj is none other than G.O.O.D. Music rapper, Big Sean!

The two allegedly slept together right around the time they shot the music video for Big Sean’s “Dance (A$$)” remix, and the whole thing was caught on tape.

Our source tells us that Big Sean has possession of the video, and whether Nicki is aware that the alleged romp in the sack was filmed is unknown.

To corroborate the information provided by their so-called “source,” All Hip-Hop also mentioned an interview Big Sean did with “The Breakfast Club,” where he talked about a scene in the “Dance (A$$)” music video where Nicki grinds on him.

Yeah, she felt my Big Sean!” he teased the hosts.

The rapper — who is signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label — also talked about Nicki Minaj’s A$$ in another interview with popular New York radio station Hot 97:

“Nicki’s ass was right on me, I was handling like a gee. There wasn’t any plans either we didn’t know what we were going to do. We just knew we wanted to be in the shot together. I handled it. It was cool. I had a good time.”

No word from either Big Sean or Nicki Minaj on the authenticity of the alleged sex tape … but there’s 99.99% chance that it doesn’t exist. And we don’t even need Gossip Cop to tell us that.

Watch the closest thing you’ll ever get to a Big Sean and a Nicki Minaj sex tape below:

Nicki Minaj hits the beach in Hawaii in a neon pink bikini that shows off ALL of her ASSets in the video for her Pop-infused, Red One produced single “Starships.”

Check it out below!

Continuing her massive promotional campaign for her new album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” Nicki Minaj dropped by the UK’s “Graham Norton Show” this past Friday (Apr 20).

During the fun-filled interview, the Young Money rapstress explained the defition of “Beez in the Trap,” among other words/phrases from her “Nictionary,” why she deleted her Twitter account last week, what she does to stay in shape and more.

Her definition of “Beez in the Trap,” as well as video of the full interview, are both below:

It just means that, you know, its the [way of] saying “I am always” you know that’s our slang way of saying “I ‘be’ez doing such and such and such”. So its really, its like, “I am always in the trap”. Now the “trap” ladies and gentlemen relates to anywhere you get your money. So you in the trap right now playboy (referring to Graham Norton).

If Nicki Minaj hasn’t been showing up in your timeline on Twitter over the past couple of days, it’s because the Young Money rapstress has deleted her account.

On Sunday night (Apr 15), Nicki deactivated her account after engaging in a war of words with fans after she lashed out at one of her biggest fansites NickiDaily.com for posting her entire album online.

Nicki called the site “very mean” and later sent out a tweet that bid farewell to her 11 million devoted followers.

“Like seriously, its but so much a person can take. Good f–king bye. And that’s exactly why I’m paying the barbz DUST right now! And deleting my twitter. Smdh – don’t cry 4 me argentina,” she wrote before she vanished from the popular social networking site.

The NickiDaily.com website is also down and greets visitors with a “CLOSED” message before redirecting to another Nicki Minaj fansite.

Last week, Nicki Minaj’s sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 253,000 copies sold.

If the Young Money artist wishes to return to Twitter, she has 30 days to do so before her account is permanently deleted, according to their account deactivation policies.

Eve is on the verge of making a comeback of sorts with her new album “Lip Lock” and a buzz single from the project set to drop this month.

The female rapper — whose last album was released almost 10 years ago — recently sat down with The Women of Hip-Hop for an exclusive interview where she discsusses her new project, as well as her thoughts on new femcees Azealia Banks and Iggy Azalea, the Nicki Minaj vs. Lil Kim Beef, her dream collaboration and more.

Check out the excerpts below:

On her new music: “I’m gonna throw out a viral single at the end of this month before the official single. I’m probably gonna throw out a couple records before the radio single. My whole goal for this record, since it’s been so long, I wanted to make sure that my core audience didn’t feel like Eve completely forgot about us and went to another side. I feel like this record is well rounded. It has enough of the hard street stuff, it has some radio stuff, but it also has some stuff that people can listen to when they’re feeling down.”

