Nicki Minaj is a Debut Delight

Nicki Minaj's solo album, Pink Friday, peaked at #2 on the charts and has sold more than 375,000 copies, making her the highest-selling female hip-hop artist since Lauryn Hill (when she “miseducated” us way back in the ‘90s). Now, Nicki (who turned 26 yesterday) has got Young Money in her corner and a lyrical flow that's just as flashy as her "Harajuku" style, which she models off of Tokyo’s punk fantasy subculture. She’s even got her own “Nictionary” which helps define words she makes up on the subway for fun. Who would have guessed this young Trinidadian girl from Queens would have risen from a troubled childhood and grown up to take the stage and rap with the likes of Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Drake? 

Nicki grew up wanting to be an actress and graduated from a performing arts high school. Her theatrical roots could possibly explain her fiery alter ego she calls "Roman Zolanski", who, she says, is a boy that lives inside of her, comes out behind the microphone, and lets her get out all the fight that's so tightly wrapped up in that feisty little 5’4” frame. 

Whether it is acting, singing, or rapping, we are all entranced by Nicki Minaj. I'm definitely hooked. So what’s in store next for Nicki? Her first goal is to become the first major female rap mogul. I don't doubt she'll achieve it -- she's got the drive and the talent, so there's no limit to the great heights at which she will reach.

Check out her MTV doc, "My Time Now", to hear more about her ambitions and her awesome New Yawk accent.

Pink Friday is now available.

Nelly Knows How To Keep It Fresh

I recently had the privilege of welcoming self-proclaimed St. Lunatic, Mr. “It’s Getting Hot In Herre” himself, into the YH Studio. There is a lot to be said about the man who made the phrase “shimmy, shimmy cocoa what,” sound cool, and that is why rapper Nelly gets kudos for putting St. Louis on the map.

Feeling incredibly blessed to just be in the music business, Nelly’s continued success after ten years puts a huge smile on his face. Whenever his hits come on the radio, the volume goes up; when Nelly plays in the clubs, the dance floor gets packed. As it should be! Coming a long way from dreaming about being a garbage man or a baseball player to having his hit single “Just a Dream” hang out at the top of the charts and another hot album, Nelly 5.0, under his belt, Nelly has influenced fans all over the world into stomping around in Air Force Ones, wearing facial band-aids, and bringing “pimp juice” into our vocabulary.  He continues to work hard on his music and his empire, including giving women a reason to show off their apple bottoms (no complaints here!).

Over the past ten years, Nelly has done a lot of growing within the industry and yet has stayed true to his sound and loyal to his fans. He has made quite the name for himself and is more than living up to his favorite word -- versatile.

Check my interview with Nelly in the Studio: 

And catch his latest music video, ft. Akon and T-Pain, “Move that Body."