Author: Kara B (@KaraBrazey20 on Twitter/X)
Welcome to your wildest dreams and watch your deepest fantasies come alive. You are entering a place, a concept, a state of being that nourishes creativity and inspires greatness. A moment in time requiring your immediate presence as you try and savor every moment of the experience before it becomes a fleeting memory. Completely entranced with the sights and sounds, you become engulfed in the youthfulness of the night. Standing amid thousands of people, you smile knowing for the next few hours you are amongst family and at home. Baby, you have entered #GagCity.
Entering the Spectrum Center Arena in Charlotte N.C, I was in awe at the commonality amongst so many strangers. Social media and biased hip-hop talking heads have tried to minimize Barbz to white kids or gay men. Using race and sexuality as a drag to reduce Minaj’s impact on black culture and hip-hop, then gerring angry when her fans won’t support other female props. Those same gutless female props who pander to the exact fans they claim are just gay men or “lil white boys.” Make it make sense because I can’t. Let me tell you who Nicki Minaj’s fanbase consists of; everybody and their motherfucking momma. Go to a Nicki concert and you’ll think your at a United Nations convention with people of various races, ethnicities, ages, socio and economic classes. The only thing they have in common is the color, Pink. Barbz are the world.
#GagCity is a virtual concept bought to life by Nicki Minaj to celebrate the release of her 5th studio album “Pink Friday 2.” The concept of #GagCity took on a life of it’s on and exploded on social media into a marketing phenomenon for Nicki and “Pink Friday 2”. The world was witnessing a 100% fan driven marketing campaign that had never been done before. A black female rapper united the world around a virtual concept that had every major brand, Fortune 500 company and relevant celebrity entering its algorithmic gates. It was the moment that transcended the entire music industry. Atlantic Records executives sat at their desk with somber looks on their faces as they realized-the Phoenix had not only risen but she was soaring high.
Google says there are over 247 hues of pink and on March 26, 2024. The entire pink color spectrum was in the Spectrum Arena. Pink has always been closely associated with Nicki and her brand. The Queen herself has said she likes the aura of pink. So, we knew as we prepared to touchdown in Queen City for the #GagCityPinkFriday2WorldTour, that we had to embody the right vibes. We were all there to support one woman, Nicki Minaj.
Minaj transitioned #GagCity from an online marketing campaign to the centerpiece of her tour. It was the backdrop that set the tone for not only Charlotte but arena’s all over the world. The visuals were absolutely stunning with the vibrancy of pink pulling you into Nicki’s orbit. For about 3 hours, worry ceased to exist. There are only three laws in #GagCity, Nicki is Thee Queen of Rap and there is no successor unless she has a daughter, comradery and the belief that music isn’t just for passive listening, it has the power of messaging and to unite. Nicki has taken so many swords and daggers to her character and talent that a lesser woman would have crumbled but like the Phoenix she rose through the fire. Triumph over adversity, is what Nicki has embodied since she entered the music industry.
I always chuckle to myself when someone asks what is #GagCity as if it’s some brick and mortar around the corner.
The production for #GagCity is top tier. The lighting is mesmerizing and creates a feeling of euphoria and beauty. These tour graphics are out of this world with visuals replicating the fictional Minaj inspired city. If you haven’t been to a tour stop you are truly missing a moment in musical history. The arena emanated an energyas if it was alive and feverishly feeding off the fan’s energy. DJ Boof had the crowd hyped and ready as the lights began to dim and the tour visualizer came on. You could taste the anticipation and excitement of the venue. A few hours earlier we were living our separate lives but at that moment united in one single interest we stood.
Just like the Phoenix, Nicki arises from the stage and we were in our moment for life. She opened with “I’m the Best” and btch I was living!!! Living I tell you!!! I was in such awe at how Nicki was in her full circle moment all I could do was scream at top of my lungs “I love you Nicki!!!”, I’m sure she heard me lol. I can’t do that night justice with this write up and by now you have either been to a show or binged watched clips online. This write up is homage to Nicki and the community she has created.
It is often said heavy is the head that wears the crown because with greatness comes expectations and responsibility; and in Nicki’s case no grace or room for mistakes. They have put a price (terms and conditions) on the crown to make it as heavy as possible so if she ever teeters or stumbles as all humans do, they can attempt to stake claim to it, by calling in the terms and conditions. Headlines getting blown up, biased reporting and social media campaigns is how they tarnish Nicki, so they can pass the lyrical crown one of the sympathy and payola acts. The only thing that is standing in their way is YOU.
Where they don’t give grace, we must give grace. Where they don’t give room for mistakes, we must make room. Nicki is all of us. It doesn’t matter if you are black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Chinese, Korean, Pacific Islander, English speaking or Non-English speaking we all represent one thing, triumph over adversity. Nicki is human, we are human when one of us teeters or stumbles lets extend grace. #GagCity, Nicki’s movement and our community, lets protect each other.
Nicki Minaj’s #GagCity World Tour is the highest selling female rapper tour in history expecting to end its run with over 170 million in profits and the 2nd highest selling rap tour in history when she raps up the second leg. Don’t fck with the Queen.