___D___
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Post by ___D___ on Aug 4, 2010 16:43:57 GMT -5
I think it's a nice concept
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Sept 4, 2010 19:55:22 GMT -5
Interesting article...
Nicki Minaj has had quite the weekend. First came "Check It Out," a Buggles-sampling, will.i.am-featuring slice of zaniness that seems destined for Pink Friday, her long-gestating debut LP, currently due on November 23. Then came a marriage announcement via from fellow Young Money rapper Drake, which Minaj quickly confirmed, then annulled. And then, finally, there was "Monster," the latest mega-single from Kanye West, featuring Minaj, Rick Ross, Bon Iver, and Jay-Z. Faced with pretty much the stiffest competition rap can muster in 2010, Nicki murdered all of them--her schizophrenic, endless verse is the runaway highlight of song that would otherwise be entirely forgettable (you're a ghoul, Jay? Really?).
And that's pretty much Minaj's signature in 2010: blistering guest verses that salvage lackluster songs from artists as unreliable as Robin Thicke, Ludacris, and Usher. What she hasn't been able to do, including on "Check It Out," is headline a particularly convincing song of her own. With every insanely virtuosic guest verse, anticipation for Pink Friday rises. But we may have to start getting used to the idea that this is as good as it's going to get. Nicki's a great rapper. But it doesn't seem likely that she has a great album in her. Here's why:
Consider the singles. This year, Minaj's name has come first on "Massive Attack," a first single of such colossal miscalculation and dissonance that it probably won't even make the album now; "Your Love," the Annie Lennox-checking, Billboard-conquering follow up, a song that despite its success could've belonged to any anonymous female rapper out; and now "Check It Out," which may not even be destined for the record, but either way is effectively a Black Eyed Peas song. There's not a mixtape or solo song that Minaj has released that meaningfully captures the zany personality people so love.
About that personality. On her minute-and-a-half "Monster" verse, Minaj coos, growls, screams, spits, and barks; raps in patois, double-time, and cheerleader chant; and cycles through personas as disparate as Roman Zolanski, her haunted, psychopathic alter-ego, Harajuku Barbie, which is the one that sounds like an airhead, kinda, and of course, Nicki herself---the fierce through-line throughout. It's a tour de force. It's also incredibly exhausting. Some will be able to withstand being shouted at by the many, many voices of Nicki Minaj for the better part of an hour. Most of us, however, probably won't.
She needs a foil. Lest this sound incredibly paternal, let's also acknowledge that these days, even Jay-Z doesn't rap well unless he's got someone else to play off of. (Not for nothing are Jay's twin advice-raps on Drake's "Light Up" and Kanye's "Power" remix the only great Shawn Carter verses of 2010.) But Minaj's best moments come in character, whether as Usher's demonic little freak or Mariah Carey's wing-woman. Even the song of hers that seems most in rotation on HOT97 at the moment--that'd be the "Hold Yuh" remix--is a riff on Gyptian's original. "Your Love" is an anodyne song in part because she has nobody to push against. Unless you count Annie Lennox.
None of this is to say Pink Friday won't be great. Certainly, with her "Monster" coup, it's hard to argue that there are that many rappers out better than she. Kanye famously ranked her just behind Eminem in the greatest MCs conversation. She's not there yet, but she's definitely a star--more charismatic than basically anyone, with fearsome technical abilities, powerful friends, and a chip on nine out of ten of her various personalities' shoulders. If she's on your song, your song is a hit, even when it also features Gudda Gudda. But this past weekend played out an already depressingly familiar back-and-forth. People will be talking about "Monster" for weeks. "Check It Out" seems to have already vanished without a trace. She's a master at stealing the show. But can she play the lead? So far, that answer is no. Here's hoping that Pink Friday proves us wrong.
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Post by BRiTNASTY on Sept 5, 2010 10:22:37 GMT -5
It is very true, she has a lot riding on her right now. So did Drake.
I think the two are similar in one way: the two had a shit-ton of buzz and their debut albums were going to showcase whether they could be big or not/live up to their hype.
I think Nicki has it harder for two reasons:
1. She is the only female rapper in the current climate. 2. She's put herself on A LOT of major singles at this point to where she has could be seen as overexposed.
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Sept 5, 2010 13:05:50 GMT -5
I love Nicki. Her guest singles are almost always incredible. Her solo work has been just average at best though.
Everyone is well aware I hated "Massive Attack"...it just was a mess.
"Your Love" was a decent song, but it wasn't Nicki to me.
I haven't heard her new song with will.i.am yet because I've heard really bad things about it. I'll check it out eventually though.
I wish her the best though. I will most likely buy the album either way.
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Sept 7, 2010 13:35:57 GMT -5
When asked if she were still single, Nicki coyly answered, "I'm always single. I don't date boys. I don't like boys. It's true. I don't change. I think boys are yucky, and that's it. Nothing more to say."
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___D___
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The Duck
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Post by ___D___ on Sept 20, 2010 16:02:02 GMT -5
I'm kind of sad they are pushing "Your Love" away for these 2 first singles. I think it could have blossemed into a really big hit for her on pop. THe new song with Will.I.Am is absolutly horrid.
