Dilemma.

Most bran' new, up-and-coming artists these days have the material, perhaps even the stage presence, but not the hype, image or the personality. Nicki Minaj seems to have gotten it the other way round: she has personality, image and hype in spades, but very little material (of varying quality) and an awkward stage presence. Perhaps she was simply nervous at this warm-up VMAs performance? Perhaps we're being a bit harsh? But that repetitive snaking side-step move is cringe-inducing and Ms. Minaj's live vocals (although credit due for not totally miming/filtering them through a vocoder like will.i.am) were wobbly and off-key at best. Not all artists are destined to slay, live, and even if she never quite makes it as a rap-pop superstar, at least Nicki'll have a devoted fanbase in 'the gays' who'll be pleased to know she's on the cover of American gay lifestyle magazine Out this month. Cover below:

“If a gay guy impersonates you, you are a bad bitch. Period,” she says, waving her bright-orange nails in the air. “There are no ifs, ands, or buts, because they only impersonate the best.”