On new female rappers: “I like Azealia Banks. I think her style is dope. If you listen to her lyrics, she knows how to wordplay and I think that’s cute. I’m not really into the Iggy Azalea chick. I can’t really fuck with her music, but her look is crazy. I just can’t believe it.”

On her dream collaboration: “Lauryn Hill has always been my one dream collaboration. She to me is so dope lyrically. Unfortunately, she’s just in a place right now mentally, but that would be a dream come true.”

On which five female MCs she would put on a record: “I would definitely have to get Missy [Elliott]. I would definitely have to do Kim ’cause I never got to do a record with Kim. Azealia Banks, I like her. A lot of people want me to hate on Nicki and say crazy things about her. I ain’t got nothing to say about her. Until somebody names me by name, then I don’t feel like nobody [is talking] about me. I wouldn’t have a problem putting her on a record.”

On the Lil’ Kim vs. Nicki Minaj feud: “It’s not about publicity. It’s about wanting that respect. I think maybe that’s where Kim is coming from, like, you’re doing your thing right now and no one can take that away from you, Nicki—we all see it—but at the end of the day, if it wasn’t for Kim, she wouldn’t be here and that shit is real.”

You can also listen to the full interview below:

[Spotted at Rap-Up -- via The Women of Hip-Hop]

Nicki Minaj shut down New York City’s Times Square Friday night (Apr 6) when she hit the stage and performed in front of 30,000+ screaming fans to celebrate the launch of the all-new Nokia Lumia 900 smartphone.

Nicki — who just released her sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” — rocked the illuminated Rubik’s Cube inspired stage while dressed up in a blonde wig, black lace bodysuit and tiger-striped leggings as she performed a short, 15-minute set that included just three songs: “Super Bass,” “Right By My Side” and her latest single “Starships.”

Footage from this “secret” concert hosted by Nokia wil be used in an exclusive remix to Nicki Minaj’s “Starships” music video.

Check out some pictures and the “Starships” remix video below:

Nicki Minaj teams up with rap newcomer 2 Chainz for the music video for “Beez In The Trap,” the latest single to support the Young Money rapstress’ sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.”

Watch the explicit version of “Beez in the Trap” below:

Nicki Minaj and her pink spaceship crash landed on the “American Idol” stage Thursday night (Mar 29) as the Young Money rapper performed her new dance single “Starships” for the first time on live television.

Nicki’s highly anticipated sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” hits stores this Tuesday (Apr 3).

Check out her “Idol” performance below!

Nicki Minaj had the Internet buzzing on her 29th birthday last December when she revealed on Twitter that she had gotten a kiss from Pop legend Madonna, and now there’s video footage of the highly publicized smooch.

Nicki tweeted last December right after the kiss:

OH MY f’ingggg Gahhhh!!!!! MADONNA jus kissed me!!!!! On the lips!!!!!!! It felt sooooo good. Soooo soft!!!! *passes out* aaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!

No barbz…like…seriously…it felt soooooooooo good!!!!!!! Sooooo soft! Like what?!?!?! bwahahahhahahahahahaha!!!!

Yes! It was recorded!!! *hopes & prays this footage appears somewhere* lmaoooooooooooo

Confirming the kiss, Madonna told Anderson Cooper last month in an interview, “It was her birthday and it was actually the end of one of those long days of shooting, and we were all giving a birthday toast to her. After a few sips of champagne, I kissed her!”

And as Nicki hoped and prayed, the footage — recorded while the Young Money rapper was shooting the video for Madonna’s single “Gimme All Your Luvin” with M.I.A. — has finally appeared online for all to see!

Check it out below:

DJ Khaled really comes through with this one! The YMCMB DJ recruits Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne for his new banger of a single “Take It To The Head.”

The track will appear on Khaled’s upcoming album “Kiss the Ring.”

Take a listen below:

[See post to listen to audio]

With just weeks left until the release of her next album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” Nicki Minaj flew to Tokyo, Japan to kick off her worldwide promotional tour and brought her eccentric style along with her.

