Nicki Minaj concert adds to Year of Girl Power
With the announcement of Nicki Minaj coming to Edmonton this summer, it’s clear that this year’s concert scene will be ruled by the women of pop.
Minaj plays Rexall Place on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Tickets are $29-$95 and go ON SALE Saturday, March 21. The pre-sale starts Wednesday, March 18. A posse of acts including Meek Mill, Rae Sremmurd, Tinashe, Dej Loaf will open the show.
Known for her distinctive staccato flow, for coming on strong, and a propensity for feuds, the Trinidadian rapper is touring in support of her latest album, Pinkprint, her third with the word “pink” in the title. Could there be a feud with Pink in the offing? No.
Minaj, trained at a New York performing arts high school, came to fame in with underground mixtapes released in the late ‘00s, attracted the attention of Lil’ Wayne and then the sky high was the limit. She has since scored a string of hits from Super Bass to Starships to Anaconda, the latter one of the great modern butt songs destined to go on the ultimate butt song mixtape come Judgement Day. Though she quickly established herself as the Queen of Rap, she has reportedly feuded with Lil’ Kim, Mariah Carey and Iggy Azalia, though the media might be making a big thing out of nothing.
The Minaj show is the latest in the diva spectaculars coming to Rexall Place in what may be the arena’s last year as the city’s No. 1 concert venue. Kelly Clarkson’s Oct. 14 show goes on sale Friday. Madonna plays two nights: Sunday, Oct. 11 and Monday, Oct. 12. Taylor Swift is here for a pair Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Wednesday, Aug. 5. And Shania Twain ambitiously booked the arena for two nights for her comeback-farewell tour: Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, but to the surprise of some industry-watchers, these shows are close to selling out.
Is it OK to use the term “girl power?”
