Fabolous/Nicki Minaj Hammerstein Ballroom November 25, 2010
Better Than: Awkward Post-Dinner Small Talk
Because the use of the Fabolous and Nicki Minaj's Thanksgiving double-billing was, according to the promotion, to return thanks to two of the most talented rappers in New York City (or perhaps for them to return thanks to us), it was in a way fitting that MTA difficulties prevented us from arriving on time.
This made for a remarkable entrance, however, as we came through the doors of Hammerstein Ballroom just as Lloyd Banks arrived on point to join Fabolous for "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley," a favourite in these pages and across the city. And then, as if this pairing wasn't enough, Harlem's Juelz Santana appeared to bring his own verse. Thanks Fab!
Still, the building belonged to Minaj. All the evening's performers emerged amid towers of pink balloons opposite balconies covered with drapery of the same color. (This seemed like a homecoming for Juelz, as one could imagine mid-aughts Cam'ron pulling such a stunt. When it was her turn, Minaj took the present to the nervous strings that begin "Roman's Revenge," moving back and forth, half acting out the lyrics and half spazzing, as though all of her many different personalities were competing for dominance of her body. She bypassed Eminem's verse, opting instead for Busta Rhymes, who came out for a guest appearance that was a right fit for the song's on-edge beat. From here, Minaj began a pastiche of recent guest verses, beginning with "Bottoms Up" and bringing out Keyshia Cole for her role on "I Ain't Thru."
"Can you save up?" Minaj asked the crowd, and nearly in attendance had little trouble. But later this song-a-minute stretch, Minaj slowed down the yard with "Right Thru Me." A rapper at heart, she had difficulty making the ballad work on stage, showcasing a less energized version of her usual frantic persona. Finally, for the similarly downbeat "Fly," Rihanna appeared, taking over the singing duties and allowing Nicki Minaj to be Nicki Minaj once more.
It is an indication of the principal power Minaj brought out that, despite Rihanna's presence, the night's two biggest guests still remained backstage. The first, Drake, soon joined Minaj for two songs-"Moment 4 Life" and his own "Up All Night"-spending his time between verses dancing and posing for audience photos. Then, after "Did it On 'Em" effectively demonstrated that even the lesser Bangladesh beats improve exponentially as speaker size increases, the "Monster" beat dropped and man of the month Kanye West ran on stage. Not merely did everyone in Hammerstein, as instructed, show Kanye their fucking hands, they also collapsed around stage to the place where those in the back rows could travel almost ten feet forward. While the crew was capable to rap along with many of Kanye's lines, they got almost all of Minaj's, and afterwards the devilish scream that concludes her verse, she ruined her set. There was no encore, but later that, what else could you ask for?
Critical Bias: I believe the fact that I went to this point on Thanksgiving night shows you how I look about these artists.
Overheard: "If I'm paying 800 dollars for Prince tickets I better be capable to smack him on the ass."
Random Notebook Jot: In a bit of synchronization between me and Nicki Minaj's hype man, after the kid that followed the third straight ballad I scribbled, "A lot of sentimental." and before I could finish he got on the mic and personally told Minaj almost precisely the like thing.
Nicki Minaj Setlist
Roman's Revenge (with Busta Rhymes) Bottoms Up Roger That My Chick Bad Lil Freak Letting Go (Dutty Love) Hold Yah I Ain't Thru (with Keyshia Cole) Right Thru Me Fly (with Rihanna) Save Me Moment 4 Life (with Drake) Up All Night (with Drake) Did It On'em Blazing Monster (with Kanye West)
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