When she first touched down in Tokyo Tuesday morning, the Young Money rapper wore an eye-catching outfit, comprised of pink Adidas track pants, a pair of baby blue winged Adidas sneakers, a bright green tanktop she paired with a patterned vest, and of course, a bright green wig from her extensive collection of multi-colored hair pieces.

Nicki was also spotted signing numerous autographs for her adoring Japanese fans as she made her way through the Tokyo International Airport.

The next day she was photographed wearing a pink wig and a popcorn dress with real popcorn overflowing out of her bosom. “Japan. Outfit/Wig #2. Movie. Popcorn,” she tweeted earlier in the day.

Minaj seems to be enjoying the attention she’s getting in Japan too. This is her first time in the country and she has been using her Twitter account to thank all of her Japanese fans (and Jesus) ever since she touched down:

Barbz, they melted my heart. I told them how much they remind me of you guys and they started screaming. I’m obsessed w/their souls.

Whenever I say Harajuku Barbie they erupt. Its like…I can’t take it. Jamaica, Queens to Tokyo yo…like da kid been shoutin dem out 4ever!

God is above & beyond all that you can conceive w/your natural mind. I thank him. Thank you Jesus. You are LORD.

Nicki Minaj’s highly anticipated sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” officially releases on April 3rd.

Check out more pics of her in Tokyo, Japan below:

Nicki Minaj just got richer. According to Forbes.com, the “Moment 4 Life” star is set to become the new face of Pepsi after signing a multi-million dollar deal with the beverage giants to promote a new drink called “Pop.”

According to Derek Jackson, the Glu agency chief who brokered the agreement, Minaj will become the face of a new Pepsi beverage nearing its debut. He said the pact, which includes a commercial filmed in South America last month (pixely footage has already leaked on YouTube), is a multimillion-dollar deal.

“You’ll see the commercial probably in the next two months,” Jackson told me before Lil Wayne’s performance at South By Southwest. “That’ll be a segue into a new beverage Pepsi has, called ‘Pop,’ and she’ll be the face of the brand … it’s going to be explosive.”

The pact was one of two major partnerships between Pepsi and Cash Money / Young Money artists garnering significant attention in Austin. Lil Wayne debuted his DEWeezy campaign with Pepsi’s Mountain Dew, also negotiated by Jackson, at his South By Southwest showcase.

[Forbes]

In related Minaj news, the Young Money artist has become the first female to land on the FORBES’ Hip-Hop Cash Kings last year, as she raked in an impressive $6.5 million which landed her at the No. 15 position.

If Nicki keeps this up … she might need to change her favorite color pink to the color green!

Madonna teams up with Nicki Minaj for their second collaboration “I Don’t Give A”.

The track is from Madge’s upcoming album MDNA. Check it out below:

Nicki Minaj shot the music video for her next single “Starships” in Hawaii this week, and she looked damn good while doing so!

We’re so used to seeing Nicki wearing the craziest outfits, however this time around, she’s keeping it pretty tame with a simple pink bikini and a neon green wig. And we most definitely approve.

“Starships” will appear on Nicki’s upcoming album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” which hits stores April 3rd.

Check out the photos from the Hawaii video shoot below:

Lil Kim feels like she was disrespected after BET personality Rocsi Diaz asked her a question about Nicki Minaj during a recent appearance on BET’s 106 & Park.

Lil Kim was on the show Friday (Mar 9) to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the death of her late friend Notorious B.I.G. and promote her own projects, however the nature of the interview quickly changed once host Rocsi mentioned what she referred to as the “elephant in the room,” or in other words … Nicki Minaj.

Kim tried to politely brush the “question” off, however Rocsi continued to press the issue, stating:

“Kim, with much respect due to you and your craft and I’m not trying to not say what the fans don’t want to hear but it’s being an elephant in the room and it’s being spit out there. It’s the only reason why I address it, but I respect your game if you say you don’t want to talk about it but I don’t want to see you talking about it somewhere else.”

