To be South Africa’s Nicki Minaj you need ‘double Ds’ – drama and diva tendencies.
The American rapper, in Cape Town for the final leg of her Pinkprint tour, may have scaled down on production for local fans but she still captivated audiences during her performances.
Fans and media had to adhere to the “no cellphones” policy backstage. This is understandable considering the Anaconda hitmaker has been labelled as “the most influential female rapper of all time” by the New York Times.
Having broken into the male-dominated hip-hop space, Minaj is a bit of an anomaly in the industry.
Speaking to The Times, she said every rejection just inspired her to work harder.
“My advice for female rappers is definitely never give up.
“I’ve had a lot of doors shut in my face and a lot of record deals that I thought I would get that I didn’t get. It just made me work harder,” she said.
This may warrant her seemingly diva-like tendencies.
At her Johannesburg shows last week, a group of about 20 “Barbz and Kenz”, the name for her fans, who waited hours to meet their hero, were rewarded with group pictures after the show.
Minaj said she believed that being in the music industry was her destiny and that the passion to fulfil her dream was what set her apart. And while she may not be too familiar with the South African hip-hop scene, she still offered advice to female rappers.
She said: “If something inside you says this is what you were born to do, and if you honestly feel like that, then just keep on going.
“That’s the only advice I can give because that’s what I live by.
“I live by ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’, I’m not going to take no for an answer.
“That’s how I broke through that male-dominated space.”
Minaj performs her final show of her Pinkprint SA tour at Cape Town’s Grand Arena tonight but those going shouldn’t expect costume changes or a set longer than an hour.
Instead, be prepared for a dose of “Minajestry nostalgia” as she performs songs like Anaconda, Pills N Potions and Save Me.
Pinkprint star has will of pure steel
The American rapper, in Cape Town for the final leg of her Pinkprint tour, may have scaled down on production for local fans but she still captivated audiences during her performances.
Fans and media had to adhere to the “no cellphones” policy backstage. This is understandable considering the Anaconda hitmaker has been labelled as “the most influential female rapper of all time” by the New York Times.
Having broken into the male-dominated hip-hop space, Minaj is a bit of an anomaly in the industry.
Speaking to The Times, she said every rejection just inspired her to work harder.
“My advice for female rappers is definitely never give up.
“I’ve had a lot of doors shut in my face and a lot of record deals that I thought I would get that I didn’t get. It just made me work harder,” she said.
This may warrant her seemingly diva-like tendencies.
At her Johannesburg shows last week, a group of about 20 “Barbz and Kenz”, the name for her fans, who waited hours to meet their hero, were rewarded with group pictures after the show.
Minaj said she believed that being in the music industry was her destiny and that the passion to fulfil her dream was what set her apart. And while she may not be too familiar with the South African hip-hop scene, she still offered advice to female rappers.
She said: “If something inside you says this is what you were born to do, and if you honestly feel like that, then just keep on going.
“That’s the only advice I can give because that’s what I live by.
“I live by ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’, I’m not going to take no for an answer.
“That’s how I broke through that male-dominated space.”
Minaj performs her final show of her Pinkprint SA tour at Cape Town’s Grand Arena tonight but those going shouldn’t expect costume changes or a set longer than an hour.
Instead, be prepared for a dose of “Minajestry nostalgia” as she performs songs like Anaconda, Pills N Potions and Save Me.
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