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Oh Nicki/Barbie/Chun-Li/Onika or whatever it is that you prefer to be called.

While I respect a woman who infiltrated and somehow dominated the male rap game, I  have some MAJOR issues to discuss. Yes, we all danced to Starships back in the day, but it's time to get real.

Our roast beef with the rap queen includes having a convicted murderer and sex offender as her new beau, collaborating with a gang member who used a naked 13-year-old girl in his music video, and the Asian stereotyping. 

While Minaj has been praised and lauded for her ability to remain powerful and confident in an industry which, in general, uses completely misogynic and homophobic lyrics to perpetuate toxic masculinity, there are other cards at play here.

Specifically her consistent collaborations and relationships with violent men.

The internet has descended into chaos on Monday over the Instagram posts which Minaj uploaded of her new boyfriend, Kenneth Petty.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The controversy over her new Instagram-official relationship was predominantly due to his criminal record; TMZ are claiming that Petty is a registered sex offender with at least two convictions under his belt.

Prosecutors claimed that he attempted to force a girl into engaging in intercourse with him using a sharp object in 1995, when he was 15 and the victim was 16.

This led to a first-degree attempted rape conviction and his name stuck on the sex offender list for life, seeing as he is 'moderately' likely to be a repeat-offender. Yeah… that's pretty damn scary.

Minaj's new man served almost four years in a NYC state prison for the attempted rape, and served another seven years for a first-degree manslaughter conviction after he shot a man several times.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oh they wanna talk? Let’s give’m smthn to talk about.  *Shania voice*

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On her account, Nicki was forced to disable the comments section after her fans understandably went into absolute meltdown.

Instead of addressing the whole problematic debacle, she captioned the post; "Oh they wanna talk? Let's give them something to talk about." Um, okay, why don't we talk about safety? Like, not dating a criminal?

Sexual violence and domestic assault is still rife in society, with Times Up and the #MeToo movement only showing the tip of Hollywood's iceberg.

The music industry has it's own qualms to tackle regarding violence against women; R Kelly remains the most notorious example of alleged predators who are still being given a platform.

When Chris Brown viciously attacked Rihanna in 2009, his career continued to thrive, despite the outrage and shock which ensued when graphic images of Rihanna went live all over the world.

The reaction to XXXTenacion's death, instead of focusing on the fact that he admitted to stabbing nine people, and was on trial the week of his murder for assaulting his PREGNANT ex-girlfriend, the response was to mourn him as a hero.

The ex-girlfriend Geneva Ayala's harrowing testimony was obtained by Pitchfork, and detailed a pattern of intense psychological, emotional, sexual and physical abuse and assault by XXXTenacion.

Nicki could have criticised such a problematic man in her own industry, or even have kept quiet, but she expressed her sorrow at his passing instead;

“XXXTentacion may not have been the biggest artist, but his murder hurt us like we knew him, or like we were the biggest fan.” 

Of course, none of this is Nicki Minaj's fault. That goes without saying, yet her continued support for infamously harmful men such as Tekashi69, Kenneth Petty and XXXTenacion needs focus.

The Young Money artist was in a relationship previously with hip-hop mogul Nas, who had an extremely toxic relationship with R&B legend Kelis. The Milkshake singer recently claimed that Nas abused her during their marriage, and that Rihanna played a part in their divorce.

While these claims haven't been proven, it does appear to be a pattern that Minaj enters relationships with controversial male figures, who seem to embody toxic masculinity.

Her latest collaboration with Tekashi69 is another bone of contention, her defence of a man who is since imprisoned on racketeering charges, possession of firearms and armed robbery. 

Tekashi69 legitimately pleaded guilty to being involved in a 2015 sex act with a 13-year-old girl, which he filmed and posted online, so there's no denying his criminal scumbag status.

Yet Nicki Minaj collaborates with him on their hit single FeFe and on another track for his new album, Dummy Boy. The lack of concern is rather alarming, TBH. 

