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Leona Lewis 'Could Probably Go Up Against Nicki Minaj' In Rap Battle

Posted 8/1/12 12:17 pm EST by in leona-lewis, nicki minaj

Leona Lewis

By Elizabeth Lancaster (@lizzydl)

The game for lady MCs in 2012 has come a long way. With the emergence of talent such as Iggy Azelea and Kreayshawn on top of the household names like Nicki Minaj, there are plenty of great things happening for female stars in the rap world. Now, there is one more name to add to the list, and it’s not someone we would have guessed.

During a live stream talking about her new album, British pop sensation Leona Lewis revealed, "On my new album I will be rapping. I've discovered my voice for rapping." What now?

As if that news wasn’t enough, she took it even farther saying her “London-style MCing” was as good as the queen of all female rappers. ''I could probably go up against Nicki Minaj now. I'm actually that good, so I'm coming for you Nicki!" Well, we don’t think anyone will be taking this too lightly after she willingly suggests a comparison like that. We wonder what Ms. Minaj will have to say about this challenge.

Leona recently previewed some of her favorite tracks from the new album, and the fan favorite appeared to be the single “Come Alive.” The singer has high hopes for her album, explaining, "This album is going to be more open because I've got to work with people I've bonded with."

If bonding with her colleagues is what Lewis needed to break out in rhymes, more power to her. Lewis’ new album, Glassheart comes out on October 15, and we cannot wait to hear her premiere her raps!

What do you think about Leona Lewis as a rapper? Let us know in the comments below.

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Channel Chastised For Not Including Epilepsy Warning Before Airing Nicki Minaj Video

Posted 7/23/12 3:30 pm EST by in nicki minaj

Nicki Minaj

By Zachary Swickey

While Nicki Minaj is no stranger to controversy, the newest complaint targeting the singer is rather unique – British TV channel Starz TV is being publicly criticized by a media regulatory group for not warning viewers that Minaj’s video for “Beez in the Trap” could cause seizures in people with epilepsy.

Apparently, UK media regulator Ofcom is taking issue with the clip's many flashing lights, saying there are five sections in the “Beez in the Trap” video in which lighting levels surpass prescribed guidelines. Ofcom states that Starz TV, which went into liquidation on June 22, endangered any viewers who have epilepsy.

Their report states: "While Ofcom acknowledges that the licensee broadcast this music video in good faith, it is the responsibility of all broadcasters to ensure compliance with the Code before transmitting any material. On this occasion the licensee had failed to check and correctly identify broadcast material as problematic in advance of transmission."

Believe-it-or-not, these types of warnings are not the rarest thing in music videos. Jay-Z and Kanye had to put such a statement before their “N**gas in Paris” video, which Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy was quite thankful for.

The Throne’s “Paris” video is filled with strobe lights and quick edits. The warning before their video read, “This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised."

Another organization – the Epilepsy Therapy Project – was also quite thankful, telling TMZ it “appreciates the sensitivities that Kanye and Jay Z showed in appropriately warning individuals with photosensitive epilepsy that their video may cause seizures."

Check out the "Beez in the Trap" video below. Flashing lights (and some explicit language!), so ... viewer discretion advised.

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Nicki Minaj Is The Latest Celeb To Get A Too-Close-For-Comfort Pat Down From The TSA

Posted 7/10/12 2:20 pm EST by in nicki minaj, Tweet Beat

By Cristina Recino

Nicki Minaj is the latest star to alert fans about a TSA agent getting a little too touchy feely at an airport.

The famously voluptuous hip-hop princess took to Twitter to discuss her experience with the Transportation Security Administration at London’s Heathrow Airport, saying, “Pretty sure I was just overtly fondled @ this check point. By a very old lady w/an accent. Word?”

Minaj then took a picture of the back of the TSA agents, which got her into trouble. She had a response to that too: “So TSA always takes pics of me while doing their job! But would u believe they just told ME EYE couldn’t take pics???? Wow. ?#luckyIMsick.”

The "Starships" singer was on her way to the Philippines after performing at Scotland’s T in the Park festival over the weekend.

But Minaj isn’t the only celeb to claim similar fondling at international airports. Khloe Kardashian infamously compared being body searched at the airport to rape, and "Jersey Shore" star Jenni J-WOWW Farley said she was “treated like a criminal” when going through security.

Hoping to bring the incidents of celeb airport harassment to a halt, as we previously reported, the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee met in early June to offer the TSA advice on improving its image and provide suggestions to make the agency more efficient. One of their recommendations included an initiative to implement a more risk-based approach to security focusing on passengers the TSA has less information about.

Meaning famous faces should get a pass through the checkpoints! We'll just let Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee, explain: "There are certain people that are just so well-known that you've just got to use your common sense. Because if you start patting them down, people are going to say, 'They're patting down Beyonce.' I mean, she's not going to blow a plane up.'"

So don't worry, Nicki, Rep. Mike Rogers has your back!

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Nicki Minaj's 'Starships' Ties Billboard Top 10 Longevity Record

Posted 7/9/12 11:13 am EST by in Charts, nicki minaj

nicki minaj

Nicki Minaj's ship is flying pretty high these days. (Sorry for that.)