Without either of them actually mentioning Minaj’s name, a clearly irritated Lil Kim quickly responded back, saying that she was done talking about the issue … at least for now:

“At the end of the day, this is about Kim right now. We gave you that movie already, you know what I’m sayin’. We movin’ on to a whole ‘nother direction and if it come back that way, then we give ya’ll another movie. But right now we moving into another direction. ‘Bout to drop some new singles for Queen Bee and Brooklyn.”

Lil Kim later addressed the situation on Twitter:

“I want to take this time 2 say #TeamLilKim & all my fans that came out 2 106. I f**king love u guys. Y’all really turnt it up & represented,” she tweeted. “Even when Rocsi tried to get disrespectful towards the end & ask an unappropriate irrelevant question on the day we are supposed to be celebrating my man, notorious B.I.G’s accomplishments.”

Watch the back-and-forth exchange between Rocsi and Lil Kim below:

And just in case you want to check it out, here’s the full interview:

Your thoughts?
Do you feel like Rocsi was out of pocket for asking Lil Kim about Nicki Minaj?

Nicki Minaj‘s sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” is set to drop in just a few weeks, and to build suspense for the project, the Young Money rapper officially revealed the very colorful artwork for the album’s cover.

The always eccentric Barb rocks a bleach blonde wig and is covered in splashes of paint as she appears against a paint-splattered backdrop on the cover of the album, which is preceded by the release of the songs “Roman in Moscow,” “Starships,” “Roman Reloaded” (F/ Lil Wayne) and the highly controversial “Roman Holiday,” which she performed at this year’s Grammy Awards.

“Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” hits stores on April 3rd!

“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.”

What do you think about the album cover?
And will you be purchasing Nicki’s new album when it hits stores?

There were lots of celebrities sitting courtside Sunday night (Feb 26) watching the East and West go head to head during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Some of the big names included Young Money rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne (who was wearing a pair of million-dollar, diamond encrusted Beats by Dre. headphones), as well as R&B singers Chris Brown, Cee-Lo Green and Mary J. Blige. Actor/comedian Kevin Hart and community activist Jesse Jackson were also spotted in the crowd.

Check out the pics below:

Nicki Minaj performed a very lively set as she kicked off the 2012 NBA All-Star Game Sunday night (Feb 26) in Orlando, FL.

Dressed in a futuristic getup and a bright purple wig, the Young Money rapstress ran through a medley of her hits, including “Super Bass,” “Turn Me On,” “Moment For Life,” and her latest single “Starships.”

Watch Nicki’s performance below:

Nicki Minaj responds to all the critics saying she’s falling off in her new single “Roman Reloaded,” featuring her label boss Lil Wayne.

Take a listen below!

[See post to listen to audio]

Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is due in stores April 3rd!

Do you think Nicki got her point across on this track?

Ester Dean proves she isn’t a gold digger in her new possible single “Gimme Money” featuring Nicki Minaj.

“If you guys Love Gimmie Money ft Nicki Minaj as my Single let’s get it Trending #GimmeMoney,” she tweeted after releasing the song.

The track may be on the Interscope singer’s upcoming debut album, which will be announced soon.

Check it out below:

Before Nicki Minaj became the big star she is today, the Young Money rapper appeared to be an ordinary chick with some very nice rap skills.

In some old video footage from the “Come Up” DVD series….aPre-Barbie Minaj spits a “Dirty Money” freestyle and pays homage to Lil Kim and Foxy Brown.

Peep it below:

So who do you like better…….New Nicki or Old Nicki?

Tell us below!

Kicking off a heavy promotional campaign for her upcoming album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” Nicki Minaj is featured on the cover of the February/March 2012 issue of VIBE Magazine.

See what she had to share with the mag 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 pussy. 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.

[VIBE]

Jay-Z better keep his eye on the throne at all times!

In the upcoming April issue of Allure magazine, Nicki Minaj graces the cover and speaks on letting Jigga know during a recent conversation that his spot at the top of the game isn’t safe.

“I had a little conversation with Jay-Z at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. He said, ‘Congratulations on all your success.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m coming for you. I’m coming for your spot, Mr. Mogul.’”

At least she’s being friendly!