"Danny, I love you and am praying for you, your Mother, daughter & her Mom during this time," Minaj said in an Instagram caption dedicated to the rap artist following his arrest.

Many of her fans are presumably young and highly impressionable, who see the rapper as an influence whose actions are worth paying attention to, hence the concern over willingness to align herself with harmful men.

Issues with race and homophobia have also followed Minaj throughout her career, most recently in regards to her latest album Queen.

The rap goddess was accused of homophobia following the release of song lyrics on her new musical offering, with lines consistently using slurs such as 'sissies' and 'f*ggots'.

LGBTQ+ advocates criticised Minaj's choice of words on Twitter;

“I am a gay man who grew up being taunted by words like ‘fag,’ ‘homo,’ ‘sissy,’ and ‘fairy,’” wrote Mark Zustovich.

“These are more than just words that offend and deeply hurt people who identify or who are struggling to identify as LGBTQ — they are designed to make boys and men feel ‘less than’ or feminine, as if having feminine characteristics is something shameful. On the contrary, we as men should be embracing that more.”

Let's not forget the Chun Li Challenge, which clearly perpetuated Asian stereotypes in pop culture.

The #ChunLiChallenge went viral, and featured rapper Asian Doll (who isn't Asian…) sporting chopsticks in her hair — an act which is considered extremely disrespectful in Japan.

The rapper has referenced geisha and samurai in previous tracks, and Nicki (real name Onika) has also cosplayed as a “Harajuku Barbie” persona.

The use of harmful rhetoric in rap is well-documented, including within the albums of Drake, Chingy and Childish Gambino.

Asian writer David Yi commented that;

"The way people are interpreting the #ChunLiChallenge with signifiers like double buns and chopsticks as hair accessories is yet another instance of people co-opting another culture with impunity."

*Sighs* It doesn't take much to do some research into other cultures for the purpose of understanding and respecting them, especially when you have millions of fans from that part of the world, Nicki.

All in all, I question Nicki Minaj's disturbing willingness to align herself, collaborate and have romantic relationships with violent men, as well as her ignorance of other cultures and sexualities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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She's 35, she's a grown woman and can date whoever she wants, but she must remember the power which she has over her fans.

Her influence is unquestionable- he’s appeared on nearly 100 singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, each of her albums have amassed five million sales and she has become a household name, despite working in a world that degrades women constantly. 

Not to mention society's obsession with only supporting one female rapper at a time, either Nicki or Cardi B, despite hundreds of male rappers saturating the music industry.

Yet the question has to be asked, is Nicki Minaj contributing to the normalisation of male predators and cultural appropriation?

At the moment, she's the farthest thing from an inspiration to me. 

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The countdown to one of Ireland's biggest summer festivals is well and truly on, and now Longitude have only gone and given us 22 more glorious acts to see.

They've also entrusted us with the break-up of which days certain artists are playing over the weekend, so we're pretty much ecstatic.

The new acts include; Ave, Bugzy Malone, Fredo, Wild Youth, Little Simz, NOT3S, Headlie One, YBN Cordae, Chasing Abbey, Kneecap, Biig Piig, Grace Carter, Amber Mark, Saweetie, Buddy, Ama Lou, Adekunle Gold, Mallrat, JYELLOWL, Nealo, Why-Axis and Barny Fletcher.

Stage times will be announced over the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

Unforch, H.E.R. and Clairo cannot perform at Longitude 2019 due to scheduling conflicts. We're gutted, especially about H.E.R., but thank the Lord we have 22 new acts to worship.

The festival will take place in Marlay Park from July 5 until July 7, 2019. There are still some limited tickets left for the full three days, so get on that FAST.

For further festival information see: www.longitude.ie | www.mcd.ie

Feature image: Instagram/@longitudefest

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Danish band Lukas Graham have landed in hot water after covering the late rapper XXXTenacion's song SAD!, claiming to have no knowledge of his violent past.

The track was covered as a stripped-down version for the Spotify Singles series, and now the lead singer Lukas Forchammer has stated that the song will be removed from streaming services.

