Tag Archives: Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj Bites Back with “Yikes”

After getting into it with her ex, rapper Meek Mill, on Twitter this week, Nicki Minaj sounds off with her first single of the year after abruptly and unceremoniously announcing her retirement from music in October. A departure from the bubblegum pop sound she’s mastered over the years, most recently on her Caribbean-ready summer hit “Megatron” back in June, the simple and scathing “Yikes” is a nearly three-minute-long attack on anyone who tries her and a brash return to her hip-hop roots. She even reportedly delayed the track a few hours so she could re-write a verse to address the Meek Mill situation — a line like “Yikes, you a clown, you do it for likes” get the point across pretty clearly. Clearly, the queen is ready to reclaim her throne.

 

Listen to “Yikes” above now.

 

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Nicki Minaj Fulfills Her Fendi Dreams

As Nicki Minaj told her 107 million Instagram followers: “All I’ll say is dreams really do come true.” The news that the rapper was collaborating with Fendi resounded globally when she spread the word this summer. Her collection—dubbed FENDI Prints On—embraces the Italian label’s iconic FF logo to maximum effect. Hip-hop culture-inspired T-shirts, joggers, and reversible puffers are made to be ultra statement-making. Case in point: Minaj chose shades of bold fluorescent pink and shiny metallic silver as much as possible. In her campaign for the launch, shot by fashion veteran Steven Klein, Minaj even had mini FFs printed on her hair. For the rest of us, there are street-style ready accessories, including performance sneakers, wraparound mask sunglasses, and belt bags.

 

The Fendi Prints On collection is available in select stores and online now.

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MIA to Madonna, “Ummm… Can I Borrow 16 Million?”

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If you have a television or know someone does, there’s a likely chance you witnessed the 2012 Superbowl Halftime Show. Surely then, you’re also likely to recall MIA’s flipping-of-the-bird during her performance with Madonna and Nicki Minaj. As big deals go, it wasn’t one. Unless you’re the NFL who, over two years later, is seeking a whopping $15.1 million in “restitution” for the incident.  In addition, of course, to the $1.5 million lawsuit she originally faced after the event.

In September of last year, MIA took her frustrations over the initial lawsuit public, releasing a video rant in which she again flashes her middle finger. “It’s a massive waste of time, a massive waste of money, it’s a massive display of powerful corporation dick-shaking,” said the singer of the song that wouldn’t die in 2007 (“Paper Planes”). “They want me on my knees and say sorry so they can slap me on my wrist. Basically, so they can say it’s okay for me to promote being sexually exploited as a female than to display female empowerment through being punk rock”.

Now, with a tab topping out a $16.6 million, MIA is doing what she does best (besides music): fighting back. Her legal team has responded by filing papers that discredit the NFL’s position regarding the suit, stating their “claim for restitution lacks any basis in law, fact, or logic.” You can read her full response here.

For the shorter version:

 

MIA

 

Images courtesy of Ace Showbiz.

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Worst Behavior: Drake’s Most-Successful and Awful Styles

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When Drake‘s first mix tape dropped in 2009 I remember first asking “what exactly is a mixtape?” and then immediately scoffing at the idea of Aubrey Drake Graham—known exclusively to me, juniors in Canada, and my like two *really cool* friends in Texas then as Jimmy from Degrassi—being a curse word using, below-the-knee tee wearing, two leg standing (!) rapper. My reaction was slightly similar to how you might feel if you found out your chubby sister wanted to be a model (..yeah, good luck with that Jane!…). Five years later, two names less, and three releases more Drake is kind of a big deal. Like a Rihanna charming (excuse me, he calls her Robyn), SNL hosting, Alicia Key’s song writing big deal. So I guess he won that one! Luckily, despite the musician’s wide success in hip-hop and acting, his wardrobe choices haven’t always been as upward-moving.

DJ drop that mix tape below (that’s what that means, right?):

  • DrakeiHeartCREEPY: Look Aubrey, it doesn't matter how many lunches you grab with fellow television actor, rapper, and Justin Beiber friend Will Smith—boy that seems like a WEIRD group to run into on the street—it's still pretty freaking creepy to screen print an image of Smith's second son, Jaden, on a long-sleeve tee. Even/especially if the tee is your from your own fashion label

  • DrakeRollingStoneNO MORE DRAMA: There is already far too much crazy to sort through in Drake's interview in Rolling Stone's February 2014 issue that whatever this grape-slushie-colored-embroidered-velvet-thing that crawled onto the rapper for a corresponding photoshoot is, it is MORE than not needed. Those eggs tho.  

