Rapper Nicki Minaj is featured on Vogue Italia’s December 2014 cover. Gearing up for the release of her upcoming release of her album “The Pink Print,” Nicki looks amazing in this multi-page editorial spread for the international magazine.
Shot by photographer Francesco Bergman, the spread gives off a very ethnic feel, by showcasing Nicki as versatile women from different decades. Nicki Minaj’s upcoming album “The Pink Print” will be released on December 15th.
The singer, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, author of hits like Anaconda, Super Bass and Starships, never kept her ambitions a secret. And, in fact, she is not far from realizing them. Her rise to stardom was lightning quick, even by the Warholian standards of the term, thanks to a mixture of musical talent, sensuality and arrogance, which have transformed her in just a few years into the most influential woman in the history of hip hop. To gain respect in a world dominated by men who measure themselves by bouts of rhymes and testosterone, Minaj had to fight with her teeth and nails. She created a name for herself through her cameos in the songs of other male rappers (such as Monster with Kanye West, Jay-Z and Rick Ross). She constructed a persona with coloured wigs and eccentric costumes that highlight her body’s curves. And she has demonstrated her talent by mixing salty lyrics with passionate rhythms and risqué choreographies. “At first no one took me seriously», said the musician, who at the end of November will publish her third album, entitled The Pink Print. “In the world of rap, women are usually relegated to the choir”.
With millions of records sold, tens of awards won and numerous sponsorships (including perfumes, clothing lines, cosmetics and toys), today this impression has definitely changed. The Caribbean artist, born Onika Maraj, is the only woman ever to have appeared on the Cash Kings list of highest paid rappers compiled by Forbes, the latest version placing her at number four, with 29 million dollars earned in 2013. It is therefore not surprising that Minaj has been compared to a female version of Jay-Z, considered the King Midas of hip hop for his ability to mix artistry and business. “It’s no coincidence that we have the same Zodiac sign – Sagittarius”, points out Minaj, laughing at the comparison.
Photo Credit: VogueItalia
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