He posted a now-deleted statement to Instagram, writing; “Our cover of ‘SAD!’ will be taken down ASAP. I had no knowledge of his violent history. I’m very sorry for the pain I’ve caused. Again, I’m very sorry.”

The band allegedly had no clue about the deceased rap artist's controversial history with the law.

At the time of his death back in 2016, he was facing trial for a number of charges including false imprisonment and aggravated battery of a pregnant woman.

The band's apology referenced XXX's domestic abuse charges from October 2016, after he was shot and killed in June of that year.

The 20-year-old's multi-platinum-selling posthumous album ? has been boosted and featured by a number of famous hip-hop and rap artists.

The rapper confessed to “f*cking up” his ex-girlfriend, in addition to a number of other violent crimes in a secret video which was made public after his death.

Real name Jahseh Onfroy said in an interview with the podcast No Jumper that he nearly killed his gay prison inmate who was staring at him. He laughed throughout the interview, showing no remorse.

"I was going crazy,” he told the interviewer. “I smear his blood on my face, on my hands. I got it, like, in my nails. I got it all over me. I was going f*cking crazy.”

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Sunday’s season finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians saw Kim open up candidly about her husband Kanye West, following the rapper's turbulent declaration that "slavery was a choice".

Despite admitting that she was "hysterically crying" when she heard her 41-year-old husband say the quote, she claims that he is of sound mind and is even "doing good".

The Kardashian star will always have his back, it seems.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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She spoke about the controversial hip-hop star's antics very openly;

“When he gets ramped up, he can’t control what he says — he can’t let it go,” she said. “He loves being ramped up."

He’s like, ‘I feel powerful when I’m ramped up. I don’t want to be so suppressed. Yeah, I say crazy s—, but I’ve always said crazy s—. That’s why I’m Kanye.'”

She insists, however, that his intentions are understandable to her as his wife;

“I always know what Kanye’s intentions are and what he’s trying to say, but I also know that they’re going to write a headline and people are going assume that that’s exactly what you said and what you meant,” she continued.

“He didn’t say slavery is a choice, he was saying, ‘If you’re going to still be enslaved for another 400 years, then that’s some bulls—.’ That, as a wife, is really frustrating to see the media take everything and run with it.”

The timing was extremely unfortunate; Kris Jenner was set to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres show, who commented on the whole debacle.

“I just want to make everything better,” said Jenner, 63. “You know me. I want everybody to get along, I want everybody to be happy, I want everybody to understand one another, communicate.”

“Even thought Kanye went on TMZ this morning and made some controversial comments, my loyalty really lies with Kanye,” Jenner continued.

“It’s really my job to be there to support Kanye and be somebody in his life that offers him love and support and not criticism.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Once the scandal was settled, Kim flew out to Wyoming to support Kanye at his album launch party.

“I am so excited to be in Wyoming for Kanye’s listening party,” she said. “After TMZ, Kanye changed his whole album. I’m just excited so many people came out to support him. … I’m glad that now we can just have fun, listen to the music and have a good time.”

“I obviously support him and will always, but he likes to speak for himself and I like to speak for myself,” she added. “As his wife, I just have to express how I feel and have those private conversations with him and help him better communicate what he has to say.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Kim had also been working with the White House to attempt to commute 63-year-old Alice Maria Johnson's life sentence for a first time non-violent drug offence.

“My first phone call was to Ivanka [Trump]. I just felt like as a woman she would really feel for this woman the way that I connected with Alice,” Kim said. “She did and she connected me with her husband Jared Kushner, so I actually have a meeting with the president of the United States next week to discuss Alice Johnson.”

According to Kim, it was a "tricky" situation, as she disagrees with Donald Trump's polarising views.

“I’ve been so straightforward with Jared. I have different views, I was at Hillary Clinton fundraisers. So this might not be a popular opinion, but I’ll talk to whoever I need to talk to to get the job done.”

