Nicki Minaj, Foo Fighters Confirmed to Perform at Grammys

Rapper Nicki Minaj will make her debut Grammy performance next month, joining Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars and country singer Jason Aldean on the list of artists who will take to the stage on the recording industry’s biggest night.

Grammy organizers said on Thursday that Minaj, who has four Grammy nominations, will perform at the February 12 awards show, as well as country sensation Taylor Swift, and Kelly Clarkson.

Rapper Kanye West, who leads this year’s Grammys with seven nominations, is also yet to be confirmed as a performer at the live awards show in Los Angeles.

Organizers said additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ludacris to Open Chicken and Beer Restaurant in Atlanta

Ludacris is flexing his entrepreneurship skills. The Atlanta rapper took to Twitter to announce the opening of his restaurant, “Chicken & Beer,” in Concourse D of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport.

“Im taking my restaurateur footprint into the busiest airport in the WORLD! Hartsfield-Jackson ATL International! Chicken & Beer coming soon!” he tweeted.

Luda continued to say that he’s opening “Chicken & Beer” at one of the “busiest airports on the planet” to make his hometown “1 of the most welcoming cities to visit in the WORLD.”

Aside from the opening of “Chicken & Beer,” the rapper is currently in the lab working on his eight studio album, “Ludaversal.”

Rapper Tyler, the Creator Arrested

Rapper Tyler, The Creator was arrested on suspicion of vandalism in Los Angeles on Thursday night (Dec. 22). The rapper is no longer in custody after being released on a $20,000 bond.

The 20-year-old rapper performed alongside Odd Future at the Roxy Theatre on Thursday night. According to a press release from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station the Roxy staff contacted the police stating that Tyler had “destroyed an electronic soundboard belonging to the Roxy.”

Tyler (real name: Tyler Okonma) was reportedly taken into custody for felony vandalism in front of his mother, who was visibly shaken. A rep for Tyler, The Creator confirmed the details of the arrest, but has yet to issue an official statement.

Nicki Minaj Hints at Super Bowl Appearance in New Single

Nicki Minaj’s newly released single “Stupid Hoe” hints that the rapper/singer superstar may be performing at the 2012 Super Bowl.

The Young Money rapper spits one particular line that teases she may take the stage at halftime: “Put ya cape on, you a super h–/ 2012, I’m at the Super Bowl.” There has been speculation that Nicki and M.I.A. may perform with Madonna at Super Bowl XLVI, since both rappers are featured on her upcoming album.

The track ends with the declaration “I am the Female Weezy,” and after one listen, it’s easy to understand why. The Young Money rapper handles the song’s chorus herself, repeating the title of the track in her quirky voice. For her final verse, she spits a few lines directed at an unnamed enemy (speculation has already pointed to rival Lil’ Kim) who she says should have befriended her instead.

Drake to Kick Off Tour on Valentine’s Day

Drake will kick off his 2012 Club Paradise Tour in Miami on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). Toronto’s own will hit 17 U.S. cities, stopping in college towns like Tallahassee, FL and Tuscon, AZ in support of his Billboard 200 No. 1, “Take Care.”

Despite selling over 700,000 copies of his sophomore album on opening week, Drake plans to make his way through smaller venues rather than stadiums. “I fought for this tour, I fought really hard for this tour because, of course, they want me to go get the big bucks and cash out. But I was just like, I really made this album for the same people that supported me since day one,” he told MTV News, back in Oct.

As previously confirmed, Drake will be joined by two of this year’s most buzzed about up-and-comers, Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky.

U.S. dates of Drake’s 2012 Club Paradise Tour:

Feb. 14: Miami, Fla. (Bank United Center)
Feb. 15: Gainseville, Fla. (Stephen C. O’Connell Center)
Feb. 17: Nashville, Tenn. (Bridgestone Arena)
Feb. 18: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center)
Feb. 21: Columbia, S.C. (Colonial Life Arena)
Feb. 22: Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)
Feb. 24: Tallahassee, Fla. (Tallahassee-Leon County Arena)
Feb. 25: New Orleans, La. (UNO Lakefront Arena)
Feb. 27: Austin, Texas (Frank Erwin Center)
Feb. 28: Oklahoma City, Okla. (Chesapeake Energy Arena)
Mar. 1: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center)
Mar. 2: Arlington, Texas (College Park Center)
Mar. 4: Tuscon, Ariz. (Tuscon Arena)
Mar. 5: Los Angeles, Calif. (Galen Center)
Mar. 8: Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Mar. 10: San Jose, Calif. (Event Center)
Mar. 11: San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)

The European dates of Drake’s 2012 Club Paradise Tour are below:

Mar. 24: Dublin, Ireland (O2 Arena)
Mar. 26: London, U.K. (London O2 Arena)
Mar. 29: Sheffield, U.K. (Sheffield Motorpoint Arena)
Mar. 30: Cardiff, U.K. (Cardiff Motorpoint Arena)
Apr. 1: Manchester, U.K. (Manchester MEN Arena)
Apr. 2: Glasgow, Scotland (Glasgow SECC – Hall 4)
Apr. 5: Paris, France (Palais Omnisport de Bercy)
Apr. 7: Brussels, Belgium (Forest National / Vorst Nationaal)
Apr. 8: Amsterdam, Holland (Heineken Music Hall)
Apr. 10: Frankfurt, Germany (Jahrhunderthalle)
Apr. 12: Berlin, Germany (Max Schleming Halle)
Apr. 13: Copenhagen, Denmark (Valby Hallen)
Apr. 15: Stockholm, Sweden (Ericsson Globe)
Apr. 16: Oslo, Norway (Oslo Spektrum)
Apr. 19: Birmingham, England (Birmingham LG Arena)
Apr. 22: Liverpool, England (Liverpool Echo Arena)
Apr. 23: Newcastle, England (Newcastle Metro Radio Arena)
Apr. 25: Nottingham, England (Nottingham Capital FM Arena)

50 Cent is “Excited” About Pauly D’s New Album

Rumors that rapper 50 Cent may sign “Jersey Shore” star and former Britney Spears tourmate Pauly D to his label, G-Note Records have been swirling, and the deal was confirmed this week.

“Pauly’s project is not all his performance on the actual records,” 50 Cent explained. “It’s more like what you would get from a DJ Khaled or DJ Drama but also what you would get from David Guetta — so it’s a cross between those two worlds, and I think it’s exciting.”

With plans for Pauly to star in his own MTV show in the coming months, 50 is even more confident that the Jersey Shore star will blow up as a huge star.

“He obviously has a huge platform moving forward. His show is a spin-off from ‘Jersey Shore,’ ” 50 said. “And being in front of large audiences every night DJing — we’re gonna make a hit record out of the actual material that we have around and some of the new stuff that we’ll put together.”