Lil Wayne on the other hand? Not so much…

Rihanna cops a feel of Katy Perry‘s leg in the front row, Lady Gaga plants a kiss on Paul McCartney‘s cheek, Chris Brown hangs out with Stevie Wonder backstage, and Lil Wayne — dressed in pajamas — sits in the audience with his daughter Reginae, while Drake kicks back with his father.

Those are just some of the candid moments that weren’t shown during the 2012 Grammy Awards‘ live telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles Sunday night (Feb 12)!

Check out 25+ candid shots from the 2012 Grammys below, with appearances from Diana Ross, LL Cool J, Amber Rose & Wiz Khalifa, Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz, Adele, Jennifer Hudson, Bruno Mars and others:

Hot on the heels of her controversial and much talked about Grammy Awards performance, Nicki Minaj has released her new single “Starships!”

The track, produced by RedOne (Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, etc.) is set to appear on Nicki’s upcoming sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” due in stores April 3.

“Starships is one of my absolute, absolute favorite records on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” Nicki told Ryan Seacrest yesterday about the song. “It makes people feel happy and that’s all I want. I want to start the year off with making people feel good.”

Check it out below:

[See post to listen to audio]

What do you think about “Starships?” Give us your thoughts!

Nicki Minaj is no stranger to controversy, and last night at the 2012 Grammy Awards, she proved that not only does she march to the beat of her own drum, but she makes the damn drum too.

Following an introduction from her Young Money label mate Drake, Nicki turned her Grammy performance into a short film, recreating scenes from the 1970′s classic horror movie “The Exorcist.”

Nicki’s shocking and highly controversial performance, dubbed “The Exorcism of Roman,” kicked off with her confessing her sins to a high priest, followed by a short clip showing the priest being called on to exorcise the demons out of Roman.

The camera then cuts to a blonde Nicki Minaj who is portraying her gay male alter ego “Roman.” Roman is looking at himself, or herself, whatever, in the mirror, repeatedly saying, “I feel pretty.”

Then Roman climbs up a wall, and the priest enters his/her bedroom, and asks “What’s Your Name?” to which Nicki replies loudly, “Roman!”

And that’s just the beginning. Once the clip fades out, the cameras cut to the stage, which has been transformed into a dark church cathedral.

Nicki is now shackled to a gurney and surrounded by a group of dancing monks as she raps the lyrics to “Roman Holiday,” a song from her new album.

From there, the performance just gets weirder and weirder as Minaj continues to relentlessly mock the Catholic church.

As the eclectic performance came to an end, the scary-looking dancing monks started chanting “O Come All Ye Faithful” as Nicki began to levitate into the air, rapping more inaudible lyrics from her new song.

It’s a good thing this came at the end because Nicki Minaj definitely stole the show with this over-the-top performance.

Check it out below:

Some of the other celebs who walked the red carpet of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards — hosted by Hip-Hop veteran LL Cool J — included Adele, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Diana Ross, Taraji P. Henson, Adam Levine, Flo Rida, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Birdman, Tyga, Nicki Minaj and more.

Check out 50+ pictures from the red carpet of the 2012 Grammy Awards below:

While Nicki Minaj was living it up on-stage with Madonna last night during the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show, a new track by the Young Money star took a leak.

No word yet on where the song will appear, but fans are already taking a liking to it. Check out “Marilyn Monroe” below:

[See post to listen to audio]

What do you think about the song? Is it a hit or miss?

Madonna lit up the stage last night (Sun Feb 5) as she put on an impressive performance during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in an attempt to show the new generation who the real “Queen of Pop” is, just in case they had forgotten.

Her 12-minute-plus performance set featured renditions of her songs “Vogue,” “Music,” “Give Me All Your Luvin” and “Like a Prayer,” along with guest appearances from rappers Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., Hip-Pop group LMFAO and R&B singer Cee-Lo Green.

Check out 30+ pics from the performance as well as video footage below:

Madonna‘s big Super Bowl performance (featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.) is just days away, and the latest buzz surrounding the big show is that R&B singer Cee-Lo Green and Hip-Pop group LMFAO will be joining the ladies on stage.

