Crunk by melissa frazier

EXAMPLES: Covers, TOC and Editorial Spread

Hosea Sanchez Sex and Dating

Make Your Home a Stress-free Zone

Q-TIP

Still In The Game

+ PLUS

Reality Check 101

Fashion

Back In Vogue

GOT

DIRTYMONEY? D A W N

S E A N

K A L E E N A

RECO

of the Bravo’s FASHION SHOW

MODELHOUSE

It’s Not Just a Competition

Leona Lewis POP’s Next MEGASTAR MOVE OVER MARIAH

When To Stay When To GO + PLUS

Fashion

Psychodelic Chic Fizz and J Boog Elise Neal The Headphone Masterpiece

MUSIC

CRUNKEXPOSED

This Jamaica, Queens (by way of New York) woman is far from your average girl. Nicki Minaj is making a buzz not just as an underground artist but she is paving her way through mainstream hip-hop. The self-proclaimed Wonder Woman is indeed multi-faceted with skills not just in rapping but also in writing and acting. Nicki was trained at the school of performing arts which was depicted in the movie and television series FAME. She has quickly become an indemand artist for appearances and features with major players in the hip-hop game. Nicki is currently in the studio recording her first album slated to come out the first quarter of 2010. She has also been nominated for the Southern Entertainment Awards (SEA) Female Mixtape Artist of the Year in 2009 and for Southern Entertainment Awards (SEA) Indy Rap Artist of the Year 2010.

NICKINotMINAJ Bad for a Girl By: Erin Gannie

CRUNK: How did you break into the business? NM: I started doing DVDs, videos and appearances and Lil Wayne saw me on one of the DVDs I did and he asked me to be a part of Young Money. CRUNK: So you are officially signed to Young Money now; how does that feel? NM: Yes. It feels good. I’m excited. I feel like this is a new chapter and I can’t wait to show people the mainstream side of Nicki Minaj. CRUNK: How would you describe your flow? NM: I wouldn’t really have a definition for my sound. I think after my first album, I will have more of a definition for it. As of right now I am just making what I feel is good music. I don’t take myself too seriously when it comes to my word play and things like that. I try to have as much fun as possible with the music. CRUNK: Have you ever been compared to any other female artist past or present? NM: I guess I have.

CRUNK: How many mixtapes do you have exactly? NM: I have three. My first one was Playtime Is Over, the second is Sucka Free, and the last is Beam Me Up Scotty. CRUNK: Out of all of them; do you think that Beam Me Up Scotty really displays your growth as an artist? NM: Yes, definitely. CRUNK: Who has been your most influential artist in business? NM: Lil Wayne. CRUNK: Do you consider yourself a role model to other females? NM: From what I hear I am. The girls that always approach me tell me that I am their role model or idol. I try to empower them. Often when I am at a show girls come up to me and say “Thank You”. They say I am a powerful girl or a bad bitch or whatever term they use; they usually thank me for giving them confidence. So I guess I would have to say yes. CRUNK: Up until this point what has been your most memorable moment in music? NM: The press release that went out about me signing to Young Money. That’s been the pinnacle so far because it showed that to all the underground artists and girls that follow underground artists (such as myself) that it is possible to transition from underground to mainstream. As long as you work hard it’s possible to sign with a major label. CRUNK: What’s the biggest thing you have learned about being in the music business? NM: To think before you speak.

CRUNK: Are you well received by other females in the industry or are you perceived by some as a threat? NM: You know I really don’t know. You would have to ask them what they really consider me to be. I don’t really put too much thought into what other females think about me to be honest.

CRUNK: Before you linked up with Lil Wayne were you struggling to get where you wanted to be? NM: Even after I met Wayne I was struggling. Everyday is a struggle and an obstacle. If you want to get to the top there is a struggle; there is no “breezeway”, there’s no express service that takes you to the top. It’s always going to be hard work and obstacles. What makes me a winner is that you don’t get the best of me.

CRUNK: Give me the breakdown on your MySpace description as a modern day Wonder Woman. NM: I feel like that at times. I feel like all women are Wonder Women because we pretty much adapt to whatever and we all have multiple personalities and know how to switch it on and off. We do everything and then some.

