JENNIFER IKOURA . NICKI MINAJ . BEYONCE . DRAKE . TYLER THE CREATOR . A$AP ROCKY

UrbanEleva ed NICKI MINAJ

WWW..URBANELEVATED.CO.UK

ODD FUTURE

Nicki Minaj discusses her new album

Roman ReloadedA$AP ROCKY

We Speak to Odd Future about the 2012 Canada and U.K tour

A$ap RockyLive.Love.A$ap mixtape

NEW FACE OF 2012 RNB STAR JENNIFER IKOUARA JENNIFER IKOUARA

Issue 4March 2012£3.75

THE U.K’S HOTTEST HIP HOP AND RNB MAGAZINE

UrbanElevated

Win A free Trip To New York!!!

Beyonce The Game

Ciara Lil Wayne

Pharrell+

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UrbanElevated

PRESENTS...

Be expected to see somethingoriginal this year

JENNIFER IKOUARA

PAGE 4 PAGE 3 UrbanElevated

Okay, you have two number one hits in the

U.K and your now the face of 2012 how do you feel about this?(laughs) it all so unreal, like literal-ly I can’t believe this has happened so fast. The first single ‘Liven up’ was played everywhere soon after its release so my manager and team decided that we should also make a video for the song. They wanted to the video to be energetic so my manager managed to contact Hype Williams and he told us he would be happy to direct this song which I was completely happy about. I mean he has directed so many videos take for example Beyonce’s ‘check on it’. So it was a privilege to work with him. Being the face of 2012, there is so much U.K talent I wouldn’t want to be titled that, but I am happy everybody really likes my music.

Urban Elevated Your second single ‘Bad Girl’, proved to be another success in the U.K charts and also made it to the U.S charting at number 37. How does this make you feel?This makes me feel so happy, I do not how to explain how grateful I feel right now. After ‘liven up’ my team decided to straight away make the video for this song and I got the chance to also go to New York where we filmed in the city in Manhattan. The vibe there was incredible in terms of the weather, the people and the culture. On set, we had also sorts of dancers range-ing from street, to dance contem-porary, so to have all the dancing elements combined in to the video was great.

Urban Elevated What artist in the music industry have inspired you and who do you see yourself working with in the future?Well I have a strong passion for RnB music so singers such as Mary-J Blige, Faith Evans and the late, great Aaliyah have definately inspired me. A singer who I look up to as I previously stated would be Beyonce because she is an incredible talent. Beyonce mostly inspires me through her projec-

tion and range in her voice. For example her song ‘Ave Maria’ from ‘I Am Sasha Fierce’ shows her key range wheras a song like ‘ I miss You’ from her album ‘4’ shows how she can harmonize and also project her voice so gracefully so definately I would say Beyonce inspires me.

Urban Elevated How do you cope under pressure in the industryWell I can tell you it’s very hard especially when you do not want to fail. However what I usually do un-der pressure is spend time with my family and friends as they support me to maximum. I also try to see the posistive in life and think that I can do whatever I want to acheive.

Urban Elevated Do you find time to socialize with your friend and family now you have all this stardom Actually I do find time, although when we went to America I only could contact them through the phone, but uusally when I am in the U.K i always find the time to see and speak with them. without my family and friends I don’t know where I would be , they supported and got me to where I am.

Urban Elevated What kind of songs do you like to record?Well actually I like to sing ballads, even though my released songs where quite up- tempo. On my album there are more ballads then up-tempo tracks. Becuase summer is coming I am only releasing the joints that are going to get every-body live and energetic. Perhaps

when the summer is over I will release the slow chilled tracks.Urban Elevated If you have an Ipod what are you most likely to listen to?I actually really like odd future, most of their songs are on my Ipod. those guys are so funny and there just being themseves and having fun which is what they should do.

Since you like Odd Future, your thoughts onTyler The creator?I think Tyler is chill, like he is real-ly cool. I love all of his song from both of his albums ‘Goblin’ and ‘Bastard’. Those album are simply amazing. Infact, I have already been to an Odd Future concert. it was hetic in their because during the concert there are moshpits and you actually can get hurt but other than that it was really good and me amd my friends had a good time. Urban ElevatedFuther on in your Career do you see yourself considering a profes-sion in acting?Honestly I have no idea, it all re-ally depends on if I actually could act (laughs) but I don’t see myself acting any time time soon I just want to concentrate on my music for the meanwhile.

Urban ElevatedYour views on RnB and Hip Hop of today?Well, I think it’s alright but it de-finately has changed but I suppose over time music does change but i do not get that vibe from music of today then I did when I listen to the 90s and early 2000s, but overall it is good.

Urban ElevatedWhat do you think you bring to the music industry that we haven’t seen before?

The music that I enjoy is what I bring, and as long as I am happy my true fans will also be happy with the music I put out. My music reflects me, so I would say I bring a fresh new sound and also Be-cause I am only young, youths can definately relate we me and also the older generation can realte with my music as it brings back that 90s era sound .

“My manager manage to contact Hype williams ”

THE U.K’S HOTTEST SINGER OF 2012Her career elevated just a few months ago and she is now the hottest singing sensation of 2012. Urban Elevated correspondent Rhian Newell lets you in on the all the gossip of the singer’s life and chronics her career as it expands to its highest yet!!!

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ContentsFEATURES

FASHION

COMPETITIONS AND PUZZLES

Urban Elevated speaks to Jennifer Ikouara

Chris Brown and Rihanna, are they back together?

Beyonce gives birth to Blue Ivy Carter. Jay-z releases a song called ‘Glory’ dedicated to his

daughter

Christina Millian Signed to young Money

Nicki Minaj talks to urban elevated about her new album Roman Reloaded

Urban Elevated talks to underground rapper A$ap Rocky

Drake On his tour in the U.K

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Page 33

Complete the WordSearch for a chance to Meet Odd Future Page 12

Win Two Tickets To New York And a £1000 cash money Page 41

£250 Cash Money To Name The Top 10 Rappers Of Hip Hop Page 50

Cover on this page: Jennifer Ikouara photgraped by Rhian Newell, 2012

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Page 46

Top Ten ways to dress to impress we talk to stylist Christian Lebouf

on how to look have heads turning

P.Diddy’s sucessful clothing lineP. Diddy reveals to us why his clothing

line is amazinlgy sucessful

Gangster FraudsHow not to dress

Fashion QueensWe talk to RnB singers that have great

Fashion Sense as well as their incredible voices

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