MTV broke the news earlier this week while citing a report from TMZ.com regarding Madonna’s massive halftime stage set, which reportedly features a series of lights that spell out “Vogue” set into the floor, in reference to the hit single she is rumored to be performing.

In addition to Vogue, Madonna will also be performing “Music” (with LMFAO), her brand new single “Give Me All Your Luvin” (featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.), “Like a Prayer” (with Cee Lo Green), “Ray of Light” and “Holiday.”

Madonna’s 12-minute halftime show will go down this Sunday night (Feb 5) during halftime of Super Bowl XLVI.

The game — which will see the New England Patriots take on the New York Giants — will air live on NBC from the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Will you be watching?

Madonna teams up with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. in her new music video for “Give Me All Your Luvin,” the first single from her upcoming 12th studio album “MDNA,” due in stores March 26th.

The football-themed clip opens up with Nicki and M.I.A. as urban cheerleaders as they march through the city with the Pop Queen by their side, dressed in a dark leather coat and a mini-skirt.

Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. also get a chance to show off their rap skills before the promo clip ends with Madonna exposing the football players as robots.

The video’s release comes just days before the three ladies are set to take the stage together to perform the song Sunday at the Super Bowl.

Watch it below:

If you didn’t know by now….Madonna is a huge Nicki Minaj fan!

The Pop Queen recently made an appearance on Anderson Cooper’s talk show “Anderson” and spoke on her love for the Young Money rapper and how she shared a kiss with her on her birthday.

“I listen to Nicki Minaj. I love her. I love [Nicki and M.I.A.] actually and I wanted to collaborate with both of them on my record because I’m a big fan of their music, but also I like their independence, I like their spirit. They’re cheeky and unique and they have individual voices and they’re not conventional pop stars, and I really admire them both.

“It was [Nicki's] birthday and it was actually the end of one of those long days of shooting and we were all giving a birthday toast to her. After a few sips of champagne, I kissed her. Yes.”

Nicki Minaj‘s “Stupid Hoe” music video is already causing controversy. BET has reportedly banned the Young Money star’s latest video from airing on the network.

According to sources, the video is too explicit for TV and the lyrics don’t make things much better either, with Nicki singing Stupid Hoe over a million times in the song.

A rep for BET wouldn’t specify why they won’t be broadcasting it, but we should all know the answer to that one by now.

Hey … at least Nicki broke the Vevo Record of most views in 24 hours (nearly 5 million), so she’s still winning regardless!

Nicki Minaj gets brought to life in David Guetta‘s new music video for “Turn Me On,” the latest single from the European DJ’s “Nothing But The Beat” album, which was released last August.

Nicki’s next album “Roman Reloaded” is set for an April 3rd release. Check out the “Turn Me On” video below:

A preview clip for Madonna‘s upcoming music video for “Give Me All Your Luvin,” featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. has been released.

The new single serves as the first offering from Madonna’s newest album “MDNA,” which is due in stores worldwide on March 26th.

A longer preview for the video will air Thursday (Feb 2) on American Idol, with the full thing set to premiere on Friday (Feb 3), just days before she’s set to take the stage at the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Nicki Minaj gets colorful as she shows off her many eccentric looks in her brand new music video for “Stupid Hoe!”

The track serves as the first single from her highly anticipated sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” now due in stores April 3 after being pushed back from its original Valentine’s Day (Feb 14) release date.

The Hype Williams directed clip also features an appearance from her boyfriend “hypeman/assistant” SB.

Check out the video for “Stupid Hoe” below:

A group of Christian students from the University of Florida have re-worked Nicki Minaj‘s hit single “Super Bass” into a Christian anthem called “Super Grace,” featuring singing, dancing, rapping and a bright blue Nicki Minaj-inspired wig.

The song, written by UF singer Raychel Manko, is supposed to be an ode to “the Christian girl’s struggle to appreciate the wonderful Christian men in her life,” and won first place at a Christian Greek event hosted by the college.

