Features
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj has been receiving accolades since 2008 but clearly 2010 has been her breakout year. The first sign was “Massive Attack,” the single released in April, followed by the August hit “Your Love” – both of which garnered enough listens to vault the Trinidad-born Minaj into the public spotlight.
The debut album, Pink Friday, dropped at No. 2, topped only by Kanye West’s acclaimed album released the same week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Photo: AP Photo
Minaj – managed by James Cruz and Sean Combs of Bad Boy Management – has performed on outings by Young Money artists and Lil’ Wayne. But for the most part she’s been hosting parties and club events. That’s about to end.
“She just got offered to go out with Lil’ Wayne, doing 25 cities starting mid-March,” CAA’s Mark Cheatham told Pollstar. “She’s putting together a production team as we speak. Rehearsals are for probably three to four weeks prior to hitting the road.”
Colleges will play a big part in 2011, according to Cheatham. Then there will be introductory club dates overseas, where she is in high demand, plus festival dates. Cheatham is also planning a headlining tour of 3,000- to 4,000-capacity theatres in the fall.
“Aside from the Wayne tour and colleges, I’m trying to put her into as many soft-ticket and protective situations as possible,” Cheatham said. “I’m looking for fairs and festivals. We’re talking to
Photo: AP Photo
2010 BET Hip Hop Awards’ Rookie of the Year and BET Awards’ Best New Artist
The only artist to ever have seven songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart simultaneously