New York's DJ Clue and Funkmaster Flex compete over bragging rights to world premiere of Minaj's latest Roman Reloaded single.
By Rob Markman

<P>After two of New York City's biggest rap radio DJs faced off on Tuesday night, there was clearly only one winner: <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a>. With Nicki's April 3 release date for <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i> inching closer, disc jocks are clamoring for exclusives from the YMCMB star, and Power 105's DJ Clue and his rival, Hot 97 DJ Funk Master Flex, tussled over bragging rights to the Queens MC's latest track. </P><P> </P><P>It all started Tuesday morning when Nicki <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NICKIMINAJ/status/182213937499086849" target="_blank">retweeted</a> a DJ Drama message urging fans to tune into DJ Clue's show later that evening to hear the world premiere of Minaj and 2 Chainz's <i>Roman Reloaded</i> collaboration, "Beez in the Trap." But Clue didn't get a chance to drop the exclusive as it hit the Internet hours before his show went on air. Flex then took <a href="http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2012/03/20/funkmaster-flex-rant-against-dj-box" target="_blank">credit</a> for playing spoiler by hacking into DJ Clue's email and lifting the track. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:745154/cp~vid%3D745154%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A745154" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>Clue quickly hit <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DJCLUE/status/182238760921071616" target="_blank">Twitter</a> to refute Flex's account, ending his note with the hashtag #CompulsiveLiar." </P><P> </P><P>Whatever the order of events, <a href="http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2012/03/20/ifwt-exclusive-nicki-minaj-beez-in-the-trap-you-small-djs-will-never-get-a-record-before-me-pausebuttondj" target="_blank">Nicki's "Beez in the Trap" single</a> clearly came out on top. The '80s-inspired track is a departure from <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/03/20/nicki-minaj-chris-brown-right-by-my-side-reloaded">"Right by My Side,"</a> the R&B duet that Minaj and Chris Brown released earlier on Tuesday. Instead, "Beez" finds the Harajuku Barbie once again taking aim at unnamed rap chicks. "Bitches ain't sh-- and they ain't sayin' nothin'," she boasts on over a sparse drum track. Underground favorite 2 Chainz doesn't compromise a thing spitting alongside the multiplatinum rapper. He drops a charismatic 16-bar verse where he goes on about his Lexus LS 450, True Religion jeans and his pimp ways. </P><P> </P><P>With the newly released <i>Roman Reloaded</i> tracks, Nicki seems to be striking a balance between melodic pop tracks ("Starships," "Right By My Side") and the rap fare that she came into the game with ("Stupid Hoe," "Roman Reloaded"). </P><P> </P><P>"April 3 is gonna be a doozy. It's gonna be crazy," <a href="/news/articles/1680274/nicki-minaj-roman-reloaded-release.jhtml">Nicki promised</a> when MTV News caught up with her at the NBA All-Star Game in February. "It's gonna be important for just hip-hop culture and pop culture. It's gonna be very big." </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you think of Nicki Minaj's "Beez in the Trap"? Tell us in the comments!</i></p>

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MC relives her killer year and her 'quest to stand alone' in magazine's 10th anniversary issue.
By Nadeska Alexis