Check out the video and the lyrics to the song below:

“Super Grace” Lyrics

(written by: Raychel Manko)

This one is for the boys with the true religion.
In love with the Lord and done with sinnin’.
When he come up in the church he be praisin’ up.
Always tithes but he’s still savin’ up.
And he still. He real. He knows God’s will.
He don’t pop bottles, but still knows how to thrill.
He’s bold, has hope, and loves God’s folk.
He’s always in prayer and above reproach.
He’s a Jesus-loving man, man.
Trusting in God’s plan, plan.
Waiting for the band, band.
He’ll just hold my hand, hand.
That’s the kind of dude I was praying for.
And I’ll wait on the Lord until I know.
I said, excuse me. You’re a heck of a guy.
I mean, my, my, my, my, you’re like a Kappa Phi.
I mean, you’re Spirit-led, and you don’t even try.
You’re like as holy as the guys in Beta Upsilon Chi.

Chorus:
Oh! Yes, I did. Yes, I did.
Don’t even worry ‘bout who I is.
I’m like Proverbs 31, and in Christ I’m satisfied but…
Christian boys got my heart beat running away.
But I need to guard my heart so I’ll pray,
“God give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
God I need Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
Give me Your super grace.”
Hallelujah, Hallelujah (x2)
God, give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
God, give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
Give me Your super grace.

This one is for the boys with the Bibles.
Trustin’ in the Lord through all his trials.
He can pray in a group or pray solo.
And he know what he wants, but takes it slow though.
And I think I like him best when he get his serve on.
All he has to do is a help a little one.
He just gotta hold a child, any time he help a child,
Then my marriage radar’s coming on, on. Oh!
Excuse me, you’re a heck of a guy.
You know I really have a thing for Christ-centered guys.
I mean, sigh. I’m gonna cry.
I can tell that you have the Holy Spirit inside.
Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
See, I want to be a wife, but I must wait.
Oh, no, no, no, no. I have to wait.
Oh, no, no, no, no. I have to wait. Yeah.

But Christian boys got my heart beat running away.
But I have to guard my heart so I’ll pray,
“God give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
God I need Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
Give me Your super grace.”
Hallelujah, Hallelujah (x2)
God, give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
God, give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
Give me Your super grace.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah (x2)
God, give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
God, give me Your Hallelujah, Hallelujah grace.
Give me Your super grace.

[Source]

Willow Smith, known for her eccentric fashion choices, must be taking notes from her “Fireball” collaborator Nicki Minaj, because the 11-year-old singer stepped out in Beverly Hills Friday (Jan 6) looking like a mini-me version of the Young Money rap-stress.

The precocious Pop star was joined by her 13-year-old brother Jaden Smith and a small group of friends as she went shopping on Rodeo Drive wearing a Nicki Minaj-inspired pink and blonde wig.

“Thank you @nikkiminaj you’re amazing!!!” Willow wrote alongside a photo she posted to her WhoSay page on Friday

More pics of Willow Smith dressed up like a miniature version of Nicki Minaj in Beverly Hills are below:

Nicki Minaj took to the stage in Los Angeles and performed for the Dick Clark New Year’s Rockin Eve television special that aired on ABC Saturday night (Dec 31).

Dressed in a get-up that we can only describe as “out of this world,” Nicki performed her hit single “Super Bass,” as well as the David Guetta-produced “Turn Me On” and her new single “Roman in Moscow” off her upcoming album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” (due in stores on Valentine’s Day).

Photos and video footage from Nicki Minaj’s performance are below:

Nicki Minaj takes more jabs at her arch-nemesis Lil Kim in her new track “Stupid Hoe.”

The track is an offering from Minaj’s upcoming sophomore album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” due in stores on Valentine’s Day.

Listen to it below:

[See post to listen to audio]

Thoughts?

R&B star Mary J. Blige refuses to take sides in this whole “Lil Kim vs. Nicki Minaj” beef. In fact….Mary J. wants the rap ladies to squash their beef, which she believes is being fueled by their respective crews.

