Diddy to Manage Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross

Last week, it was reported that Nicki Minaj fired her manager, Debbie Antney (mother/manager to Waka Flocka and manager to Gucci Mane) , after Minaj joined, and then dropped out of, Rihanna’s Last Girl on Earth tour.

This week, it was reported that Minaj was instead considering touring with Lady Gaga, and was going to be managed by Gaga’s manager, Troy Carter.

Today, news is breaking from Billboard.com that Ms. Minaj is actually going to be managed by Diddy, who will also be now managing Rick Ross. The Carter-management deal fell through, they say, because Lady Gaga was not having it, opening the door for Diddy to snatch up the Queens femcee.

[opinion]

We have stated that we feel Nicki Minaj is NOT the bubblegum rapstress she is being molded into, and in fact, talented and thoughtful. We have repeatedly expressed our disappointment that the cartoonish Minaj is winning out over the creative Minaj. We are not sure Diddy is the right man(ager) for the job, knowing his reputation for molding artists into what he sees in them, rather than what they see in themselves. While this may work for a commercial time being, we don’t think it does well for an artist in the long run, and further contributes to the formulaic de-evolution of hip hop. As a result, we cannot be happy to hear that an eclectic and buzzing artist like Nicki Minaj would go this route. But hey, that’s just us.

[/opinion]

In any event, says Billboard, James Cruz will co-manage with Diddy, though none of this has been confirmed by any of the parties involved at this time. Overall, while one can understand the need to secure proper management to further one’s music career, this is far more circus-like and in-the-pubic than it should be. Hopefully, all will be resolved so we can find out once and for all whether or not Nicki Minaj is all gimmick, or really got it going on.