<P>If there was ever any doubt that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a> would continue her impressive career sprint in 2012, look no further than the newsstand nearest to you. The Young Money rapper has already covered <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/14/nicki-minaj-covers-vibe-new-york-magazine/"><i>Paper, New York, Vibe</i> and <i>Allure</i></a> in the first three months of the year (and she got a <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/23/nicki-minaj-blue-in-vogue-magazine">feature in Vogue</a> too). And now, she's on the cover of <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2012/03/nicki-minaj-10th-anniversary-covers"><i>Complex</i></a>. </P><P> </P><P><i>Complex</i> unveiled their feature with Minaj on Tuesday (after rolling out <a href="/news/articles/1681320/justin-bieber-complex-magazine.jhtml">Justin Bieber's story</a> from their April/May double cover on Monday). As to be expected, the 29-year-old rapper is done up in eye-catching colors, sporting a white wig with shades of purple, white and pink lipstick and some added graphics just to push it over the top. </P><P> </P><P>The feature backtracks on her astronomical year, which included a Super Bowl performance, a <a href="/news/articles/1679117/2012-grammys-nicki-minaj-reactions.jhtml">Grammys performance</a>, an OPI nail polish line and a <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/11/18/nicki-minaj-stars-in-mac-viva-glam-campaign">MAC cosmetics deal</a> and looks forward to a coming year that will include a fragrance line, a fashion line and a world tour. </P><P> </P><P>"If I wasn't doing it, I wouldn't believe it's possible," Minaj told the magazine about her success. "I happen to be a pessimist, and maybe that's a good thing because I don't stop to smell the roses &#8212; which is not a good personal thing. I don't stop and enjoy those moments. I'm just [snaps fingers] on to the next. Always on to the next and never in the moment." </P><P> </P><P>Despite her catalog of achievements, the Queens rapper says that she's laser-focused on achieving that much more, especially with her sophomore album, <a href="/news/articles/1681325/nas-nicki-minaj-champion.jhtml">Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,</a> which is due out on April 3. "Doing the Super Bowl with Madonna doesn't really change Nicki Minaj's personal goals," she says. "My goal right now is still to put out <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, </i>sell 5 million copies eventually, and tour every country in the world." </P><P> </P><P>"I came out with Young Money, the biggest hip-hop label in the world at that time. And then it was, 'How do I branch away from Lil Wayne?' " she continues. "One of my biggest records was with Drake, 'Moment 4 Life.' Even with the Super Bowl, it's Madonna's moment. I'm just sharing in that moment. It's not Nicki Minaj's moment. Nicki Minaj at the Grammys &#8212; that's my moment. I've just been constantly on this quest to stand alone." </P><P> </P><P>After dropping <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,</i> Nicki will set out on a <a href="/news/articles/1681299/nicki-minaj-european-tour.jhtml">15-date European tour</a>, which will kick off in early June. </P><P> </P><P><i>What has been your favorite Nicki Minaj magazine cover so far? Leave your comment below!</i></p>

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'If I feel it, I can get on it,' Nas tells MTV News about his collabo on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Nadeska Alexis

<P>When Roman gets reloaded on April 3, it looks like <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a>'s alter ego will have some backup. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:750544/cp~vid%3D750544%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A750544" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>On Friday (March 16), the Harajuku Barbie unveiled the <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/03/17/nicki-minajs-roman-reloaded-tracklist-reveals-drake-nas-and-camron-features/">track list of <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.</i></a> Of course, Young Money counterparts Lil Wayne and Drake make appearances, but so do Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Cam'ron, Young Jeezy and 2 Chainz, not to mention <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/nas/artist.jhtml">Nas</a> on a song called "Champion." </P><P> </P><P>"Nicki hit us up, I got love, so it was nothin' &#8212; I did the record," Nas told MTV News on Saturday night before his show at South by Southwest. </P><P> </P><P>"Champion" also features Drake and Young Jeezy, and based off the features, one can assume that fans will see Nicki in full-on MC mode, as opposed to the pop presence on her current single "Starships." It's a duality Nicki embraces. </P><P> </P><P>"I guess I am pop culture just because what I'm doing seems to be popular. When people want to do what you're doing, it's kinda popular," <a href="/news/articles/1680173/nicki-minaj-fearless-music.jhtml">she told MTV News</a> after her NBA All-Star Game performance in February. </P><P> </P><P>While fans wait to see how <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i> holds up sonically, Nas gives his own assurance for "Champion." For the Queensbridge, New York, MC, it all boils down to a simple feeling: "It's hip-hop music; music is music. If I feel it, I can get on it. I heard the track, I felt it, I loved it." </P><P> </P><P><i>What are you expecting from Nas, Drake and Young Jeezy's Nicki Minaj collaboration? Tell us in the comments!</i> </P><P></p>

