The Spotlight. (None) 1980-201?, March 16, 2012, Image 6
Too Much of Bad Minaj
Alysha Phanord Forum Writer
“When I’m asser
tive I’m a bitch, but
when a man is asser
tive, he’s ‘bossed up’.
No negative conten
tion being ‘bossed up’
but lots of negative
contention being a
bitch.” If you ever
watch Nicki Minaj’s
documentary “My
Time Now” on MTV,
you would’ve heard
her ranting about
the inequalities and
double standards
that women face. It
was quite a shock
for me, to hear that
same Nicki release a
song entitled “Stupid
Hoe”. How could that
same woman, who
asked, ““Is that wrong
for wanting more
for myself, wanting
people to treat with
respect?” release a
song so demeaning
to women. Well, I
have an answer to
your question about
respect; generally
people don’t respect
people who have to
bring others down to
get themselves to the
top.
In the offending
song, the phrase
“stupid hoe” is used
approximately 37
times. The use of
the term itself is
offensive, but what
happens to be more
disturbing, is that the
song is supposed to
be performed by one
of Nicki’s alter egos
“Roman Zolanski”,
a male persona that
Nicki has adopted.
I find the alter ego
business itself dis
turbing, but does this
mean this how how
a male is talking to
a female? BET also
refused to air the
video on its network,
while BET has de
clined to offer reason
ing for its decision,
Minaj tweeted why it
wouldn’t air, tweeting
““Can’t premiere on
a network b/c it’s im
portant that my art is
not tampered with or
compromised prior to
you viewing it for the
1st time [sic].”
This contro
versial song and the
bad publicity that
has been consis
tently accompanying
might actually prove
the old Hollywood
adage “There’s no
such thing as bad
publicity” false. On
YouTube the video
has accumulated
over 29 million views
(as of 2/14/12) but
it also has more
than 370,000 dis
likes (more than
the 181,000 likes).
Her Grammy per
formance, where
the concept was to
exorcise her alto
ego,Roman, has also
left her fans con
fused. It has also
angered the Catholic
League. Many just
don’t understand her
intent, other than to
spark controversy and
increase publicity.
One person tweeting
“Wished Kanye had
come and interrupted
it [her performance]”.
Another general
consensus was that
tweeter thought Nicki
Minaj was “trying to
hard to act like Lady
Gaga”. If this is what
Nicki Minaj has in
store for her fans
when Pink Friday:
Roman Reloaded is
released in April, than
I for one, do not want
any part of it.
xxxxxxoooooooc
<X>000<X><X><X><><><><><X><X><X><><>0<>0<X>0<><><X><X><>0<>C><X><>00000<><><X>0<>000©<><X>0©©<>00^
yun
i
run
run
k 1
Tristin Travis
Arts and Entertainment Writer
For her wisdom and talent and a
beautiful personality to match Whitney
Houston was found in a Beverly Hills
hotel, she appeared to have drowned.
As we know Whitney Houston, was
a wonderful woman with talent for
days. She touched the lives of musi
cal artists from all genres and walks of
entertainment. Artists from the likes
of Bob Marley to Amy Winehouse and
paved the way for what we know as real music
today. Lately there have been touched with
numerous deaths of many lives throughout
the musical industry. From actors to singers
across the world fans across the nation have
learned to cope with all these losses while
still adjusting to the new era of music we are
exposed to today. With true talent, especially
within the music industry dying off to unfor
tunate causes and health issues where can we
turn for artistry and positive touching and
influential talent. It seems like there are new
artists on the come up everyday in the music
industry. From local artists to those across
the waters there’s a new era of talent emerging
right before our eyes. But is it talent?Or just
another way of making fast, money?
Less than a month ago we also learned that
two special figures in music Soul train host,
Don Cornelius and world-renowned singer,
Etta James also passed away. Don Cornelius
run
created the path for many careers and opened
doors for singers, actors and other performers
throughout the 70’s and 80’s. He intrigued us
with his creative themes and flavorful taste in
music, as he helped expose and inform us to
the different artists that we look up to today.
Many artists can truly say that Soul Train was
the show that inspired them to move forward
in the entertainment industry and sculpt
them into the talented people they are today.
But now we must ask ourselves who can we
look at for music? Real Music? Who is wor
thy enough to hold the torch for real Music?
Sound with purpose, substance. Artists like
Beyonce, Adele, Lady Gaga, Kanye West,
and Chris Brown have all mentioned being
inspired by different musical lyricists and
talented artists. These artists like many oth
ers obtain the talent and creativity it takes to
standout and survive as the music legends we
look up to.
Now we have artists that seem to be more
focused on partying and having a “hit”
record as opposed to feeling the music
and telling a story through the lyrics.
Entertainers like Rich Kids, and F.L.Y.
with songs like “My Potna dem”, and
“Swag Surfin’’ have fallen into this realm
of entertainers because they make
music not to create a healthy person
able fan base and possibly change lives,
but to make money off of the audiences
they create at a party. Parties have a tendency
to make songs popular because it brings a lot
of people together. When people are in big
groups the songs that are playing can create a
certain atmosphere or vibe making the audi
ence like or dislike the songs. Lately because
of the lack of passion for music I believe that
Party songs have really taken over the music
industry. Hopefully upcoming artists can fo
cus more on their talent and more personable
music as opposed to just, making money! Un
fortunately we lost another talented musically
influential artist; hopefully this generation is
able to look past the fame and parties to make
real music, keeping the legacy of those who
made the music we love.
Edito’i in Chief
Kirstin C. Evans
Executive Edito’is
Kelly Harper
Brittany Fennell
Ekts &, (Entertainment Edito’i
Brittany Abrahams
Wash ion &, Beauty Editor
Chelsea Cardell
Jo’ium Edito’i
Rabiah Elisa
Jlayout Edito’i
Keya Elie
oCifestyle Edito’i
Charmaine White
flews Edito’i
Faith Porter
Photography Edito’i
Eric Ross
Public Pelations Chair
Briana Nneka Nwbobi
Ehts and Entertainment Writers
Margaret West
Tristan Travis
Ain Ealy
tfashion and Beauty Writers
Aaliyah Nurideen
Adrienne Porter
Sasha Jones
Cfo’ium W’lite’is
Marjani Ruth Hall
Kamron Taylor
Amiri Lampley
Ariel Smith
Alysha Phanord
Jlayout Jbesiyne’is
Cameran Botts
Lauren Holloway
Jlfestyle W’lite’is
Taylor Wade
Jazmin Tillman
Lauren Hawkins
flews W’lite’is
Jasmine Ellis
Ayanna Runcie
Maya Dixon
Business fflanage’i
Michaeline Frazier
Public Pealations PI earn
Kendra Mills
Lauren Halloway
Chelsea Cardell
Michaeline Frazier
Community Service Chak
Jazzmine Trotman
-Jldvisol
Dean Kimberly Ferguson
Would you like
to write for the
Spelman
Spotlight or
contribute an
L article?
Please Contact:
Kirstin C. Evans
Editor-in-Chief
via:
kevansl4@scmail.spelman.
edu
THE
SPELMAN
SPOT
LIGHT
Spelman
Spotlight Staff
350 Spelman Lane, Box 1234
Atlanta, GA 30314
Albert E. Manley College
Center
■
■
i