“Kim is my friend and I love and respect Nicki,” Blige said in an interview with Chicago radio station WGCI. “I got to know the young lady and she’s a sweetheart. … It’s the crews [fueling it.] It’s the people behind the whole thing. Maybe one day it will happen. I’m hoping. We just all got to think positive. Everyone is just thinking so negative about it and everyone is in it, but if a bunch of people would say, ‘Yo, stop this and let’s help these girls do something together or to see the light.’”

Peep Mary J. Blige’s full interview with WGCI below:

Check out the official high quality version of Willow Smith and Nicki Minaj‘s brand new “Fireball” video, which premiered last week on BET’s “106 & Park.”

The song is the latest single from Willow’s upcoming debut album “Knees and Elbows,” due in stores sometime next year.

Watch the HQ version of “Fireball” below:

Nicki Minaj was spotted leaving her hotel in New York City yesterday (Fri. Dec 9).

Wearing a long black wig with bangs, a big fur coat and a pair of red sunglasses, the Young Money rapstress, accompanied by her “friend” Safaree Samuels, kept her head low as she stepped out of her hotel after celebrating her 29th birthday with friends (including Cassie and Diddy) the night before.

Earlier this week, Nicki got a kiss from Madonna while shooting the video for the Pop Queen’s new single “Give Me All Your Love” with M.I.A.

“In the presence of greatness. MADONNA,” Nicki tweeted. “OH MY f’ingggg Gahhhh!!!!! MADONNA jus kissed me!!!!! On the lips!!!!!!! It felt sooooo good. Soooo soft!!!! *passes out* aaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!”

“*Kisses each one of my barbz so they too can taste queen madonna* I love u guys sooo much!!!! This video is of epic proportion! Love uuuu!!!” Nicki wrote in another tweet, adding that the kiss was recorded and she “was shocked but kissed back.”

Check out the photos of Nicki Minaj in NYC below:

Nicki Minaj she kissed a girl … and apparently, she liked it!

The Young Money rapper — who celebrates her 29th birthday today — recently locked lips with Madonna, and could barely control her excitement as she shared the news with her adoring fans on Twitter:

OH MY f’ingggg Gahhhh!!!!! MADONNA jus kissed me!!!!! On the lips!!!!!!! It felt sooooo good. Soooo soft!!!! *passes out* aaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!

*kisses each one of my barbz so they too can taste queen madonna* I love u guys sooo much!!!! This video is of epic proportion! Love uuuu!!!

Yes! It was recorded!!! *hopes & prays this footage appears somewhere* lmaoooooooooooo

No barbz…like…seriously…it felt soooooooooo good!!!!!!! Sooooo soft! Like what?!?!?! bwahahahhahahahahahaha!!!!

I was shocked but kissed back!!!ahhh! > RT @MzBellaBarbie:@NICKIMINAJ how did u react when she kissed you? Shocked? Spazzed? Kissed back?

It was more romantic. Bwaha! > RT @ItsMarthaBitch:@NICKIMINAJ was it like the Madonna/Britney kiss or did y’all make your own HERstory?

Madonna recently linked up with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for her new song “Give Me Your Love” and apparently the ‘big kiss’ was on the set of the video for the single

The three ladies are rumored to perform the track together in February when Madonna graces the stage at the Super Bowl.

This isn’t the first time Madonna has publicly locked lips with another woman. The Pop Queen famously kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 2003 at the MTV Video Music Awards, which was met with a lot of controversy.

Willow Smith is the “Fireball” of the party in her brand new music video featuring Nicki Minaj!

In the Hype Williams directed video, which premiered on BET’s 106 & Park last night, Willow dances up a storm with a colorful, rapping Nicki Minaj by her side.

“Fireball” appears on Willow’s debut album “Knees & Elbows,” due in stores on April 3rd 2012.

Watch the new video below (HQ version comng soon!!):

Here’s an official teaser clip for Willow Smith and Nicki Minaj‘s new music video for “Fireball,“ which is scheduled to premiere on BET’s 106 and Park tomorrow (Wed. Dec 7).

Check it out below: