Nicki Minaj Shares Photo With Brother Nearly One Month After Bailing Him Out of Jail

The holiday season is made for family time, and that's exactly howNicki Minaj is spending it. 

On Wednesday, Minaj, 32, shared a pic on Instagram of a night out with her loved ones, including her older brother Jelani Maraj, 37, who she bailed out of jail earlier this month. 

"Bowling con mi familia," the rapper captioned the picture. 

In the photo, Minaj takes front and center wearing a full face of makeup and bangs as her family fills in around her, with her brother on the left of the photo, for a group selfie. 
Maraj was charged in early December for first-degree rape of a child younger than 13 and first-degree sexual conduct against a child. Minaj, posted her brother's $100,000 bail. 

The accusations came just months after the musician's older brother married his fiancée Jacqueline Robinson in Baldwin, New York, in August. Minaj was also in attendance at the wedding and took to Instagram later on to post a heartfelt message about the nuptials. 
I would cross the ocean for u," she captioned a snap from the wedding. "I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man. Can't believe I cried during his wedding and his first dance like a punk. May God bless him and his union. Tonight has been one of my favorite nights of all time. I do anything to see my brothers smile."

Source:http://www.people.com/article/nicki-minaj-shares-photo-with-brother-after-bailing-him-out-of-jail

Nicki Minaj Gives Fan A Helpful Gift While Christmas Shopping

With Christmas just hours away, Nicki Minaj, like most of us, is doing some last minute shopping. But unlike the rest of us, Nicki Minaj can’t simply go shopping and not merit any attention.

On Thursday evening (December 24) the Pinkprint artist took to her Instagram to post a video of a fan who eagerly wanted her attention and a Christmas gift. Nic, who was apparently in the giving mood, kindly obliged.

But the fun didn’t stop there. While in the shoe department two men, one allegedly named Meek, also fanned out when they saw Minaj.  Nic, completely unbothered by their theatrics did however get a good laugh and so did her 42.7 million Instagram followers.Source:http://www.vibe.com/2015/12/nicki-minaj-instagram/

Nicki Minaj's new ABC family series has named cast

The rapper and songwriter Nicki Minaj has said that the cast for her upcoming ABC Family series,"Nicki," has been selected.

"I am honored and excited to announce that I've literally hand picked the main characters of my scripted series," Minaj said Friday on Instagram

ABC Family confirmed in a news release that Ariana Neal will portray Minaj in her early years, before she became internationally known.

Neal has acted in movies such as "Get Hard."

"Nicki," a single-camera comedy, will be based on the 33-year-old rapper's childhood, her family's migration from Trinidad in the 1990s, and her upbringing in Queens, N.Y.

Minaj said she became emotional after watching Neal perform.

Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/19/entertainment/nicki-minaj-series-cast/index.html

Nicki Minaj-Meek Mill Update: 'Anaconda' Singer's Ex Safaree Samuels Compared To Mill After Posting NSFW Photo

Nicki Minaj’s ex-boyfriend Safaree Samuels was compared with Meek Mill after the former posted a photo of his toned physique on Instagram Sunday. However, according to the Inquistr, the NSFW photo was later taken down following criticism from fans.

Some social media users posted messages aimed at Minaj’s current boyfriend Mill, saying that Samuels' latest photo could give the Philadelphia rapper “a run for his money.” Some fans also praised Samuels for his commitment to staying fit and said he was better suited for Minaj than Mill.

“Safaree looks a hell of a lot better than Meek Mill, so in terms of physique and facial appearance, Nicki downgraded,” a Twitter user wrote, while another said: “Damn Safaree. I get it nicki.”

Samuels and Minaj ended their 12-year relationship last year after rumors surfaced that the “Anaconda” singer had cheated on him.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Samuels was planning to sue Minaj because she had not given him due credit for his contribution in her three hugely successful albums.

According to TMZ, Samuels wanted his share of income from Minaj’s albums -- "The Pink Print," "Pink Friday" and "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded." He also reportedly wants his cut from her singles, including “Only,” which featured Chris Brown, Drake and Lil Wayne. The report added that Samuels had already found himself a lawyer and that a lawsuit was “imminent.”

Minaj is currently dating Mill, who has been making headlines for months because of his ongoing feud with Drake.

In August, Samuels praised Drake's diss track "Back to Back," which was aimed at Mill, giving rise to speculation that Minaj’s ex was in support of Mill’s rival.

Meanwhile, Minaj and Mill, who have been surrounded with several engagement rumors, can’t get enough of each other. Minaj recently posted several PDA-filled photos with her rapper boyfriend at the American Music Awards on Nov. 22 in Los Angeles.

Source:http://www.ibtimes.com/nicki-minaj-meek-mill-update-anaconda-singers-ex-safaree-samuels-compared-mill-after-2203832

Nicki Minaj's Ex-Boyfriend To Sue 'Anaconda' Singer Over His Commission For His Work On Minaj's Albums

Nicki Minaj’s former boyfriend Safaree Samuels is planning to sue the “Anaconda” singer because she did not give him due credit for his contribution in her three hugely successful albums. The couple broke up last November after dating for 12 years.

A report by TMZ said, citing sources, that Samuels wanted his share of income from Minaj’s albums -- "The Pink Print," "Pink Friday" and "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded." He also reportedly wants his cut from her singles like “Only,” that featured Chris Brown, Drake and Lil Wayne; “Flawless (Remix)” with Beyonce and “Feeling Myself” with Bey.

The report said that Samuels has videos, voice memos from recording sessions and hours of footage from studio sessions, as proof that he was involved in the process of working with Minaj. He also said that there are several witnesses who would support his claim.

Samuels said, according to TMZ, that Minaj had acknowledged his contribution by naming him the executive producer in credits of two of her albums. The report added that Samuels had already found himself a lawyer and that a lawsuit was “imminent.”

Minaj is currently dating rapper Meek Mill, who has been feuding with Drake for months now. In August, Samuels said he likes Drake while in January he spilled his guts on his relationship with Minaj.

"If that's who she decides to move on with, it is what it is. I'm not mad, I'm not bitter because if I wanted to make it work, I could've made it work… He don't owe me nothing. He's not the childhood friend I grew up with," Samuels said in an interview, according to E! Online.

Samuels also said: "I would never do anything publicly to try to pull her down. Whatever happens between me and her one on one is what it is, that's personal. I would never put that out there.”

Source:http://www.ibtimes.com/nicki-minajs-ex-boyfriend-sue-anaconda-singer-over-his-commission-his-work-minajs-2185837

La Bella Mafia: Why Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim Should Make Up

If People magazine is the Bible, and Us Weekly, the Quran, then celebrity gossip site Hollywood Life is more or less a pamphlet that a poorly dressed, almost comically incoherent religious zealot tries to hand you while en route to a subway platform. The site is not taken seriously for a reason—majorly rooted in them not reporting anything that even sounds remotely plausible. Despite this knowledge, when I read the story that Meek Mill allegedly wants Nicki Minaj to collaborate with Lil’ Kim, I remained intrigued.

According to the site’s source, Meek Mill told Nicki Minaj “if she got together with Kim in the studio and came up with a collab, they’d own rap!” The source goes on to add, “He reminded Nicki that they’re in business for money, not for feuds! Nicki loves her dollars more than her A-1 steak sauce.” And apparently “she’s thinking really hard as to whether she can stomach working with Kim.”

Be very clear: I don’t believe any of this shit.

For one, Meek Mill is unfortunately still taking jabs at Drake despite Drake metaphorically not only beheading him, but proceeding to bounce his chopped-off head like a basketball only to kick it down a rolling hill of failure. So, as far as the letting-go-of-the-petty-for-the-sake-of-profit plan goes, it’s not one likely pushed by the Philly MC.

Meanwhile, there’s also the reality that Nicki Minaj doesn’t need a Lil’ Kim collaboration to make money. Nicki Minaj just wrapped a tour, sells plenty of Myx Moscato, has since sold a television show, and well, you can turn on the radio at any moment and it will not take long to hear Nicki’s voice emanating from your speakers. I imagine someone at this very moment wants to toss out her album sales. Before you do that, be very clear that while they are not Pink Friday numbers, she is still moving more units than a lot of your favorites in 2015.

As for Lil’ Kim, many are willing to go back and forth all day on whether or not she is still the Queen Bee. I don’t especially care anymore; she’s a queen and a legend no matter where you place her now. She doesn’t have to chase radio anymore; her status is cemented. I long for a Lil’ Kim comeback, but if one does happen, it doesn’t require the assistance of Nicki Minaj to happen. She just needs better material than we’ve heard on recent mixtapes.

All those reality checks aside, I want this rumor to be true despite the overwhelming evidence that it is far from it. I wish Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Kim could manage to put their differences aside and come together. And not just because it’d be nice to see the original Beehive and Team Minaj end their virtual knife fight on social media.​

Nicki’s success notwithstanding, there remains a lack of mainstream female rappers. There are more women but none who come close to having even a fraction of Nicki’s success. There was one possibility, Azealia Banks, only now she’s essentially Foxy Brown without the hits. That is, full of controversy but without the hugely successful catalog. Yes, Iggy Azalea is still alive, and upon word that she is working with the likes of Max Martin, not nearly as done as many would literally scream otherwise. But she will never count—not rapping like Charli Baltimore’s cousin with a Diamond from Crime Mob obsession anyway.

Hip-hop could not only use more estrogen, but it would be great to see the intergenerational female rapper dynamic. It’s already happened repeatedly with the men in rap.

Whether or not “they’d own rap” depends heavily on the material. For every “***Flawless” and “Telephone,” there is a “Beautiful Liar” and “Pretty Girls.” If the song were good, the impact would be huge.

I’m old enough to remember when women rappers frequently worked with each other. 

I may have never gotten Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown’s Thelma and Louise album, but at lease there are previews of what could have been. And while Kim never did a joint album with Foxy, she did work with other female MCs like Missy Elliott and Left Eye. She’s since said she’s open to working with Remy Ma, with whom she used to beef.

For all of Nicki Minaj’s accomplishments, she’s yet to work with as many other female rappers as her predecessors. Some of that had to do with so many people taking shots at her in the midst of her rise. Those days are gone now, though. She may very well be the new Queen of Rap, but she looks quite lonely from the top. I would love that shift to begin with Lil’ Kim, but even if it doesn’t, it has to happen. It’s time.

Source:http://www.complex.com/music/2015/11/nicki-minaj-and-lil-kim-should-make-up

Meek Mill Tries To End Rap Feud Between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim

Meek Mill has been working hard to end one of the biggest rap feuds in recent history. No, we’re not talking about his feud with Drake. That ended a long time ago when Drake smoked him with two different diss tracks that he put out “Back To Back.” Meek Mill is trying to end a much more significant feud between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim.

Nicki Minaj’s boyfriend has been putting a lot of effort into ending the battle over the title “Queen B.” We wonder if Meek Mill knows that this beef dates all the way back to 2008. Meek thinks that if Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim would just make an album together, they would “own rap.” The thing is, if Nicki and Kim would come together like that, it really would be like the female version of Jay Z and Kanye West.

According to a report from Hollywood Life, Meek Mill has been begging Nicki to do a collaboration with Lil Kim. Their source claims, ““He reminded Nicki that they’re in business for money, not for feuds!” And no, the irony is not lost at all.

However, part they definitely got right, “Nicki loves her dollars more than her A-1 steak sauce and she’s thinking really hard as to whether she can stomach working with Kim.”

Lil Kim has said she would entertain working with Nicki Minaj but only for the right price. Back in 2012, the original Queen B told Power 105’s “The Breakfast Club” host Charlamagne tha God, “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,” Then Lil Kim went on to say slyly, “She is a very obnoxious person but I was always nice with her.” Who is catty now?

In any case, as much as rap fans wish for a collaboration between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim, it would be a complete disaster. Nicki and Lil Kim may try to make an album for the money but there is no way they would make it through the recording process without having huge problems.

Nicki Minaj has been picking away at Lil Kim for years. The “Anaconda” rapper has mimicked some of Lil Kim’s signature work including poses on album covers and posters, wearing similar outfits and rapping with some of the same people.

Some bought Minaj’s excuse of idol envy. In the early years, Nicki Minaj sung the praises of Lil Kim. She described the “How Many Licks” rapper as an inspiration and had nothing but good things to say about Kim.

It really looked like Kim threw shade first when she lashed out at Nicki in the media. That only happened after Nicki started literally claiming Lil Kim’s spot as the queen of New York City rap. Both Nicki and Lil Kim are strong women and they are full of pride. There is no way a collab is going to happen. It’s about as likely as Drake signing on to do a joint album with Meek Mill.

Source:http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2015/meek-mill-tries-to-end-rap-feud-between-nicki-minaj-lil-kim/

Student Wears Blackface to Dress Up as Nicki Minaj -- Seriously

That’s right, 2015. Far scarier than any Steven King film is the fact that as another Halloween creeps closer, people still think this offensive act is permissible.

Most recently, a Florida student proudly posted photos of herself as Beyonce-certified rap queen Nicki Minaj.Wanting to be the “Super Bass” babe for a day? We totally get that. Rubbing black paint on one’s skin and thus throwing it back to a time when white Americans would do so to act out incredibly offensive stereotypes of African-Americans? Unacceptable.   

As the student pursed her lips and paraded around next to some guy who thought he looked like Drake for all the Interwebs to see, The Kid Mero quickly spoke out.

Fun houses should be scary on Halloween. The movies you select to watch with your friends should be scary on Halloween. The amount of candy you manage to knock back in just 20 minutes flat should be scary on Halloween. The state of society’s basic understanding of what’s offensive and what’s not should not be this nightmarish.

Source:http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6745082/nicki-minaj-blackface-halloween-costume

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill Engaged and Smooching During Concert?

Despite an ongoing beef with her bestie Drake, Meek Mill’s relationship with fellow rapper, Nicki Minaj, appears to be going strong.

The twosome gave fans a little extra something during the Powerhouse 2015 concert in Philadelphia on Friday night when they kissed in a very public display of affection.

Before the concert, earlier in the day, Nicki posted a photo on Instagram of what appeared to be an engagement ring with a sizable rock. However, the caption read simply several emoji of a face winking and blowing kisses.

In the past, Nicki has referred to Mill as her “baby father” during a concert, leading to speculation that the Prinkprint rapper is pregnant, however Nicki has yet to confirm this speculation either way.

Source:http://www.celebuzz.com/2015-10-24/nicki-minaj-meek-mill-engaged-concert-pda/

Nicki Minaj and the five reasons celebrities shut down interviews

Celebrities walk out of interviews with no consequence all the time, which is truly strange when you think about it. Promoting a project is a contractually-obligated part of their job — imagine if us mere mortals could just storm out of work every time someone asked us a question we didn’t like.
The main result of these incidents is that the celebrity trends on social media for a few days, which is actually beneficial if you need to plug your upcoming movie or TV show or album. It happened again this week with a New York Times Magazine story on Nicki Minaj. Writer Vanessa Grigoriadis profiled the superstar rapper, and aside from some key quotes on the Miley Cyrus dust-up at the VMAs, everyone will just remember that Minaj walked out.
Minaj, unhappy with what she perceived to be a sexist question (Grigoriadis asked if Minaj “thrives on drama”), shut down the interview. She called Grigoriadis a “troublemaker” and said ‘‘Do not speak to me like I’m stupid or beneath you in any way...I don’t care to speak to you anymore.’’
The quotes got picked up everywhere — many applauded Minaj, and Grigoriadis admitted in the story she regretted her choice of words. But it’s only one in a long line of stories about stars who have zero patience for the media. It occurs for a wide variety reasons; some instances, like the one with Minaj, are complicated. Often, though, celebrities can’t accept that pesky reporters don’t just want to gush about their latest project. (Just last month, star Robert De Niro walked out after too many “negative” questions about things not related to his movie “The Intern.”) What are the most common explanations for why they take the drastic step of cutting off an interview?
1) Questions focused on the past.
If someone was involved in a scandal that has nothing to do with their current project — and happened a long time ago — should they still have to answer questions when they’re on an innocuous press tour? This year, Robert Downey Jr. made headlines during an “Avengers: Age of Ultron” interview when Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy started asking about his past drug addiction and issues with his father. “It’s just getting a little Diane Sawyer,” Downey explained before taking his mic off.
Other example: Naomi Campbell knocked down a camera when ABC News asked if she received blood diamonds many years ago from Liberian dictator Charles Taylor.
2) Questions about other celebrities.
Stars are generally comfortable talking about themselves, but ask them about friends or an ex, and all bets are off. Selena Gomez straight up shut down a satellite interview when a reporter asked if she could explain ex Justin Bieber’s wild behavior.
Other examples: Marc Anthony left the room when a Univision show asked him about Jennifer Lopez’s “intimate” tape with her ex-husband; Cameron Diaz hung up on a radio interview when a host made a crack about her pal Drew Barrymore’s former drug use.
3) Questions that insult their craft.
Joan Rivers famously left a CNN interview when she felt the interviewer didn’t understand her comedy. “Stop it with ‘You do this’ and ‘You’re mean’ and ‘You’re that,’” Rivers told Fredricka Whitfield before leaving. You are not the one to interview a person who does humor. Sorry.”
Other examples: Justin Bieber did not appreciate when “Mojo in the Morning” said he sounded really similar to Justin Timberlake; Paris Hilton walked out on ABC when the interviewer asked if her 15 minutes of fame were over; Russell Crowe gave the BBC a piece of his mind when an interviewer said he made Robin Hood sound “Irish.”

Source:https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/nicki-minaj-and-the-five-reasons-celebrities-shut-down-interviews/2015/10/09/f36482c0-6e0a-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_story.html

Nicki Minaj has a powerful message for women: Treat each other with respect

Nicki Minaj wants women to stop disrespecting other women, a call that came in response to New York Times Magazine's Vanessa Grigoriadis's implication that Minaj "thrives on drama."

The interview is full of interesting comments from Minaj regarding tension between labelmate Drake and boyfriend Meek Mill, and strife between Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams.

Toward the end of the interview, Grigoriadis got some clarification on a problem that's far more widespread than the rumor mill of social media or record label problems: women who blame one another for the actions of men.

"Is there a part of you that thrives on drama, or is it no, just pain and unpleasantness—"

The room went quiet, but only for an instant.

"That’s disrespectful,’’ Minaj said, drawing herself up in the chair. ‘"Why would a grown-ass woman thrive off drama?"

You can almost hear the silence in that room. Minaj was getting ready to explain a deep conviction she holds and has raised before in interviews: that women aren't treated with the same respect as their male peers. Minaj then explained that disrespecting someone is a choice, one she thinks women make too often with one another:

That’s the typical thing that women do. What did you putting me down right there do for you? Women blame women for things that have nothing to do with them. ...

To put down a woman for something that men do, as if they’re children and I’m responsible, has nothing to do with you asking stupid questions, because you know that’s not just a stupid question. That’s a premeditated thing you just did.

It's not the first time Minaj turned an interview into an educational moment

"It's like we don't even value relationships anymore," Minaj told the Breakfast Club's Angie Martinez about managing relationships while famous. "Fame is the strongest drug known to man." Minaj just wants women to be treated with the respect they deserve, famous or not. "Is that wrong for wanting more for myself, wanting people to treat me with respect?" she asked the world during a famous 2010 MTV documentaryclip that went viral.

Source:http://www.vox.com/2015/10/7/9473833/nicki-minaj-nyt-magazine

Amber Rose Vs. Nicki Minaj: Who Wore It Better??

Amber Rose held a successful Slut Walk in El Lay on Saturday morning, andthrew a little bit of shade at Kanye West in the process!

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But she also rocked an outfit that we've seen before!! Ch-ch-check out what she wore (above) and compare it side by side with a Nicki Minaj dress that made an appearance a while ago for her Night Is Still Young video!

Source:http://perezhilton.com/2015-10-04-amber-rose-nicki-minaj-slut-walk-los-angeles-little-black-dress-who-wore-it-better

Much-awaited revenge in the offing? Miley Cyrus To Diss Nicki Minaj On SNL

Looks like Miley Cyrus will finally get her most awaited revenge on Nicki Minaj on October 3!

Miley will be hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ this coming October 3 and we can’t help but wonder if she’ll also seize the opportunity to return Nicki’s diss on her last MTV VMAs!

We cannot forget how badly Nicki dissed the ‘Dooo It’ singer last August 30 at the VMAs where Miley was the host and Nicki came about on stage to claim her award. In fact Nicki’s line of‘Yo Miley, what’s good?’ was so historical that it went viral all over the internet and is being used up to now by almost everyone on social media.

But now that Miley will finally be able to get her revenge, it seems Nicki will not be the only one she’ll be aiming at but Taylor Swift will be getting her fair share of diss as well!

Miley and Nicki’s feud all started about with Miley commenting not-so-nice things about Nicki when she was asked about her opinion on the infamous Nicki-Taylor Twitter feud – and after she got dissed about it, it did not help that Taylor took the VMAs stage with Nicki and even sided with her after the VMA feud.

According to a source, Miley will probably be doing the awaited diss in the form of a skit and we bet it will be a really good one!

With the help of SNL actress and Miley Cyris impersonator Vanessa Bayer, the two will be performing a skit and they will tackle all things eventful in Miley’s recent life and of course, it will most probably include her feud with Nicki at the VMAs!

“Currently lined up for the show is “The Miley Cyrus Show” [skit], where Miley will address her feuds,” the source toldHollywoodLife.com

“They are still writing the skit and figuring out who Miley will play, seeing as how she will not be playing herself — those duties will go to Vanessa Bayer.”

Well, it looks like we’ll be witnessing the revenge on the said skit but we still hope Miley won’t take things too far or else, things will definitely get nasty between her and Nicki.

According to another source, Nicki is already on the lookout for any of Miley’s shades and she will definitely fight back of Miley did try to throw shades at her!

“Nicki’s tired of playing games with these kids in Hollywood and if Miley’s going to attack her on SNL, it’s going to be open season on her Hannah Montana a**,” the source said.

“Nicki will be watching the show, keeping both her eyes and ears open for the shenanigans Miley’s sure to come with,”

“But make no mistake, Nicki will have the last laugh if Miley tries to shade her on the show.”

We are not sure where all this drama will be heading, be one thing is for sure – we will definitely get our popcorns ready for the SNL episode!

Source:http://www.dailytimesgazette.com/miley-cyrus-plans-to-diss-nicki-minaj-on-snl/29069/

5 wishes for Nicki Minaj’s new ABC Family show

Nicki Minaj fans, the gods of children’s programming have heard your prayers.Deadline reports that ABC Family has greenlit a series based on the childhood of Onika Tanya Maraj — better known as Nicki Minaj, Queen of Rap — focusing on her “growing up in Queens in the 1990s with her vibrant immigrant family and the personal and musical evolution that lead to her eventual rise to stardom.”

Nicki will executive produce the series and is also slated to appear on the show (!!!), so that knocks one thing off the wish-list. Here are five other dreams we have for the upcoming Untitled Nicki Minaj Project, a.k.a Baby Anaconda, a.k.a. Very Young Money (we’ll keep brainstorming).

An iconic theme song

If there was ever an opportunity to create a theme song that rivals the iconic “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” intro, this is it, and we have full confidence that Nicki and her Young Money squad will be able to engineer something that Generation Z-ers will be putting on their throwback karaoke playlists for decades to come. Beyoncé, naturally, gets a guest verse. Lil Wayne can do the bridge. Meek Mill is not invited.

All-star cameos

Obviously the show is a great excuse for Nicki’s many famous friends to make their ABC Family Debut, and we’ve already got a pretty lengthy wish-list. We already know Drake already knows his way around some PG programming, so how about bringing back Jimmy Brooks for a “Degrassi” crossover? And now that Nicki and Taylor Swift have buried the hatchet, we also would love to see Tay reprise some of those acting skills she honed back in her CSI murder victim days. Beyonce, of course, will be a hard one to get, but if anyone can get her onboard, it’s Nicki. We already know she would make a great cool babysitter.

Source:http://www.salon.com/2015/09/29/5_wishes_for_nicki_minajs_new_abc_family_show/

Nicki Minaj Doesn't Represent My Trinidad

Nicki Minaj has been one celebrity I have not wanted to write anything about because I can't decide how I feel about her. Honestly, I really don't know if I like her or not. The fact that she is Trini always had me reserving my initial opinion of her, waiting to see if there will be some redeeming quality appearing on the many forms of media, and I must say, most times I am disappointed.

The first time I noticed her, I thought her background was Jamaican because her attire was reminiscent of a dancehall queen to me, and I was shocked when they said she was Trini, but I said to myself, people are allowed to express themselves as they so wish, so I chastised myself for judging. I didn't care for the music or the message. And don't get me started on "Anaconda" -- I wanted to scream at her, "who the hell cares what the Anaconda doesn't want; it's what the Kitty Kat wants that's important, shit!"

I do love how direct she is about her opinion and how she evidently loves her fans. I admire how vocal she is if she doesn't like something and speaks her mind instead of being timid, how she stands up for herself and her immediate family. And I really want to like how she represents for Trinidad -- but I don't. I know I have already heard the argument that she is reppin Trinidad in her own way, and not everyone reps the same way, blah, blah, blah. Oh, please. We aren't talking about if what she is saying about Trinidad is negative but true; we are talking about her having a massive audience, opening for the VMAs with an even huger audience, and singing a song called "Trini Dem Girlz" in an accent from some other island, patting her pum pum which is not a Trini dance and doing so on a dancehall sounding rhythm. Give me a break, really.

Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ayana-malaika-crichlow/nicki-minaj-the-so-called_b_8191244.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill on How to Deal with Haters

Here's a ten second recap of the Drake Vs Meek Mill beef saga. Meek Mill claims Drake doesn't write his own raps, Drake writes raps—plural—that embarrass Meek Mill, the internet follows with a trillion terabytes worth of memes to provide some institutional memory of the lyrical ass whooping. The photos you're looking at now happened to be shot the day Drake released Meek's first diss record, "Charged Up." On set at the shoot, between photos, Meek tweeted: "Baby lotion soft." The world disagreed.

In retrospect, it didn't really matter that Meek lost a rap battle. Because he still has the girl. Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj are the power couple hip-hop's always wanted. Though they're constantly compared to Jay Z and Beyonce, Jay and Bey are more like United Nations ambassadors at this point. Where as, every day with the Meek and Nicki is the Solange elevator ride—fiery, spontaneous, unpredictable, publicist heart-attack inducing.

With tweets and money flying everywhere, we sat down with 2015's Bonnie and Clyde to silence their relationship haters once and for all.

GQ: This is kind of a silly question but how normal is your relationship?

Meek Mill: Very un-normal. It still ain't normal. You think so?

Nicki Minaj: I definitely think we have a normal relationship off-camera. We're like any other couple in the hood. We're growing as a couple and as people and as human beings, but we still have our careers. And I think probably the only thing that makes it un-normal is that we're both successful artists, and that's probably not normal. But other than that, our feelings are very normal. Like, if I were to speak to a hundred girls right now about what they go through with their boyfriend, we'd probably have stuff in commonGQ: What's the ideal double date that y'all haven't been on?

MM: I don't know. A lot of people. Alicia Keys and Swiss Beats. Jay-z and Beyonce.

NM: Yeah, I happen to love Alicia and Swizz because they're both so down to earth. So we already are friends with them and Bey and Jay. So those are already friends. We admire and respect them. So that's a no brainer. On another note, I like just going out with my best girlfriends and his guy friends, and we do that all the time. Because it's fun, we'll all get together and do truth or dare and do some crazy funny shit. We have fun together whether it's with famous people or not. We don't need to be around famous people to have fun.

GQ: How often does Meek ask you for…
NM: A kiss?

GQ: Sure. A kiss.
NM: All the time.

GQ: Well he can just probably just kiss you now, right? Without asking.
MM: Sometimes. (Laughs)

NM: Actually I love kissing him. My favorite thing about Meek is kissing him, which is weird. Just now I was like 'damn, you've been asking can I kiss you a lot now,' and it's contagious because I used to be always asking him to kiss him when we first started talking. I love kissing him. I love the way his lips feel.

[It's at this moment Nicki shoots Meek a look that can only be compared to a Marine's wife seeing her husband for the first time after a double tour during war time, the kind of look that would lead to instant sexing if I weren't there. Luckily Nicki kept talking.]

MM: Yeah, and wouldn't you want to kiss Nicki Minaj too all day?

GQ: You guys are on tour together. Which means you guys are going to spend a lot of time together. Were there any doubts or fears about that putting strain on your pretty fresh relationship?
NM: I was excited.

MM: Me too. I was excited. It's another experience. It's a new experience hustling with my girl.

NM: I was just touring Europe and he kept saying, 'When are you coming home?, When are you coming home?' It's just not the same. But at the same time when we are working and we're not physically together, it just heightens that excitement for me to see him, because that's all I can think about is seeing him again. Now when we're on tour together it just feels like a dream come true. In so many ways.

GQ: You two seem to be two very strong personalities. What was it like in the beginning, figuring each other out?
MM: You know we were just figuring each other out. We liked each other. We were into each other. Once we learned how to understand each other, it was curtain closed. Everything was a go.

NM: People tell me all the time, it takes a special kind of man to be with a woman who has her own, and it takes a special kind of man to not feel insecure by a woman who is doing her own thing. You know? So, one of the things that made me want to be with him is we spent so much time talking, and he always made me feel like he was ok with me being me. As an artist and just as a woman. Obviously I'm a strong woman in a lot of ways… I'm not a strong woman in every way. I don't want to make it seem like I am some superhero because I'm not, but I do know that it takes a certain kind of guy. And time will tell if Meek is that kind of guy, because it's definitely not easy.

GQ: It's not easy dating Nicki Minaj?
NM: No. But I really respect that he was willing to give it a try. In the beginning he thought we could be in a relationship and I kept telling him no, I don't think he was ready. But he has a very strong mind and he was very convincing and persuasive.

MM: You liked me… I didn't have to persuade you. (laughs)

NM: But talking about being in a relationship? I didn't know if he was ready. I was apprehensive about that.

GQ: Meek, how do you get a girl like Nicki Minaj's attention?
MM: I don't know. Be you is all I can say. I like being myself.

GQ: Meek, that's bullshit. Come on, give us the secret.
MM: Seriously though: what do you want me to say? Being me, that's how I got her.

GQ: Did you take her on any special dates? Any special gestures?
MM: We'd do everything like what you do with your girlfriend. We do the same thing. Just chill.

NM: What was your secret, baby? Everybody wants to know that.

MM: I don't know though! Y'all want me to make up a magazine answer? I liked her. I felt her. I guess she felt me.

NM: What'd you like about me?

MM: That you was a hustler. That you were doing your thing. A lot of people coming up. People don't really have a girlfriend that's doing more than them or the same thing. I like girls that hustle. She a boss. She's pretty as fuck. Bad as shit. Ambitious. What else do you want?

GQ: Both of you guys have very close circles of friends and family. Was there anyone who objected to you guys dating?
MM: Not on my side.

NM: Everyone professionally [was on board]. The only person was my mother. My mother only knows Meek from what she sees in public, in the media. She met him now, but she just wants to make sure he's a nice guy. She's overprotective of her daughter. Another thing people don't realize is I've only had three boyfriends in my whole life. I've never dated around… I don't have a whole lot of experience in that department so my mother and my family were very like what? This is a big step, because they've only known one thing for over a decade. Even my pastor, who's like a second mother, was scared. Everybody was just scared. Those women were scared for me because when I love someone I really let them in, and I really let me guard down. And I think it's only natural for a mother to just, you know, she just wanted to make sure I wasn't rushing into anything.

GQ: When did the courting start? Not the relationship… the courting.
MM: About a year ago or something like that? I can't say for sure. Maybe a year and change.

[Nicki play-slaps Meek]

GQ: Nicki, when did you know you liked him more than just physical attraction?
NM: Um, oh, I remember. When he came to LA we had only been speaking about rap shit, talking about the Kendrick verse and stuff at that time. And I was just like, 'yeahhh you need to do this, you need to that…'

MM: She was telling me to bomb everybody.

NM: Shut up. I was just telling him to be confident as an artist because I liked his music, etc. And then he came down to LA and we went to the studio and after that I didn't see him for a very long time. We shot a video and I think probably around that time I was like, 'oh, he's cool.' In terms of taking him seriously and going to another level with him: when he went to jail I was left in a house by myself and it was just a tough time for me and it happened to be a tough time for him as well.

GQ: Why were you left in a house by yourself? What do you mean?

NM: Ummm….

GQ: Complications with your ex boyfriend?
NM : Right. Yeah, it was weird and so at that time I was available. So I reached out to him letting him know…It's so funny that the day he went to jail, he was on my mind the day before.

MM: Basically, she was feeling the kid before when I got booked.

NM: He was on my mind the day before, because I saw him going off on Twitter, and I was like, 'oh man, he needs somebody to, like, make him feel good right now.' So when I heard he went to jail I was really disappointed. I reached out to his people like, 'yo, let him know I'm praying for him to come home.' And they told him, and he asked them to call me for him. And it was like, I remember sitting on my balcony at my house and just being on the phone with him until it started getting dark outside. And I was just like, 'yo, I'm in trouble.' I just knew that first day. It was that long conversation. I was like uh-oh.

GQ: So you basically got most people's dream girl from jail, Meek… You sure you don't want to tell us that secret?
MM: No, just keep it real. Keep it real with yourself and great things will happen. When keeping it real goes right, that's what we call it.

NM: We just spent so much time talking that I had such a strong mental connection. It was insane. We got so close.

GQ: What's the most common misconception about Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj?
NM: Together, I think one of the biggest misconceptions at the beginning was that people thought that me and him just popped up out of the blue and were just in a relationship. We were friends for a very long time and he was someone that I was able to really confide in. Nothing that we do is for TV. My decision to be public about my relationship came before I even met Meek. I was in another relationship and I said after I drop my third album that I don't care anymore what people think. I'm going to be vocal about who I'm with. It just so happens that I'm with a new guy. When I came in the business, you couldn't tell people you were in a relationship, because record company and management said that doesn't make you appealing to men. So don't tell people you're in a relationship. So after you do that for ten years it becomes something you feel like you have to do. It's difficult to break out of that box. So I just vowed to myself, 'look, I'm about to put out a new album, I don't care anymore.' It just so happens I'm in a new relationship but I was planning on doing that before I was with Meek, because now it's to the point where it's different. The music industry is so different. People don't care if you're in a relationship, but in the beginning it wasn't like that. Take Janet Jackson. People didn't know she was married for nine years or something like that. It was a taboo thing in the beginning. I didn't want to hide that side of my life anymore.

MM: That we were faking. That was crazy to me. I've never been known for stunts in public that make me look better, you know what I'm saying?

NM: But also, the boy has been tweeting about me for how long?

MM: Five years!

NM: Right.

GQ: But a lot of guys tweet at you, Nicki.
MM: I could've picked a lot of rappers to tweet about. I have a whole rap about her. The entire city of Philadelphia knows it. If she were performing there by herself, they would sing it to her.

GQ: So you guys just had a huge Twitter moment. Nicki, you tweeted about being snubbed by the VMAs. Meek, you claimed Drake had a ghost writer. Both moments were controversial. Any regrets?
MM: I'm separate from that. I just wild out.

NM: And that's the thing people don't understand. Meek is a grown ass man. I may not agree with everything he says.

MM: She likes none of that shit. No matter who I'm talking to.

[To be fair and for the record: by almost every marker and standard, 'Anaconda' should have not only been nominated, but favorited to win a VMA for video of the year.]

NM: I'm very happy I tweeted about the VMAs, because 'Anaconda' had too much of a cultural impact to not be up. When these pop girls have a moment like that, they get nominated for every award, and they win it. And I was happy that people spoke out for me. People used their voices in the media to say this is true. Taylor Swift called and we're good now. She didn't see the bigger picture. We talked. We got over it. She called me and spoke about it, and I told her, I would never come at you. We're doing so well now collectively. And I want to thank God and my fans. And his fans. We don't have to do anything to anyone for any bogus reasons.

Source:http://www.gq.com/story/nicki-minaj-meek-mill-respond-to-haters