Nicki Minaj sold 22,000 copies of her latest album this week, and those copies pushed the rapper’s album into Gold certification. The Pinkprint is currently the Number 12 album on the Billboard 200 chart, and it has sold 509,000 copies to date. Three of the rapper’s albums have sold over 500,000 copies, including Pink Friday (2010) and PinkFriday: Roman Reloaded (2012). Pink Friday has reached platinum status after selling over one million copies, and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is close to reaching platinum with 905,000 copies sold. The rapper’s new Gold album may be great news, but Minaj is dealing with the tragic death of her tour manager.
On Wednesday, the rapper’s tour manager, De’Von Pickett, was stabbed outside a restaurant in Philadelphia. The stabbing came after Pickett was involved in an altercation with several men. Pickett and a man by the name of Eric Parker was walking a woman to her car, when a group of men approached the woman. According to reports, a fight broke out and Pickett and Parker were stabbed multiple times. Both men were rushed to the hospital, but Pickett died from his injuries. The police believe they have the identified all of the suspects who were involved in the altercation. Both Pickett and Parker worked for Nicki Minaj, sources have reported Parker is one of the rapper’s tour employees too.
Nicki Minaj’s The Pinkprint Tour is supposed to begin in Sweden in March. The rapper confirmed the tragic news on social media. “Two members of my team were stabbed last night in Philly. One was killed. They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour,” Minaj tweeted. Reports claim the two men were also in Philadelphia to help Meek Mill prepare for his tour, the rapper is reportedly dating Nicki Minaj. Pickett was also the co-founder of BK Nerd & Co., and he has worked with some of music’s biggest superstars including Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and Fabolous. Several people in the music industry have sent their condolences on social media including Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Questlove, Fabolous, and countless others. The other victim from the stabbing, Eric Parker, is still in the hospital in fair condition.