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Sept 27, 2010 13:30:43 GMT -5
125,000 first week prediction from Billboard
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Post by BRiTNASTY on Sept 27, 2010 14:20:23 GMT -5
I'm saying she's going to do at least 200k.
Her next single she releases to Urban is going to help raise her sales.
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Post by BRiTNASTY on Oct 15, 2010 12:00:43 GMT -5
EPIC ALBUM COVER IS EPIC Nicki's explanation:
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Oct 15, 2010 12:32:49 GMT -5
LOL interesting cover
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Post by - `J0EL™ on Oct 15, 2010 14:40:47 GMT -5
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Post by Late Winter on Oct 15, 2010 15:33:21 GMT -5
Interesting to say the last LOL
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Post by kevinkdc on Oct 15, 2010 23:52:11 GMT -5
Really epic cover.
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Post by kevinkdc on Oct 15, 2010 23:56:25 GMT -5
Hold onto your pink wigs. Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday is coming a little sooner than expected. The debut album from rap’s reigning diva will arrive a day early on November 22, Rap-Up.com has learned. It will go up directly against releases from Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy), Akon (Stadium), Jay-Z (The Hits Collection Vol. 1), and Ne-Yo (Libra Scale), all hitting stores on the Monday before Black Friday. Prior to this shift, Minaj had been touting a November 23 release. “To carry on a great tradition of Black Friday, we are going to switch it up this year in honor of the Nicki Minaj album and call that day Pink Friday, and call my album Pink Friday,” she previously told fans during a Ustream session. Young Money’s First Lady has already started promoting the disc with appearances on the MTV Video Music Awards, “Late Show with David Letterman,” and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” The album has produced the singles “Massive Attack,” “Your Love,” “Right Thru Me,” and the will.i.am-assisted “Check It Out.” Despite beautifully dolled up, the Young Money femcee has no arms in this "Pink Friday" cover art and she did it in purpose for she doesn't want it to be typical. "Had them rip my arms out the socket. Detachable arms cuz arms r for common folk," she explained on Twitter. "Pink Friday" is due in the United States on November 23. "[It] is my heart and soul," she said in an interview. "This is me explaining every single relationship that I've ever been in and explaining it in a way that every woman in this world can understand it." She already hooked up with Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am in song "Check It Out", and might make a duet with Rihanna in another track.
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Oct 15, 2010 23:57:14 GMT -5
I forgot about Jay-Z album
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___D___
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The Duck
Posts: 4,425
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Post by ___D___ on Oct 16, 2010 11:57:00 GMT -5
Why would she pit it against all of those albums on the same day?
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Oct 16, 2010 12:03:46 GMT -5
That is how it is lol
Many up and coming artists go against the big guns for the Thanksgiving week. It is also bound to give her a bigger boost anyways...since people will already be in the stores.
also, I'm sure best buy will be selling the album for $7.99 making it a no brainer for people on the fence
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Post by kevinkdc on Oct 16, 2010 12:39:16 GMT -5
Hmm, interesting thought.
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Drag
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Post by Drag on Oct 16, 2010 17:41:04 GMT -5
So far I love Your Love and Right Thru Me and find Massive Attack and Check It Out to be just ok.
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Post by BRiTNASTY on Oct 18, 2010 13:53:56 GMT -5
NICKI CALLS DIDDY OUT ON HIS SHIT OMG!!!!! GET IT NICKI!!!!!!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nicki Minaj has sacked Diddy as her manager, after seemingly falling out with the music mogul.
The rapper has had a huge 2010, guesting on tracks by Kanye West and Christina Aguilera as well as releasing singles Massive Attack and Your Love.
In a statement she hit out at Diddy - aka Puffy and Sean Combs, saying: “I am really strict when it comes to my representation. I had sympathy for Sean however I feel as if I haven’t gotten the guidance the manager is supposed to give his client.
“Personally, I feel like I’m being managed by mother. Even if you play the smallest role on my team, I wish to see progress.
She continued: “I’d like to thank him for everything he has done for me; for taking me under his wing… But now that my album is about to drop, its time to get serious and stop playing games.”
Minaj has also been championed by Lil Wayne and is signed to his Young Money/ Cash Money label.
She has confirmed that she will now be represented by Benny Medina - who has repped Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani among others.
The feisty star releases her debut album Pink Friday on November 22 with Right Through Me also due out as her next single.
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Oct 18, 2010 14:32:10 GMT -5
I thought Wayne was manager
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Post by BRiTNASTY on Oct 27, 2010 11:54:37 GMT -5
Nicki announced on ustream that her album will have....19 SONGS!!!!
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Post by - `J0EL™ on Oct 27, 2010 12:38:27 GMT -5
WOW!
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Post by DJ 7.0 on Oct 27, 2010 12:56:23 GMT -5
Nicki announced on ustream that her album will have....19 SONGS!!!! Very nice. Hopefully she has like 10 features/9 solo something like that I think she works better when she is vibing off other people. It is a lock to see Wayne and Drake on the album though, which is always good for me
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Post by BRiTNASTY on Oct 27, 2010 15:01:54 GMT -5
Drake is the only collaboration confirmed so far.
she did a song with Wayne, but she did say ti didn't fit the asthetic of the album; then again, that was said months ago.
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