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Nicki announces 15 European dates for her Pink Friday Tour beginning June 8 in Stockholm, Sweden.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Nicki, Roman, Martha and the rest of the one-woman gang are headed across the pond. On Monday morning (March 19), <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a> took to Twitter to announce 15 European <a href="http://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/nicki-minaj-tickets?c=fb_ext_nickiminaj_130312" target="_blank">dates</a> for her <i>Pink Friday</i> Tour. So far it looks like the Young Money MC will start her trek on June 8 at the Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden. After that, she will touch Norway, Denmark, France, Italy and London for 15 dates. </P><P> </P><P>The presale for Nicki's Oslo, Norway, date began Monday, and tickets to the Stockholm show will be pre-sold Tuesday. Tickets for subsequent shows will go on sale in the coming weeks. </P><P> </P><P><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:745154/cp~vid%3D745154%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A745154" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed> </P><P> </P><P>The Harajuku Barbie's sophomore LP <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i> is scheduled to be released on April 3. On Friday, <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/03/17/nicki-minajs-roman-reloaded-track-list-reveals-drake-nas-and-camron-features/#more-36524">Nicki released the track list</a> for the album and revealed collaborations with Chris Brown, Nas, Cam'ron, Rick Ross and of course her Young Money cohorts Lil Wayne and Drake. </P><P> </P><P>"April 3 is gonna be a doozy. It's gonna be crazy," <a href="/news/articles/1680274/nicki-minaj-roman-reloaded-release.jhtml">Nicki told MTV News</a> after her NBA All-Star Game performance in Orlando, Florida, last month. "It's gonna be important for just hip-hop culture and pop culture. It's gonna be very big." </P><P> </P><P>Nicki Minaj's 2012 European Tour dates: </P><P> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/08 Sweden @ Annexet<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/09 Norway @ Oslo Spektrum<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/11 Denmark @ Falconer Salen<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/13 Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/18 Netherlands @ Heineken Music Hall<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/19 France @ Z&#233;nith de Paris<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/21 Italy @ Alcatraz<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/24 London, U.K. @ HMV Hammersmith Apollo<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/25 London, U.K. @ HMV Hammersmith Apollo<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/26 Birmingham, U.K. @ NIA Birmingham <br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>6/28 Manchester, U.K. @ O2 Apollo Manchester<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>7/06 Kinross, U.K. @ T in the Park Festival<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>7/07 London, U.K. @ Hyde Park<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>8/18 Shifnal, U.K. @ V Festival 2012<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b>8/19 Chelmsford, U.K. @ V Festival 2012<br> </P><P> </P><P><i>Will you see Nicki Minaj on tour overseas? Tell us on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mtvnews" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page!</i></p>

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Photos from the Hawaii set leaked online Wednesday, revealing Nicki with greenish-blue hair.
By Rob Markman

<P>Green hair? Check. Pink bikini? Check. Exotic shoot location? Check. Must be time for another Nicki Minaj video. On Wednesday morning, <a href="http://hiphop-n-more.com/2012/03/on-the-sets-nicki-minaj-starships" target="_blank">pictures</a> from the set of <a href="/news/articles/1679255/nicki-minaj-starships.jhtml">Nicki's "Starships"</a> video leaked online with the Young Money rap queen decked out in a pink bikini, pink heels and greenish-blue hair. </P><P> </P><P>Yesterday Nicki arrived in Hawaii and shared the experience with her fans via Twitter. "The kids @ the airport were like: waikikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!! I bust out laughin," she <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NICKIMINAJ/status/179486535987642368" target="_blank">wrote</a>. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:744593/cp~vid%3D744593%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A744593" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>The multi-faceted MC engaged her followers and of course let off an obligatory <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i> tweet, once again reminding fans of her sophomore album's April 3 release date, though we're sure a good portion of her 10 million plus followers already have the date marked on their calendars. </P><P> </P><P>The three photos that made their way onto the Internet only show Nicki, some production hands and a few female models, but it's the male eye candy that has the female Weezy the most excited. "Can't wait 2get on set," she <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NICKIMINAJ/status/179635427643371520" target="_blank">wrote</a>. "Dem male modelz iz poppinton #starshipsvideo." </P><P> </P><P>The top 5 <a href="/news/articles/1679563/nicki-minaj-hottest-mcs-game.jhtml">Hottest MC finalist</a> dropped her RedOne-produced single on Valentine's Day, and while the pop track doesn't show off much of Nicki's lyrical prowess, it has clearly resonated with music fans &#8212; it is currently sitting at #6 on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100 singles chart. </P><P> </P><P>During an interview after her <a href="/news/articles/1680173/nicki-minaj-fearless-music.jhtml">2012 NBA All-Star Game performance</a> in February, Nicki told MTV News that though she began as a rap artist, she is completely comfortable with her hold on popular music these days. "I guess I am pop culture just because what I'm doing seems to be popular. When people want to do what you're doing, it's kinda popular," she said. "I don't ask girls to wear pink hair; they just do it. It's not about black or white; I think it's just a statement. It doesn't matter which color you are; it's just a statement of being fearless." </P><P> </P><P>She also predicted big things for <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.</i> "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." </P><P> </P><P><i>Are you excited for Nicki's </i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded<i>? Leave your comment below!</i></p>

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