The Business of Nicki Minaj: A Breakdown of the Barbz Empire
With a very unique deal that allowed her to avoid the dreadful but common 360 deal, the femcee signed with Young Money/Universal in August '09. Her critically acclaimed 'tape, Beam Me Up Scotty, gained such a buzz that Lil Wayne had no choice but to make the gritty, hypersexualized diva his first lady. Since joining the YM imprint, Nicki stands out as one of the shining cadets, just as the generals expected. The female Weezy? We'll let you decide.
Full steam ahead, Nicki Minaj managed to stir up exponential anticipation for her album Pink Friday. How? By creating a lipstick with mega beauty brand MAC Cosmetics. The pink shade was released every Friday leading up to the album's release. By inking such a major deal, barbz (if they hadn't already) jumped at the chance to see what this Miss Minaj was all about. Piquing their interest even further, Nick single-handedly expanded her fanbase and appeared on the beauty biz radar.
Extra: This year, Nick became the face of the MAC Viva Glam ad campaign to benefit the company's AIDS fund.
It's not an easy feat getting next to Anna Wintour, let alone sit next to her coveted front row spot at New York Fashion Week. But Nicki Minaj made it happen. With burgeoning fashion sense and eclectic style, the Queen Barb has been featured in several fashion mags, including Elle, Glamour, W and Cosmopolitan. She has yet to cop a spot in Vogue, but we think 2012 will be an awesome year for that. (Hi, Anna!)
Despite your thoughts on Britney Spears' rocky road, she's a major icon in the pop music biz... And she requested Nicki tag along with her on the Femme Fatale tour. In more ways than one, the summer-long event may have solidified Minaj in the pop crossover lane, especially after several ninty-percent-singing singles (see: "Check It Out"). Some still scratched their heads as to what Nicki was doing. We'll just call it "winning" for now.
Arriving in January 2012, Nicki Minaj for OPI will be one of two new affairs with the beauty world. Names like “Did It on Em’” (a bright, lime green), “Super Bass Shatter” (deep plum) and “Save Me” (a shimmery, multi-colored lacquer) will make up a six-piece collection which fans are already tripping over themselves to grab.
Very unsurprisingly, Nicki Minaj is the running to create her own beauty and fashion line. A fragrance deal is quickly approaching and a mainstream clothing line will follow suit. According to Mark Cheatham, a music agent at Creative Artists Agency, it seems that Nicki will be at the helm of other female rising female artists (sans Rihanna and Beyoncé) by creating an entire 360, Barbie-inspired world. With respect from iconic fashion brands, co-signs by beauty's biggest retailers, a V-Day release of her sophomore album and salutes from mostly all hip-hop OG's, Nicki Nick's 2012 will be nothing short of cash money young money business.
