Nicki Minaj

After extensive talks, Nicki Minaj has officially joined Britney Spears' upcoming summer tour, replacing Enrique Iglesias as the star's opening act.

A source close to the 26-year-old Minaj confirmed to E! that she's aboard and tour organizers expect the tandem should be a big concert draw.

More so than the Spanish crooner who pulled out last month? Probably.

1-2 PUNCH: Two Femme Fatales. One horribly pricey ticket.

Indeed, the choice of the Trinidad and Tobago-born hip-hop diva is probably for the best, given how foolish Iglesias' camp just made Ms. Spears look.

Hours after the pop princess revealed to Good Morning America that they joined forces, Enrique freaked about playing second fiddle and just bailed.

Other artists besides Minaj mentioned as replacements included Joe Jonas and Usher. Britney's Femme Fatale tour kicks off June 17 in Sacramento.

[Photo: WENN.com]

From touring with Lil Wayne to opening for Britney Spears?

It could happen for Nicki Minaj. Britney has reportedly honed in on as her opening act for her Femme Fatale tour, with lawyers for the two in "serious talks."

Sources say it looks very promising that Nicki and Britney will reach an agreement in the next day or so. Think that would be a promising concert tandem?

SPEARAJ: Britney and Nicki may team up this summer.

Nicki would fill the void left when Enrique Iglesias bailed at the last minute because his ego could not take being an opening act for Britney Spears.

Minaj is currently on tour with Lil Wayne, however those concerts end on April 28. Britney's tour begins June 17 in Sacramento, so it could work.

If it goes down, you'll be the first to know when we do.

Will X mark the judging spot for Nicki Minaj?

Insiders tell The New York Post that Simon Cowell has met with this hip hop star about coming on board The X-Factor this fall as a judge. She would join recently-announced producer L.A. Reid on the panel if she agreed to make the move.

"Simon thinks Nicki is fantastic. She's sassy, she looks great and she has bags of personality," a source tells the newspaper. "Nicki has a large following and she fits well with the ethos of the show, which plans to usher in a new generation of musical talent."

Auditions for The X-Factor kick off on March 27.

This would be an unusual gig for Minaj to accept, considering her current popularity. Most singers join a reality show to revive a career (see Aguilera, Christina on The Voice and Lopez, Jennifer on American Idol). Other names under consideration include Tommy Mottola, Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Cole.

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

UPDATE: We can now answer the question posed in the headline: No. Sources have said Minaj will NOT serve as a judge.

Nicki Minaj is not a whore bag, but she is excited: the artist is about to kick off a tour across the country with Lil Wayne.

"The last time I toured with Wayne I was onstage for three minutes," said Minaj to MTV, going back two years. "Now I have my own set, I have my own lighting, my own costumes, my own dancers, my own everything. And this is what I've been praying for [for] a very long time."

Wayne admits he didn't see this kind of success coming for Nicki, but he's thrilled it's arrived:

"She's blossomed into a megastar with this new attitude and this style. Now when I talk to her, I just tell her, 'Do what you do, baby.' I used to be able to go into the studio and say, 'Nah, don't say that, don't say that.' You know, 'That was better.' Now, do what you do, baby. I don't have a clue about what you're doing right now, but it's working, do it."

[Photo: WENN.com]

In the March 2011 issue of BlackBook, Nicki Minaj aims to get two things straight:

1. It's cool to be weird.
2. She is not a whore bag.

How are these topics broached? What does Nicki think of Lady Gaga? We've excerpted responses from her interview with the magazine below.

Continue Reading...

Everyone together now: Go, T-Swizzle, go T-Swizzle, go T-Swizzle, go!!!

We all knew Taylor Swift could sing country music, and songs of the pop variety as well. This artist even showed semblance of acting chops in Valentine's Day.

But who knew Swift was hiding some serious rapping skills this entire time? During an interview with Nashville radio station 107.5 yesterday, Taylor was asked to break down a couple Nicki Minaj lyrics. She obliged. In very impression fashion.

Taylor Swift Raps!

Nicki Minaj says she just wants to be remembered.

For this 26-year old hip hop star, though, the only memory she has of her childhood is one in which she worried about the actions of her drug-addicted father.

"All of my young and teenage early years, we lived in fear that my mother would be killed by my father," Minaj told The Sun this week. "It was ridiculous. It made me act out to guys and be evil to them when I was growing up."

Nicki Minaj - Moment 4 Life

Saying the experience made her "tough," Nicki describes her father as "violent, physically and verbally." Things only improved when her brother grew up and stood up to their dad.

"I will cry about something, but I never let anything stop me," Minaj says of how her childhood has shaped her. "I can't be like my mom. I know I can cut ties and still make it. She didn't cut ties when I felt like she should have."

While critics take issue with Minaj's attitude, she only cares about those on Twitter who have thanked her for telling her story and giving them hope that they can also overcome obstacles. She says:

"That makes me feel good. If these girls walk around thinking they are the baddest thing on the planet, I am happy. That's my manifesto. That's my mission statement."

What do Nicki Minaj and Ted Williams have in common? Little, except for this: neither wants to be forgotten.

Williams sent this message to America before leaving for rehab this week, while Minaj says in the latest issue of V:

“I’m an entertainer - I like to make people laugh. Some will hate it and some will love it, but all will remember it. And that’s what I want: to be remembered. Even if I’m saying something hard-core or controversial, there’s always a touch of humor, and if you don’t like it, it means I’m stirring things up inside of you.”

Speaking on her unique persona, the rapper also says: “I would crumple up and die if I had to wake up and be the same person every day."

She certainly changes things up in this magazine's pictorial. Click on the following images to enlarge each one:

Nicki Minaj may have hooked up with Drake on New Year's Eve, but that doesn't mean this rapper is taken.

She tells E! News in a new interview: "I'm single and ready to mingle."

Among other topics Minaj tackles below: her feelings on Taylor Swift and comparisons to Lady Gaga.

Nicki Minaj - Fly (Ft Rihanna)

What's next? We're shooting the video with Rihanna for "Fly" this weekend. We're going to save the world in more ways than one with the video and that's all I can say about that... I love Ri-Ri!

Would she duet with Taylor Swift? Of course!

Doe she mind comparisons to Lady Gaga? Gaga is badass. Being compared to greats can never bother me.

What does her success mean? I'm proud that women, female rappers that come in this game after Nicki Minaj can see that, you know what? There is a chance for you to sell just as much as the boys and to be recognized. And you don't have to feel like, because you're a female rapper, you going to not be recognized. And so for that alone, I'm proud. I'm happy.

Nicki Minaj and Drake got hot and heavy over New Year's. Not too surprising, since they're married, after all. Just kidding ... probably.

After separate New Year's Eve performances in Miami, the couple reportedly met up during the after hours for some hot, heavy cuddling.

According to reports, Drake bolted to meet up with Nicki promptly after leaving his party so that they could have some alone time together.

DRICKI: An eyewitness saw them leaving together after partying until 4 am.

"Right after the clock struck midnight, Drake left his party at the W South Beach and dashed over to Nicki's Moet & Chandon-sponsored bash at Mansion."

"[They] were dancing and cuddling all night."

Commence wedding rumors, round two! These two are SO into each other. As far as the Nicki Minaj sex tape rumors? Those we cannot vouch for.