CRUNK: Last year, you won “Female of the Year” at the Underground Music Awards. How was that experience for you? NM: It was really fun. That was my first time winning an award ever, so I was really psyched about it. I couldn’t be at the ceremony, but I was very grateful for that because I really did not expect that.

CRUNK: What is a Harajuku Barbie? NM: We all know who Barbie is and to me Barbie represents “girls”. And Harajuku is a Japanese culture based on fashion and the lifestyle. I just like those two words and I like the Barbie culture and the Harajuku culture, so I just put those two words together and came up with that name. It’s not really a big deal; I just called myself that and it just took on a life of its own.

CRUNK: I know you are out performing and promoting your mixtape; but what else do you have going on? NM: I am working on my debut album. I am also working on the Young Money compilation album that’s slated to come out soon. I am always working whether it’s on the music or not. Recently I have been asked to do a lot of features for major artists, so I will be working on those too.

CRUNK: I hear that you sing and act. NM: I used to sing and I was trained in acting.

CRUNK: What would you say has been your hottest collab? NM: One has to be Gucci Mane, Slumber Party; all my girls like that one. My favorite is Sunshine featuring Lil Wayne.

CRUNK: Are singing on any of your tracks? NM: I am singing on Kill Da DJ, and Mind on My Money featuring Busta Rhymes, and Sweetest Girl on my Sucka Free mixtape, so I do a little bit.

CRUNK: What track is your sentimental one? NM: It would probably be Can Anybody Hear Me.

CRUNK: For those that aren’t familiar, can you touch a little bit on your recent mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty? NM: It’s probably one of the best mixtapes you will ever hear in your life because it’s more like an album instead of a mixtape. Its real songs on there as oppose to my mixtapes in the past which is me just free styling or rapping over a beat. With Beam Me Up Scotty it was really when I started to come into my own as a songwriter and I was in the studio, choosing the beats and melodies, etc. It has a lot of what people have come to love about Nicki Minaj but it took it a couple of steps up. 112

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contents

DEPARTMENTS

C MUSIC 57

CRUNKEXPOSED

NEWBOYZ: WE JERKIN

Formerly known as the Swagger Boyz, the two friends have been together for just a year (the duo was formed officially July 4, 2008) but are already getting love across the country for bringing the Los Angeles dance style jerkin’ to the forefront with their single, “You’re a Jerk.”

DURROUGH People ostensibly attend college to get an education. For red-hot rapper Dorrough, the schooling he received was a bit unexpected.

C LIFESTYLE 100

Welcone to Chocolate City better known as Washington DC, let’s take a tour of DC four quadrants.

115

TATTED UP

156

CRUNKSCOPES

One on One conversation with Dream was recently named EVP of Island records.

157

KNOW YOUR HERITAGE

OLD SCHOOL

161

CRUNK CUISINE

189

CENTERSTAGE

CHECK THE EXEC

Remebering the times, Its all about the 90’s.

ONES AND TWOS

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

C BUSINESS

201

DIAMOND PRINCESS

In November 2007, Diamond left the rap group to pursue her own solo career.. She did not want to take the opportunity going solo, feeling bad and feeling like she betrayed the group. Going solo allowed more room for me to grow as an artist.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

The many faces of Chris “LUDA” Bridges

101 CRUNKCERTIFIED My name is David Blaine

123 CRUNKSPIRATIONS Words and Wisdoms

39 LEGAL EAGLE Did You Know!!!!

C FASHION 190

192

FINANCES 199

54 PRODUCER’S CORNER The Almighty Adonis

MUSIC REVIEWS

FEATURE

SPORTS AND FITNESS

122

CITY LIGHTS

FASHION TRENDS

Michael Knight gives you dose of Southern Style

MODELS AND DESIGNERS

Project’s Runway Runner-Up Korto Momolu talks about her upcoming fashion line.

BEAUTY TIPS

105 HOW WE RIDE

5th Annual DUB Car Show

85 FITNESS GURU Dolvin Qunice: Body Sculpture

129 CRUNK CANDY

BUSINESS ADVICE 23 CRUNKCIETY

Welcone to Chocolate City better known as Washington DC, let’s take a tour of DC four quadrants.