NICKI MINAJ PERFORMS BLACKOUT MOVEMENT SINGLE AT GRAMMY AWARDS

Nicki Minaj performs BlackOut-produced single “Roman Holiday” at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12, 2012. © Getty Images

Minaj’s performance has raised brows worldwide and furor within the Catholic community, as she pulled from religious symbolisms to exploit the exorcism of her favorite alter ego Roman Zolanski, on whom the song is based. Her Hype Williams’ directed Grammy performance saw her using a pope as a prop, wearing a nun’s habit-like outfit, and culminated in spectacular fashion as she levitated above the stage, and over a stunned audience.

“The Grammy’s chose ‘Roman Holiday,'” revealed Minaj, calling in to Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show on Monday to discuss the shocking spectacle. “They heard ‘Roman Holiday’ and I could not play them another record after that.” The single is from Minaj’s sophomore studio effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, due to hit stores on April 2, 2012.

The production house BlackOut Movement is at the helm of more than 20 hit singles, including productions for Flo Rida, Jim Jones, Trina, Jah Rule, Jason Derulo and Aaron Carter, just to name a few, and is best known for the blockbuster “This Is Why I’m Hot” by Mims, back in 2007. It scored BlackOut Movement its first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and secured BlackOut’s place in pop music and in its formula for success.