Nicki Minaj has leapt into the top ten of Billboard’s Social 50 chart. Nicki jumped up from #16 to #10 on a 17% rise in Twitter followers and a 19% rise in YouTube views.

Ranking at #1 is still Adele, who holds at the top for a second week. Shakira climbs two spots to #2, while Katy Perry leapt up nine spots to #3. Justin Bieber fell two spots down to #4 and Rihanna rose a spot to round out the top 5. Check out the full top ten below:

1. Adele
2. Shakira
3. Katy Perry
4. Justin Bieber
5. Rihanna
6. LMFAO
7. Pitbull
8. David Guetta
9. Michael Jackson
10. Nicki Minaj

[Source]

Nicki Minaj scored three nominations for this year’s Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance (“Moment 4 Life” featuring Drake) and Best Rap Album (Pink Friday). In a recent interview with Pandora, the Harajuku Barbie said that she doesn’t necessarily think she’s going to win, but that she’s just going to celebrate the moment.

“When I was at the Grammys last year, it was like I didn’t even exist. And then to now be performing and nominated, it’s a big deal. I’m not going to be nervous about winning because I really don’t think I’m going to win anything,” she said. “The way I look at it is, I know eventually, in my career, I’m going to have Grammys. This year is just about being nominated and feeling grateful, feeling like my fans and I have come a very long way and we’re just going to celebrate this moment. Nothing else matters – winning, not winning, it doesn’t matter. It just matters that they get to see a girl from the hood take these steps and continue to take these steps, just with hard work.”

The Young Money rapstress, who is also performing at this year’s ceremony, acknowledged that up-and-coming artists don’t tend to realize how much hard work goes into becoming a star and getting Grammy nods, but that she’s earned what she’s gotten.

“At the end of the day, everyone wants to be recognized and everyone wants to at least feel like you recognize that this is hard work. People think that they can become an artist overnight. People think that a cute face or a nice car makes them a rapper. But a musician is so much more than that. But in terms of me and my career, the Grammys is everything. It’s the only thing to a music artist. It’s what you live for. This is what you work for.”

Watch the interview below, as well as a Grammy promo with host LL Cool J.

Source: Hiphopdx.com

A music video for Nicki Minaj and David Guetta’s “Turn Me On” has arrived in full. The Young Money first lady and the French disc jokey make their way through the dark side of the city. They are being surrounded by human-like dolls and nude mannequins.

“Turn Me On” is confirmed to appear in Minaj’s upcoming album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded”, which is due in the United States on April 3. It’s additionally listed in Guetta’s latest studio effort “Nothing but the Beat”, which has been in stores since last summer.

Beside focusing on her own album, Nicki Minaj is also preparing for her Super Bowl debut performance on February 5. She’s going to take the stage with Madonna and M.I.A. “Super Bowl rehearsals w/the Queen ;),” so she informed her Twitter followers over the weekend.

[Source]