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.

Magic set to help Vibe Mag get its groove back

By KEITH J. KELLY

NY Post

Vibe Ventures hopes that the magic is back now that it has a new ownership team led by basketball legend Magic Johnson and supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle -- who are pumping an estimated $12 million into the ailing company in exchange for a majority stake.

The current owner, InterMedia Partners, a private-equity firm headed by Leo Hindery that took over in a foreclosure sale in late 2009, is going to stay involved. "We feel we can take it to a whole other level," Johnson told The Post.

The former Los Angles Lakers star, who will serve as chairman of Vibe Ventures, was pegged by Forbes in 2009 as one of the five wealthiest African-Americans in the US, with an estimated worth of $500 million.

In addition to the flagship Vibe magazine, Vibe Ventures includes Uptown magazine and related digital ventures and the rights to 1,100 episodes of dance show "Soul Train."

"We plan to find a way to build the 'Soul Train' brand and get it back on the air," said Johnson, who also promised to promote everything from music awards and live performances to business seminars and overseas licensing.

Johnson said the Yucaipa/Johnson Fund, formed from Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. and Magic Johnson Enterprises, has about $550 million available for future deals in all fields. He said he is on the prowl for more acquisitions in the urban entertainment and media arena.

"When advertisers and marketers want to get that urban eyeball, we want to be the company that they come to," said Johnson.

Vibe once jockeyed with The Source for a lead role covering hip-hop culture, but The Source was rocked by financial turmoil and forced to sell to new owners. With yesterday's deal, Vibe will get its fourth owner in its 18 years of publishing. The Wicks Group, which purchased the magazine for $35 million in 2005 from Miller Publishing, defaulted on its loan from Capital Source Bank in 2009 and forced a temporary shutdown.

Hindery's InterMedia Group took over and revived the magazine later that year. It plans to publish six issues of Vibe and six issues of Uptown this year. Robert Miller, part of the original Vibe launch team and a past owner, is involved as chairman of the Vibe and Uptown Magazine Group.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/magic_set_to_help_vibe_mag_get_its_wzaIY4V9wl9nyD9biJzTyK#ixzz1DZD6xpe1

The Future Forward's Top 10 To Watch in 2011

As we celebrate the new year we decided to create a countdown, recognizing people we should look out in 2011. These individuals have been extremely recognizable in 2010. Because of their amazing success stories we can't wait to what they are going to bring to the table this year.

Here is The Future Forward's Top 10 to Watch in 2011.

Nicki Minaj: A Love/Hate Relationship

By ChinaBabe of J9's MusicLife

As you all may already know I have a love/hate relationship with Nicki Minaj.  Actually it’s more like HATE/Love/Hate (lower case like)... my point is… she’s growing on me…

**looks down at keyboard**

In fact, I believe that most women, over the age of 25, have the same issue that I have with Nicki… I just don’t get it.  If you are talented and smart then playing dumb is not received well by women.  In all honesty, I want to love Nicki… I think women, the adult women who adore hip hop would love to embrace her, but we do not understand her.  We don’t play with dolls nor do we need the whole host of characters (voices) that are Nicki Minaj.  We like our female rappers (femcees) strong, sassy and independent.  We can see a little bit of ourselves in each of them...I am Missy, I am Eve, I am Lil Kim (at night, in my mind) and I want to be Lauryn when I grow up (pre-mental breakdown).  When I hear Nicki Minaj, Nicki Lewinski, Harajuku Barbie, and Roman Zolanski they all seem like a cast of characters that are NOTHING like me.

Well, since I just mentioned it...let's discuss the multiple personalities of Ms. Nicki Minaj....

1. Nicki Minaj, the sassy alter ego of Onika Tanya Maraj (Nicki's real name)
2. Nicki Lewinsky, the sexified mistress to President Carter (A wink to former President Bill Clinton and his mistress Monica Lewinsky)
3. Harajuku Barbie, the dumb blonde with the baby voice (A little nod to Paris Hilton…the baby voiced prostitute)
4. Roman Zolanski, the best character…and according to Nicki, Roman is the gay boy inside of her.  Roman’s rap style is what I wish Nicki (whoever) would be all the time!!! (Okay, the Roman Zolanski character loosely based on Roman Polansky a director from the 70's who was charged with rape of a 13 year old girl, but pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor and fled the country to avoid prosecution.  I'm not really sure where Nicki is going with this one.

Someone once said that the mark of a great femcee is women want to be her and men want to be with her.  Most girls want to be Nicki, women not so much.  Young girls see Nicki as accessible and fun, visually.  She's a pretty girl, she looks like a doll.  I don't know about you, but when I was a little girl I use to pull the heads and arms off the Barbies and throw them out the project window… well, at least that’s what I did with Barbies...

To read the full article, click here.

Kanye West's "Runaway": Reaction & Review

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

Just in case you missed it, last Saturday, October 23, Kanye West premiered his highly anticipated 35 minute video, locking down three major TV stations MTV, MTV2, and BET. This video's soundtrack was tracks from his upcoming album My Dark and Twisted Fantasy due for release on Monday, November 22, 2010.

Listen to Kanye explain the symbolism in the video:

ChinaBabe's Take:  This video is mostly a beautiful piece of abstract moving art with Selita Ebanks as the center of attraction.  I understand the phoenix represents his career and the rise from the ashes.  I even understand the dinner scene, being the "last supper" symbolizing his rebirth and renewed spirits.  There are great touches of brilliance moving toward genius throughout this short film. However, I believe that the genius will be lost to most people because of the cocky arrogance that is Kanye West. In some ways, I don't think that this production was completely necessary.  There were times where I just thought this is a bit much...but in true Kanye form, he was pleased with himself.  Kanye is beyond talented but this film will just be 35 minutes of confusion to most people...

To read the entire article, visit J9's MusicLife.