England has Prince William and Kate. Japan has Princess Aiko. The world... kinda has Brad and Angelina, or whatever's happening with them. But back here in America, hip-hop's princess is Nicki Minaj. Hands down. Indisputable. (The king and queen being Jay-Z and Beyoncé.) And if ever there was any misconception about her prince, she clears that right up in her "Moment 4 Life" video, featuring Drake, who becomes not just her prince but her husband. Cue the fireworks!
Nicki Minaj's "Moment 4 Life" video, directed by Chris Robinson, is a celebration of her speed-of-sound skyrocket trip to the top -- her No. 2 Pink Friday chart debut, MTV documentary, seven simultaneous songs on the Billboard Hot 100, her kung fu grip on the Twitterverse, to name just a few NBD (No Big Deal) accolades. The video's regal narrative is an allegory for Nicki's larger-than-life... well... life.
From her over-the-top, Greco-Roman-style goddess gowns to the ornate Los Angeles mansion (is that what Aaron Spelling's old place looks like from the inside?), Limoges figurines, her OWN MAC lipstick on her vanity, and Christian Louboutin glitter heels, Nicki's all done up. Everything's real big. This video feels like the palatial embodiment of Mannie Fresh's "Real Big," actually. But there's nowhere to go once you've reached the top. And it can be lonely up there. (All that cool, thin air and stuff.) A princess needs a prince. Which is where Drake comes in, tossing out a couple velvety verses, smoother than a freshly shined bowling ball, and doing absolutely nothing at all to put those are-they-a-couple rumors to rest. I mean, Drake! Nicki! People are gonna think you like each other when you kiss. Especially when fireworks go off in the background.
"Moment 4 Life" is Nicki Minaj's best video to date. It's preposterous and cheeky -- that whole self-parodying, self-reflexive bit starring... herself as her own fairy godmother who alludes to her alter ego, her actual ego ("It's all about you, darling!"), and gives love advice to... herself. It's grandiose. It references her performing past (that British accent!) and her Young Money roots. It feels like Valley Of The Dolls, minus the drugs and the drama. It's a fairy-tale fantasy. And best of all, it ends with a double-edged premonition -- that her career will end well (she'll retire with the crown, remember), and she'll get the guy in the end, too. Here's to happy endings, Barbies. Clink!