Feels like forever since Phillip Phillips won the last season of American Idol. I can’t believe it’s back and I can’t wait to see what the new judges are like this season. Last night was a quick preview, but we’ll have to watch more episodes to know. Do you think this feud between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj is really true?

~Mike

Guess I’m not the only one in the hip-hop biz that’s feuding right now. Nicki Minaj and the whole YMCMB crew pulled their act from the show in a heated moment after a Hot 97 DJ openly dissed Nicki’s talent. Nothing unusual - controversy is always a huge part of Summer Jam, but the crowd was not happy and neither was Nicki. I’m not the hugest fan of Nicki’s music, (as you know), but she has a great energy on stage and Lil Wayne and his gang always bring it. Luckily, Lauryn Hill and Nas saved the show with their performances, including “If I Ruled The World,” which got everyone in the crowd going. Seems to always be the classic hip-hop moguls who dominate the show… kind of similar to the classic and original, great tasting MIKE AND IKE® candies dominating in the candy aisle. Which reminds me, my Strawberry Or Die video I produced with Blaze played on the jumbotron at the concert and the crowd went wild! Mike and Blaze, taking over!

~Mike

Honestly? Not sure what to make of Nicki Minaj’s latest album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded”. Reviews are mixed — some great, some not so much. It’s def not what I expected it to be. I mean, is she a rapper or a pop star? Make up your mind, girl! I’ve said before, I love all styles of music. But when I listen to an album, I need to get in the zone. Listening to this felt like more flavors bustin’ out on this album than in a bag of MIKE AND IKE® candies. True, there are some rollin’ on the Westside Highway beats like “Champion”, feat. Young Jeezy, Drake and the braveheart Nas. Solid verses and hooks, overall it’s an OK album if you like both rap and pop. But if you expected to hear Nicki, the lyricist, throughout, you’ll find yourself skipping around to find her. But hey - you could always pull out your favorites and combine with some of her earlier stuff to create your own Nicki playlist. That’s what I did. ~ Mike

Just saw the pics of Willow Smith’s new neon yellow hair, which I guess is her follow up to the lime green locks she was stylin’ earlier this month. Is it just me,  or is she intentionally rockin’ the MIKE AND IKE® colors (whatever, this is something Ike should notice, not me). She’s Cool — been working with Nicki Minaj and now Jay-Z. And her new Knees and Elbows album is coming out in a few weeks. Not bad for an 11-year old. Makes me all the more fired up to get out there and do my thing… hopefully someday soon.

~Mike