What was expected to be an emotional night of celebration for outstanding achievement(s) in music, and remembrance in tribute to legendary music and entertainment industry icon - Whitney Houston (the queen of pop), this year's 2012 Grammy Awards show was, as many described, "distastefully stained" by [the] controversial and shocking performance of 'Roman Holiday', by female rap star - Nicki Minaj (aka: Barbie, Martha, and Roman).
Well known for her 'out-of-the-box', ultra-bizarre, flamboyant, highly provocative, and unorthodox style of [rap and entertainment] flow, many fans, award show attendees, and especially religious followers, were straight-up offended by the rappers untimely and perplexing display of "art".
No doubt, if Nicki's "Madonna-esque" premeditated 'game' was to piss-off the Catholic Church or garner more fame, fortune, attention and hyped-up buzz for her "brand", she definitely did that...and some!
So what did or will Nicki Minaj (or any of her alter-ego's) gain by taking a page out of Madonna's book of controversial performances? Obviously, she captured, although negatively, the attention and horror of thousands, if not millions, of viewers.
But will this sort of publicity increase [her] record sales and fan-base or turn people off?
We've witnessed many instances where controversy sells, but do consumer's, in the long run, support this sort of perceived "demonic" approach to free speech and artistic expression?
Unless Nicki is suddenly interested in attracting those in society who delve in the dark side of spirituality, in exchange for those [fans] who are opposed to it, she might consider explaining the situation with her own words -- if that will help any.
She did, in fact, explain her performance and related issues to 102.7 KIIS FM radio show host - Ryan Seacrest the day following her Grammy performance (click here to listen to full radio interview).
Outraged critics described the rappers performance as "terribly shocking", "hideous", "grotesque", "disrespectful", "insulting", "offensive", "highly satanic", "like Frankenstein", "hellish", "untimely", "sad", "inappropriate", and so on. While many upset viewers and critics question the appropriateness of her "train wreck" performance, especially considering the shocking news of Whitney Houston's sudden death the night before the Grammy's, religious practitioners, among others, wasted no time dissing Nicki and those responsible for scheduling her performance.
"None of this was by accident, and all of it was approved by The Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammy's. Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam."
Call it 'game', demonic possession, or just plain insane, Nicki Minaj and Grammy Award show shot-callers may have succeeded, intentionally or not, in casting a dark shadow over a musical moment in history (that should have highlighted the beautiful tribute to Whitney Houston by R&B vocalist - Jennifer Hudson), but the love and admiration for Miss Whitney Houston will shine far beyond this gross misstep of unfortunate, untimely and distasteful circumstances.
As for Miss Nicki Minaj (the female Weezee) - don't let smooth taste and alter egos fool you. Although she may rub some people the wrong way, she's gettin' her [self] pimpin' on. And as long as she continues to find and create ways to widen her sphere of influence and popularity, by promoting her movement, brand and style of 'hustle & flow', she remains the baddest bitch in the [rap] game...
...like, love, hate her or not -- she may not be darling, but she is Nicki Minaj!
