Nicki Minaj provides an entertainment spectacle at Viejas Arena – The Daily Aztec

On September 26, rap superstar Nicki Minaj transformed San Diego State University’s Viejas Arena into the pink metropolis of Gag City, where she graced the stage with her vibrant performances and dynamic outfits.

Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 World Tour was her first tour in eight years, with SDSU Arena being the only stop in San Diego.

The tour pays tribute to her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2, a follow-up to her 2010 debut album. The album is full of the trademark rap skills she is known for, but also showcases a softer and more intimate part of her life, including motherhood.

The evening began with fans posing in their eye-catching pink ensembles to match the tour and taking numerous photos outside and inside the arena. Many also stood patiently in the seemingly mile-long line of goods to get their hands on a few fun T-shirts and accessories.

The start was scheduled at 8:00 p.m. and the audience had to wait for the Queen of Rap, who only took the stage at 11:08 p.m

But to keep the audience happy, they were presented with three supporting acts and a captivating DJ set that never failed to get them going.

Dancehall artiste Skillibeng started as the opening act, bringing groovy and soulful sounds that were heavily inspired by his Jamaican roots. He was followed by rap artist BIA, who sang her hit song “Whole Lotta Money,” a collaboration she made with Minaj in 2021. Closing out the opening act was rapper Tyga, who rapped several of his hits, including “Taste.”

Eventually the arena went dark as several pink robot versions of Minaj appeared on the screen, along with an image of a plane taking off, officially transporting the audience into the world of Gag City.

The bare stage transformed into a dark, smooth, city-like structure as Minaj rose from below. Wearing a long-sleeved maroon leotard with rhinestones and matching knee-high boots, she arrived at the top of a grand staircase and greeted the audience with a confident grin.

She opened with “I’m the Best,” a throwback to her debut album “Pink Friday,” and effortlessly rapped the witty lyrics.

Minaj seamlessly transitioned into the rhythmic “Barbie Dangerous,” adopting a fierce and passionate tone as the song expresses her dominance in the hip-hop industry.

All the while, she was accompanied by her dancers, who performed powerful and dynamic choreography and hit every beat imaginable.

Within seconds, the giant screens on stage transformed from the city’s nightlife to a neon playground. Full of pink and purple tones, it was a perfect match for her next hit, “FTCU.”

The song, which went viral on TikTok, sparked cheers in the arena, with everyone loudly singing the famous line, “High heels on my tippies.”

To emphasize the playfulness of the song, Minaj took center stage and accompanied her dancers in several flirty dance breaks. With a cheeky smile on her face, you could tell she was thrilled by the audience’s cheers.

After a quick costume change, she returned to the stage in a skin-tight black Fendi unitard that covered her entire body.

However, the outfit wasn’t the only novelty she came back with. Originally wearing a sleek, black wig that reached her thighs, she swapped it for one of her signature looks: a short, pink bob.

The wig was one of several she wore throughout the night, serving as an ode to the original “Pink Friday” era from 2010 to 2011, during which she wore numerous pink wigs.

Throughout the evening, her theatrics were undeniable during her performance, but she reached new levels when it came to channeling her alter egos. She is known for incorporating multiple alter egos into her music and allowed several, including “Chun-Li” and “Barbie,” to come out for the evening.

In the songs “Chun-Li” and “Red Ruby Da Sleaze” she fully showed her animal skills. The audience was completely captivated by the intensity of her performance, growling and with clear attitude.

Then it was time for Barbie to come out and play as the stage was transformed into an iconic Barbie dream house. With her signature blonde hair and a pink tutu-style minidress, she completely transformed into a Barbie doll.

With exaggerated angular movements, knees straight as she walked, her body stiffened as she strutted across the stage in truly sculptural fashion to sing “Barbie World.”

Minaj eventually slowed things down for several songs before finally wowing the crowd once again with her bold but iconic hits “Super Freaky Girl” and “Anaconda.”

However, shortly before, she shared an intimate moment with her audience. Speaking about failed relationships, she encouraged the audience to never be discouraged and not to let a breakup rule your life.

“The person out there in the universe who will be your match is just as perfect inside and out as you are. So don’t shed another tear,” Minaj said.

These tender and emotional moments didn’t stop Minaj and her dancers from providing plenty of entertainment and energy.

They saved their most popular hits “Super Bass” and “Starships” for last and the arena was transformed into a rave-like experience. As lasers and smoke shot from every direction, the entire audience was on its feet, rapping along to every word.

To close the show, she sang “Everybody,” which left the audience in high spirits and wanting more.

Minaj rapped effortlessly, showcasing her sass and energy, and delivered a spectacular performance that blanketed San Diego in a pink haze.