Nicki Minaj to debut new single on Grammy stage
Nicki Minaj plans to get the most out of her first appearance on the Grammy stage.
The Young Money raptress announced that she will use her set to debut material from her upcoming sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
Appearing as her alter-ego, Roman Zolanski, she, OK he, will unveil the album track Roman Holiday onstage.
While Minaj remains mum on further details, a source close to the rapper says fans should expect a complete Zolanski takeover on the Grammy show, with Minaj pairing "Roman Holiday" with the fiery Romans Revenge from her Grammy-nominated debut, Pink Friday. This theme is a bit of a departure, considering that Minaj dominated pop radio last year with the sugary pop crossover smash Superbass, and her collaboration with David Guetta, Turn Me On (which she says is now on the new album) is currently seated at No. 5 on both Billboards Hot 100 and iTunes' singles chart.
Minaj is up for best new artist, rap performance and rap album, and her appearance at the Grammys continues a string of high-profile performances that surely will boost the rollout of the album. The rapper performed alongside Madonna and M.I.A. during Sundays Super Bowl halftime show, and she is scheduled to perform at the NBA All-Star Game later this month.
The rapper first gave fans a taste of the album in November when she released the gritty "Roman in ! Moscow," which she followed with "Stupid Hoe" in December. The accompanying Hype Williams-directed clip found controversy when it reportedly got banned from BET.
Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is set for release on April 3 after it was originally slated for Valentines Day.
Minaj joins a heavy slate of Grammy performers who include Jason Aldean; Kelly Clarkson; Glen Campbell with the Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay with Rihanna; the Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Taylor Swift; Adele; Paul McCartney; Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; Tony Bennett with Carrie Underwood; Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt; Chris Brown; Deadmau5; David Guetta; and Lil Wayne.
The Grammys are determined by about 13,000 voting members. The eligibility period for nominated recordings was Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 30, 2011. The awards will be televised on CBS-TV from Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live except to viewers on the West Coast.
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-- Gerrick D. Kennedy
Photo: Nicki Minaj during her halftime appearance at the Super Bowl XLVI game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots on Sunday in Indianapolis. Credit: Chr! is O'Mea ra / Associated Press