“I know we have one shot to plead our case. Knowing that someone’s life is in your hand, it’s a really scary feeling,” she added. “We have to just do justice by Alice.”

She then flew to Tennessee to meet Johnson in person, after Trump shockingly commuted her sentence.

“It’s just such a satisfying moment. To know that she’s been behind bars for 22 years and she’s now home — it’s really amazing,” she said. “Just seeing Alice with her huge family, it’s like me and my big family. If I couldn’t be with them for two decades, that would break my soul.”

“That’s what so many people don’t get. This has nothing to do with politics. F— politics,” she added. “I don’t really know anything. This is: Get in front of the person — the only person in the world that can make this decision — and try to change their mind.”

“Every time I think that I’ve had a crazy year, I live the next year and it’s even crazier. … On this journey of getting Alice out, I have learned so much about criminal justice is and really how messed up our system is,” Kim said.

"There’s so much that has to be done … now that that is in me, I can’t stop at Alice. There has to be so much more than I can do.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The season wrapped up, the family reflected on the addition of three beautiful new grandchildren; Stormi, True and Chicago.

All in all, Keeping Up with the Kardashians displayed the crazy year which the clan has had, but the positivity which they have for each other was the most heartwarming aspect.

Bring on the next season, and even more drama, we say.

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Rap R&B sensation the Weeknd is apparently being sued for trademark infringement over his alter ego 'Starboy' by a comic book writer who claims to have created the character back in 2014.

TMZ and The Blast are reporting that writer Eymun Talasazan came up with the concept for a series of comic books focusing on superhero rap and R&B artists, and that he was in touch with representatives of the Weeknd regarding a possible collaboration.

This alleged collaboration never actually took place, after nothing came of the 2017 talks, but the Starboy character was then used for the Weeknd's infamous album last year.

The singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, has yet to comment on the issue.

The Marvel graphic novel The Weeknd Presents: Starboy is "near identical" to Eymun Talasazan's idea which he supposedly pitched to the Weeknd's representatives, according to reports.

Talasazan claims to have been creating a whole world surrounding the Starboy comic persona in 2015, dedicated to R&B superheroes.

TMZ recently wrote that Daft Punk and the Weeknd have already faced a €5 million lawsuit over reports of plagiarism on the track 'Starboy' by a songwriter named Yasminah.

She claims her song 'Hooyo', released back in 2009, shares some of the same elements as Daft Punk's offering.

It seems the song, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, is causing plenty of scandal as well as success.

28-year-old Tesfaye, who is currently dating supermodel Bella Hadid, has just moved in with his Victoria's Secret sweetheart.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The duo seem loved up, despite splitting up back in 2015, and we can't see this controversy getting in the way of their romance.

What do you think, is Starboy an original the Weeknd character? The drama continues…

Feature image: Twitter/@theweeknd 

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Does the name Tricia Miranda mean anything? Quite possibly it doesn't – and yet she is one of the entertainment industry's leading choreographers. 

Since moving to LA a decade-and-a-half ago, she has become the go-to expert for big-names including Britney Spears, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Jay Z, and Usher.

Tricia has furthermore worked on movies including 17 Again, which starred Zac Efron, as well as talent search shows such as The X Factor, and So You Think You Can Dance.

She's also an internationally-respected hip-hop instructor – and it is her work in that capacity that is truly garnering attention this week. 

Filmed in late April and featuring students of Tricia's, one captivating video clip has now gone viral, notching up millions of views. It shows a rotating series of skilled dancers move to Rihanna's B**ch Better Have My Money... and it's nothing short of mind-blowing. 

Online commentators have been quick to respond too.

"Ok so my new goal in life is to take a class with @_triciamiranda," stated one fan on Twitter. Another simply said: "One day I will be able to work with the amazing @_triciamiranda."

The woman-of-the-hour herself took to Instagram to express her own gratitude. "Thank you for the 5 million views," she wrote. "Really appreciate the support guys."

So without further ado, we give you Tricia Miranda's take on Rihanna's sound…

 

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