  • DrakeCalvinKleinYOLO: You only live once, and it seems Drake is spending most of it in Calvin Kleins. The former Degrassi star already rocked custom Calvin Klein Collection outfits designed by Italo Zucchini for his North American tour last year (like this sky graphic tank to the right), and has a whole new set of fly Klein outfits for his current European "Would You like a Tour?" series, currently underway. 

  • DrakeTaoJUST NO: Even if Steven Tyler was a silk-paisley-blue-wearing, prostitute-slapping pimp he would still not dress like this. Why does this exist and what table cloth factory did his hopefully ex-stylist steal this from? 

  • DrakeGrammys13TAKE A SHOT OF HIM: As much as I can get behind a good sport/Kenzo look—and you know Drizzy loves to ball—I can also appreciate a really tight, smart tux, like this clean and contrasting navy and black Saint Laurent number the rapper showed up in at the 2013 Grammy's, proving that hip-hop can get haughty too. Not to be type-casted though, a few weeks after the award ceremony Drake returned to the Parisian brand for the NBA All Star Game for a more...comfortable outfit. 

  • DrakeRedSTARTED FROM THE BOTTOM WITH REALLY BAD BOTTOM: I can't be positive, but I believe this photo was taken during the rapper's 'before he made it years,' when the now-Rihanna-embracing star was strapped for cash and relied heavily on participating in scientific studies to make end's meat. This image is thought to be data from a test to see if humans could physically wear patent leather red pants in public without literally combusting in flames. While the results proved that it was clearly possible, I cannot deny if the experiment was actually a success. No, actually I can. Don't do this. 

  • DrakeBartSUBTLE NOSTALGIA: Sure the color scheme is a little Michael Jackson, and the idea is a little banjee hood, but there's something so hilariously not ironic of the subtle white Bart Simpson stencil on this oversized button down. Nor am I complaining about the black denim on black timbs look. 

  • DrakeGQSTOCK PHOTOGRAPHY: Certainly not his most street-wise look, GQ styled the rapper as a modern day Miami real estate salesman for their July 2013 issue. The look—complete with a mall bought metallic two-pocket shirt, white pressed chinos, and blinding-gold matching jewelry—was terrifying..and that's before you even hear about his commission rates! 

  • DrakeNickiNO NEW FRIENDS: D is REALLY trying to make this animal print thing work, but some things are better left to the girls. Cheetah prints, however, aren't one of them, so everyone just STFU, buy some solids, and move on

  • DrakeParisALL OF IT: White Hood by Air on white denim on white Air Jordan Retro 1's with an oversized envelope of a khaki jacket makes for a chic outfit and a dangerous game of 'what not to drink and inevitably spill on these ungodly expensive clothes.'

Images courtesy of Tumblr.

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The Blonds Spring 2013 Men: How Girl-Pop's Favorite Designers Would Dress a Man

The Blonds Spring 2013 Men: How Girl-Pop's Favorite Designers Would Dress a Man

You probably know the Blonds for dressing some of the world’s most beautiful/fashionable pop stars (Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj,  Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Playboy bunniesect…) in their signature corsets and sparkly, girly things. Recently, they’ve thrown some boys looks into the mix—including a pearl and jewel print biker short and matching tank, a really cool leather shark fin hat and some sparkly speedos with a curiously positioned lipstick appliqué fashioned to the front. “We wanted the guys to be as glamorous as the girls…” say designers David and Phillipe Blond. Fair enough, and really, you might be able to pull off some of this stuff in a glamorous way, at least if you happen to have the perfect bodies of their male models. But, you probably won’t be running around town in their jewel encrusted men’s breast plate, that is, unless, you are the male version of Lady Gaga (or Adam Lambert, who was sitting front row, not far from Paris Hilton). In which case, then, you know… actually, you probably should give The Blonds a call. They love to do custom work.

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