After a five-year break from performing, Nicki Minaj returned to the stage in her “Pink Friday 2 World Tour,” also called “Gag City” by Minaj. The tour started on March 1, at the Oakland Coliseum. After totaling 57 shows, it will conclude on July 14, at the Les Ardentes festival in Liege, Belgium. 

Minaj’s career soared in 2010 with the release of her debut album “Pink Friday” featuring the chart-topping hit “Super Bass.” She quickly became the “Queen of Rap” due to her success in the music industry and her bold, charismatic persona. While some are drawn to her catchy music, others admire her confident and distinctive style and many respect her influence in the music industry. 

Minaj’s sold-out performance in Oakland proved her fans’ unwavering enthusiasm. Fans at the arena recreated Nicki’s style when attending the concert, arriving in bright pink attire echoing Minaj’s fashion sense. Fans of various backgrounds and ages attended her show highlighting the appeal of Nicki’s music.

Earlier this year in January, when Megan the Stallion released her new song “Hiss,” Minaj took offense to a line in the lyrics and started the feud between the two artists. While the drama became public quickly, some fans questioned how Nicki handled the feud. 

Sophia Brown, a third-year communication and media studies major ended up selling her tickets due to the drama. “It was hard to support Nicki while she was telling her fans to go after Megan and seeing how some fans took it too far.”

Jason Castrellon, fourth-year Kinesiology major and die-hard Nicki fan chooses to support Minaj through the controversy, “Despite what the media twists about Nicki, her impact and true self will always be there. She’s the Queen of Rap.”

TikTok users gave the “Pink Friday 2” tour mixed reviews. Some said Minaj put on a great performance, however, they felt she wasn’t singing into the microphone which made it feel like a “listening party.” While her concert isn’t set to conclude till July 14, a tour flyer said more dates will be added eventually. 

Nicki Minaj vs Meg Thee Stallion