Nicki Minaj’s Branding Power Decoded

By BlackEnterprise.com

Most may view Nicki Minaj as just another rapper/singer/performer; but the multi-faceted entertainer is much more than that, she’s a bankable brand that’s only just begun to blossom. In a few short years, Nicki has influenced trends through her music and unmistakable fashion sense, and her involvement in cosmetics, television, hair and even the floral industry (Nicki has exclusive pink collection bouquets available on flowers.com for Valentine’s Day) has helped spike sales and visibility for a number of ancillary brands. Whether her detractors like it or not, Ms. Minaj is a one-woman marketing guru. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at some of the brands the young starlet has—directly or indirectly—helped bolster by association.

PepsiMax/Coke Skirmish Now Involves Snoop Dogg

Hip Hop culture is here to stay... It's Big Business you know. Though they basically rehashed BBDO’s 15-year-old concept, TBWA\Chiat\Day LA is tweaking the storyline involving PepsiMax guy and Coke guy with the addition of Snoop Dogg, who shows up at the end of this spot called “Display King” to put the latter deliveryman in his place. If only a trip to the grocery store was this exciting… Bryn't your next, Right?

Kool Moe Dee Assumes New Role as Digital Content Guru

Kool Moe Dee, he of "Wild Wild West" fame, has now taken on a new persona: Dr. Media, a character that's part of this sometimes painful to watch group therapy session with characters playing Publishing, Hollywood and Network Television. The three are all freaking out about sustaining relevancy in the digital space, but somehow discussing Ashton Kutcher and getting a verse from the doc himself seems to put them all at ease. Or at least that's we gather since we couldn't help but fast-forward a few times.

This effort is brought to you by SoHo agency Barker/DZP it appears and is for NYU Stern's weeklong "Digital Transformation of the Entertainment and Media Industries" seminar. We think Kool Moe Dee would be better served just reviving his feud with LL Cool J at this point.