When I went: 30 October 2012

Music Owl Hoot rating: 3/5

Location: The O2, London

Performers: Nicki Minaj, supported by Tyga

Creative team: Nicki Minaj’s team

Approximate price: £50

Special points: Gleeful, cartoony feel

Best bit: Pound the Alarm

If I could change one thing: Better support act

Review:

Nicki Minaj is one of the best rappers around and successfully combines pop and hip-hop to create her own blend of slightly gleeful, cartoonish songs, often through her alter ego Roman Zolanski. She held her own well in the live set, with a Barbie-like house as the opening set and lots of costume changes. She didn’t interact much with the audience beside asking “Where’s my bloody scones, London?” but had more than enough material in her songs to fill the gig, as this tour was based on Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Reloaded rather than the disappointing follow-up Pinkprint album.

Tyga’s hit Rack City Bitch was fun but he reverted to performing about 3 different versions of it, which I can only think was because he didn’t have much more material. I’m yet to go to a gig where the support act was really exciting.