Nicki Minaj (Todd Owyoung/startraksphoto.com)
Nicki Minaj had a top-secret recording session while on tour this week that was so undercover, she dispatched a security team hours before her arrival to check out the studio’s entire staff, sources told Page Six.
Minaj has been all about secrets this week: She said Wednesday via Twitter that she’s postponing her fall tour dates, and “When [fans] find out ‘why’ I’m starting the fall tour a bit later, they will be VERY happy. #secretgang.”
We also hear that once the platinum-selling rapper arrived — with platinum hair to match — at her hush-hush studio session Monday, her requirements were anything but ordinary.
The day after Minaj was reportedly accused by a club of backing out of an appearance, she booked a 12-hour session at Otis Conner’s state-of-the-art Dallas studio the Axcess Group, which previously has hosted Kelly Clarkson and the Jonas Brothers.
“No one at the studio was allowed to know the name of the song Nicki was recording,” said an industry source. “They were told Nicki did not want anyone to know.”
Adding to the intrigue, her security squad arrived far in advance. “Her team came three hours before her to meet everyone in their office,” our source said. “They also looked around for any groupies hiding out.”
Two black Cadillac Escalades then delivered the “Super Bass” rapper, wearing jeans and a little fur vest, followed by two bodyguards, her own engineer and a personal assistant.
“She sent someone out to buy her own water, and she also had to have them buy straws she could sip from” before she holed up in the studio, our source said.
On Sunday night, Minaj played nearby Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, but tweeted later, “No after party tonite” and “[shout out] to the promoters who sold tkts under false pretenses tho.”
Zouk, a downtown Dallas venue, countered that it paid Minaj more than $30,000 for an after-party appearance. Reps for Minaj did not respond to requests for comment.