Nicki Minaj on American Idol: 5 Things to Know About the Controversial Rapper
The recent announcement that rapper Nicki Minaj is now an "American Idol" judge has people talking-including her alter ego Roman Zolanski!
While Minaj is set to join country singer Keith Urban, pop superstar Mariah Carey and veteran "Idol" judge Randy Jackson for the show's 12th season, is the hip hop star already causing trouble in paradise? Here are five things to know about "American Idol's" most unlikely judge.
She has a bevy of alter egos
Nicki Minaj told New York magazine that she first took on alter egos as a child as a way to hide from her parent's fighting. "'Cookie' was my first identity-- that stayed with me for a while," she said. "I went on to Harajuku Barbie, then Nicki Minaj. " Other alter egos include Nicki Theresa and her male alter ego, Roman Zolanksi, whom she controversially exorcised during a performance at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year. But will Roman resurface on the "Idol" panel? When asked by a Twitter follower if Roman would have a turn at judging, Minaj tweeted, "Oh he already has. Trust."
She's had her s! hare of commercial success
The rapper has appeared in commercials for Pepsi and Adidas, and had a limited-edition MAC lipstick shade and an OPI nail polish line named after her songs. (Sample colors: Super Bass Shatter and Metallic 4 Life.) Up next: Her new fragrance, Pink Friday, debuts later this month at Macy's.
She had a role in a kiddie flick
Minaj has an unlikely acting credit-in a kiddie flick! She was the voice of Steffie in the 2012 movie "Ice Age 4: Continental Drift." In an interview with ARTISTdirect she said, "Her fire, her spunk, her boldness-that's what I noticed about the character right away so that resonated with meThe character fits with one side of my personality. It's that fun, crazy side. It wasn't hard at all."
She's already causing drama
Let the catfights begin! According to the TMZ, Minaj and Mariah Carey are already feuding! During the first "Idol" taping in New York City this past weekend, when Nicki's critiques were interrupted by Mariah, the rapper proceeded to talk loudly talk over her co-judge. A source on the set said, "These girls just don't like each other." Minaj is legendary for not always getting along with her more experienced peers. Her well-publicized feud with Lil' Kim culminated when the veteran rapper launched a profanity-laced tongue lashing on the then-new kid on the block, warning her to respect her elders.
She's been fired - a lot!
And perhaps this doesn't bode well for her "Idol" future. In an interview with Billboard, the outspoken rapper revealed she's been fired 15 times! ""The last job I had was as an office manager in a little, tiny room where I literally wanted to strangle this guy because he was so loud and obnoxious," Minaj said. "I'd been fired like 15 times because I had a horrible attitude. I worked at Red Lobster before that and I chased a customer out of the restaurant once so I could stick my middle finger up at her and demand that she give me my pen backI was bad."
"American Idol" Season 12 premieres in January on Fox.
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