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Nicki Minaj: Hip Hop's Gayest MC?

That's how PAPER describes the scene stealer who—along with Drake—is arguably this year's breakout rap artist:

On ["Go Hard'] Nicki Minaj waxes Eminem-like on a more Elton John-like subject: "And I only stop for pedestrians, or real real bad lesbians." It's lines like these that have made her hip-hop's gayest MC -- a Jay-Z for the drag queens, as it were. "I see videos on YouTube where they impersonate me, and they do an amazing freaking job of dressing up as me," she says. In past interviews she's mentioned her own bi-curious leanings and has predicted hip-hop will one day embrace its first openly gay artist. But as far as being a gay-positive presence in hip-hop, Minaj insists, "I didn't set out to do that. I just like to put a spotlight on the people who support me, and it just so happens, you know, that the gay community has supported me -- more than I ever could have imagined."

Being an acting student at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (the "Fame school") really opened her mind. "I saw gay kids, I saw white kids, I saw grunge and pink hair and piercings," she recalls. "I think because of that, I didn't put limits on myself or what I was going to put in my raps. I really just wanted to be diverse."

In the May 2010 Details, Nicki Minaj was asked if she thought hip-hop was becoming more gay friendly. The response: "I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it's harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime."

Nicki Minaj appears this weekend at Atlanta's Black Gay Pride celebration with Kelly Rowland, Fantasia, Lil Kim and Dondria.

In related news: The Trinidad-born rapper is featured on Kanye West's just-released track "Monster" with Jay-z and Rick Ross—who famously said that he was "willing to record with an openly gay artist such as 50 Cent." Minaj gets rave reviews from the "kids.' "Minaj slays!" says WhatsTheT. Listen to the track HERE.

PHOTOS: David Agbodji Named One of Paper's "Beautiful People 2010"

Model hotness David Agbodji photographed (once again) by David Agbodj, this time for Pare's "Beautiful People 2010". The issue is covered by Beth Ditto and dropped last week week.

The Togolese-French model slash photographer is the new face and nude body for Calvin Klein's stunning S/S 2010 campaign. Agbodhji tells the magazine:

"'Six months ago, I would never have done nudes.' The model, who is from the tiny coastal African country Togo but also lived in Paris and Moscow before moving to the Bronx ten years ago, realized that baring all is no biggie. 'As a photographer, I shoot girls nude all the time. Art is always about sexuality and the human body. I’m not going to make anybody do something I wouldn’t do myself.' "

Agbodji was last seen in his Speedos on the runway and talks to Paper about his recent nude billboard in New York City's SoHo that literally stopped traffic. In case you weren't lucky enough to be on Houston Street, that image AFTER THE JUMP  ...

PHOTO: Kalup Linzy Named One of Paper's "Beautiful People 2010"

A scan from the May "Beautiful People 2010" edition of Paper, which is covered by Beth Ditto and dropped this week. Brooklyn-based video and performance artist, scenester and HIV activist Kalup Linzy is named to the list.

Linzy, who often performs in drag, has stormed the art world with satirical and raunchy soap-opera videos. Says the magazine: "In 2005, The New York Times opened its review of the group show 'African Queen' at the Studio Museum in Harlem with four heart-stopping words: 'A star is born,' referring to Linzy and his now infamous piece 'All My Churen.'"

In case you missed it the first time, Kalup Linzy was last seen on R20 in the ENDHIV.com PSA with actor Wilson Cruz, watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Emil Wilbekin Profiles Kid Cudi (And His Skinny Jeans) for "Paper"

PAPER celebrates its 25-year-anniversary with 25 25-year olds. One of the featured movers and shakers is hip hop prodigy and fashion scene-stealer Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi aka Kid Cudi, who is profiled by out former VIBE editor Emil Wilbekin and lensed in a beautiful two page editorial.

Wilbekin writes: "In this postmodern, digital Obama era, Kid Cudi may well be the next voice of hip-hop.. Mescudi, who is most of the time clad in skinny jeans, schoolboy glasses and a G.O.O.D. Music chain, is a skillful lyricist with a deep understanding of metaphor, analogy and brand-building. ... "

Speaking of Cudi's omnipresent tight and skinny jeans—he's determined to wrestle that calling card from Omarion and Pharrell Williams—a few days ago he mocked his critics on Twitter before appearing in Lettgerman to perform "Pursuit of Happiness". "Mann haha my haters sooo mad i was wearin my skinnys performin wit [Jay-Z]," Cudi replied after seeing the flood of criticism on Twitter. "HA! catch me on Letterman in a few with the EXACT same pair :)."

Kid Cudi’s debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of the Day, dropped yesterday.

Bebe Zahara Benet in "Paper"

A very fabulous Bebe Zahara Benet pulls up to the bumper in a new feature in the July issue of Paper, the New York City-based fashion-forward lifestyle bible (Note: Feature not online yet.). Bebe, of course, was born in the Cameroon as Nea Marshall Kudi and worked as a male model in Paris until he was asked to switch genders at a show due to a missing female model. "Bebe" was born and the rest is history: She was crowned the winner of RuPaul's Drag race on LOGO.

Bebe talks at length about the oppressive atmosphere in some African nations that makes its difficult for LGBT youth: "Ideas we take for granted here, like celebrating individuality and being rewarded for it, are not popular ones in many parts of Africa. I had to come all the way to the U.S, to know who I am and express it with freedom."

In a recent interview with Out, Benet said: "Where I come from drag is unheard of. It’s just not possible. Do you know how many little boys and girls are sitting there and want to artistically express themselves and don’t have the opportunity to just because the culture says 'A is A and B is B'?"

Cameroon boasts one of the continent's more repressive regimes for LGBTs. The central African nation has become infamous for routinely subjecting men accused of sodomy to legal ordeals that continue for years.

Paper Magazine's Barack Obama-Inspired Fashion Editorial

Yesterday, we mentioned the fact that several magazines are featuring all-black male fashion editorials in their current issues. One of those magazines is Paper, the New York City-based fashion-forward lifestyle bible. Barack Obama fans will be particularly thrilled because the editorial is entitled "Mr. President" and is dedicated to the fashion aesthetic of the Democratic presidential front runner.

Well-known fashion photographer Richard Phibbs lensed the project. Phibbs, of course, was responsible for those sculpted and muscled images of Nigerian model Kwame. Speaking of African models, the lead model in this editorial is Red NYC's Salieu Jalloh, seen above, who is from Sierra Leone and was last seen ripping the runway for Sean John in its all-black male fashion show. Below is Ibrahim Baaith, also with Red NYC.

Red's Marcus Lloyd is also featured. Marcus and Ibrahim were also featured in the Sean John show.

The Obama fashion aesthetic—previously discussed on these pages and at The Huffington Post—certainly works to the candidate's advantage. The greys and muted colors convey a Kennedyesque earnestness, the open shirts are casual show confidence, at least in our opinion. The designers represented here are John Varvatos, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Michael Bastian. The models below, left to right, are Robert Joseph (Fusion), Sandy Oumar (Wilhelmina) and Ibrahim Baaith.

Cynics will probably dismiss the "Mr. President" fashion editorial as a gimmick, which would be typical, but that also demonstrates a failure to grasp at least some of the "meta" rationale for Obama's candidacy and/or presidency. If our country is going to have a black presidential nominee, or president, it opens a larger conversation on race. (The meta-conversation on Hillary Clinton's campaign and sexism, sadly, has yet to arrive.) Just like many boardrooms and executive offices, the fashion pages and runways are notoriously monochromatic. In the months to come, it's likely many companies will reevaluate their complexion of their executive offices, and more magazines and designers will hire more black models.

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