Onika Maraj, better known as Nicki Minaj, covers the November issue of Billboard Magazine. The stunning geisha-inspired beauty speaks on details of her upcoming album Pink Friday (11/23). Now, let me take a second to speak to Mariel Concepcion and Ann Donahue; two delusional and misinformed individuals. Firstly, Nicki Minaj is ‘The First Lady (Gaga) of Hip Hop’…umm there were artists naming their fans way before Lady Gaga (Mariah Carey’s Lambs). Secondly, after reading the article, I see numerous mistakes that make me wonder: how do you all monitor music when you can’t accurately report music from a new artist. Thirdly, that video interview was awkward, too technical, and showed the senior editor’s lack of knowledge or research (whichever you prefer). Get it together Billboard. More below: Kanye West covers the latest issue of i-D Magazine: their “Back to the Future” edition. The egotistical superstar dawns large gold jewels and covering his eye with his hand for the i-D signature. He shares the issue with: Abbey Lee, Dree Hemingway, and Kate Moss; whom all represent “four exclusives, four dialogues”:

DISARM: Abbey Lee by David Bailey and Charlotte Stockdale – a relentless, apocalyptic vision of beauty. AMAZE: Dree Hemingway by Matt Jones and Allan Kennedy – Dree Hemingway has personality to captivate. INSPIRE: Kate Moss by Alasdair McLellan and Edward Enninful – Kate Moss collaborates with Longchamp and continues to define style. IMPRESS: Kanye West by Fabien Montique and Rushka Bergman – Kanye is one of the most vocal, provocative superstars today.

Super-producer Pharrell covers the November issue of Paper Magazine. In “The Art Issue” Skateboard P discusses his affiliation with Japanese artists:

PM: I’m curious about your relationship with [Bathing Ape designer/music producer] Nigo, who I feel is like the Japanese Warhol. In Japan, in terms of the crossover between commercial projects and high-end art, there are fewer boundaries. How did you get into what he was doing with the [clothing and shoe lines] Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream? Pharrell Williams: Well, he basically just gave me a shot. I came to his studio, he showed me some of his stuff, and I told him I wanted this, this and this. He told me to take it. I wore a lot of it, and finally he was like, “Hey, you wanna do your own line?” I was like, “Hell yeah,” and so
the rest was history. PM: Right, so let’s talk about [the artist duo] FriendsWithYou. What they’re doing here in the U.S., it’s a little bit like what Nigo has been doing in Japan. A little bit of the KAWS thing, too: art and T-shirts and toys. I love that it’s all upbeat, it’s pop-y and well-done and friendly. You’re sort of an official member of the collaboration now. PW: Yeah, we work together. I think that those guys are super-talented and I believe that they can be the next Disney. PM: I noticed that they designed the N.E.R.D. web page, and I know they’ve done some video stuff with you, but what kind of projects do you have on the horizon with them? PW: They have a bunch of stuff coming up. I kind of stay out of the way and let them do what they want to do. Mostly we just do commercial stuff together. FriendsWithYou comes in and they are the creatives. We are doing stuff for Gwen Stefani, for her line. They did the Pop-Tart commercials. [Article]

Also check out N*E*R*D’s new video for “Hypnotize U”

Props: YHTN