In its 20th week on the Billboard Hot 100, Minaj's "Starships" remains a top 10 hit (#8 this week), tying the record set by the Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" in 2009 for the most uninterrupted weeks in the top 10 for a song that debuted there.

"Starships" arrived on the countdown the week of March 3 at #9 and has been in the top ten ever since, peaking at #5 for a week in early April and returning to the spot for a three-week run in June. Should the song stay in the top ten another week, which seems likely given its current position and on-going reign at radio, it will best the Peas next week for the longest-running top ten hit that debuted in the chart's upper frame.

Trailing "Starships" and "Feeling" are a string of very recognizable hits to keep Nicki company. Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's duet "One Sweet Day" spent 19 weeks in the top ten – 16 of those at #1! – in 1995-96, Candian pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" enjoyed 18 weeks in the charts top tier after debuting there, and both Katy Perry ("California Gurls") and Puff Daddy and Faith Evans ("I'll Be Missing You") had 17-week runs in the top ten.

Notably, "Starships" is the only song on the list, which also includes hits from Eminem, Pink, Whitney Houston and two more songs from Carey, that has not made it to #1, a fact Billboard says has more to do with a glut of high-ranking hits, including Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," Carly Rae Jepsen's current No. 1 "Call Me Maybe" and hits from boy bands The Wanted ("Glad You Came") and One Direction ("What Makes You Beautiful") during the song's chart life than its own huge success.

Nicki simply has a slow-burning smash on her hands rather than a hit that burns bright and fast and is gone before you know it. So we should probably expect to hear "Starships" on repeat for the rest of the summer. That sounds about right.

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Is Madonna's Kiss Her Way Of Anointing The Next Big Thing?

Posted 12/8/11 4:00 pm EST by in Britney Spears, Madonna, nicki minaj, Tweet Beat

Madonna

So everyone's going crazy because Nicki Minaj tweeted that she locked lips with the Queen of Pop, Madonna, on the set of the music video for "Give Me All Your Love," the buzzed about first single from Madonna's forthcoming 12th studio album.

Apparently, kissing Her Madgesty is oh-so good … "OH MY f'ingggg Gahhhh!!!!! MADONNA jus kissed me!!!!! On the lips!!!!!!! It felt sooooo good. Soooo soft!!!! *passes out* aaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!" Nicki tweet-screamed to all of her Brabz and Kenz late last night. She continued her swoon-athon with a series of tweets (which you can check out after the jump!) for over an hour after.

Which got us thinking about what a kiss from Madonna really means. Of course, any time Madge locks lips with another lady, our mind is immediately drawn back to the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, where the Queen and the Princesses – that's Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, for those who don't know (and how is life under that rock?) – performed a "Like A Virgin" medley that included one of the most famous lip locks of all time.

In its own weird way, a lot of people read the performance and kiss and Madonna's way of anointing Spears as her pop successor. Sure, she kissed Christina too, but that's not what anyone remembers. They remember that jaw-dropping lip lock with Spears, who was then at the height of her global fame and still a few years removed from the personal drama that nearly consumed her career (blessedly, she got the help she needed and is back and as good as ever today).

Does that mean she sees something special in Nicki too? Read More...

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From Bratz to Lalaloopsy, Nicki Minaj Is A Doll (And Not Just A Barbie)

Posted 12/5/11 9:08 am EST by in nicki minaj

Nicki Barbie

By Andrea Duncan-Mao

Nicki Minaj has been calling herself the "Harajuku Barbie" for the past year, and now Mattel has gotten the hint and created a one-of-a-kind Nicki Minaj Barbie doll. The doll, which will premiere this month, will be auctioned for charity, with the bidding starting at $1,000. And while we all know the curvy lady rapper has a penchant for pink, skin tight fashions and towering heels – and that she rocks Barbie jewelry and has an ever changing assortment of wigs – but looking at her outlandish style and attitude, we have decided that Roman's alter ego could also be a number of other dolls.

Bratz
The long-time line that samples style from everything from Video Vixens, collagen porn stars and I don't know, uh, Nemo, these bodacious Betties have serious attitude and outrageous get ups. Like Ms. Minaj, they love rainbow hair colors and heels. Edgier than Barbie [and oft-criticized for their hypersexualization], they roll deep. The Bratz crew are like a bachelorette party fist pumping at the club, whereas Barbie and her small circle are more like Carrie and her girls—sipping Cosmos at a roof bar.

Read on for more. Read More...

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Nicki Minaj, Ricky Martin Go Pop Art For MAC Viva Glam

Posted 11/17/11 5:54 pm EST by in nicki minaj, Photos, Tweet Beat

Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin are finally showing off the fruits of their labor. No, they haven't' collaborated on a track (though that would be… something…), the pop superstars have joined forces with MAC as the faces of their always A-list, socially aware MAC Viva Glam campaign for 2012.

In the photo, a dolled up Nicki, wearing a bright pink latex dress, pink hair and neon makeup, sits atop a motorcycle looking like her usual sexy self. Meanwhile a tatted up Ricky poses quite manically, holding up a giant pink lipstick. The shoot itself is full of graffiti art and looks a bit pieced together and photoshopped in that pop art kind of way.

Oh yeah, it's done in the way that renowned celebrity photographer David LaChapelle is known for. Did we mention he did the photos? Well, he did. Read More...

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