Nicki Minaj tour manager stabbed to death

NEW YORK, USA – The tour manager of rapper Nicki Minaj was stabbed to death and another member of her entourage was seriously injured Wednesday, February 18 in a bar fight, the artist and police said.

Minaj, one of the most successful female rappers, said that the two members of her team were stabbed in Philadelphia, where they were preparing for a tour scheduled to start on March 16 in Stockholm.

“One was killed. They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour,” Minaj wrote on Twitter.

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.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) February 18, 2015

Police said that an apparent argument set off the fight after midnight outside the Che’ Bar & Grill and that the victim had been stabbed multiple times in the torso before dying in a hospital. 

The other man was in critical condition with stab wounds to his left arm and left side, a police statement said.

The police described the alleged assailant as a 30-year-old man with a full beard who drove away in a dark gold Buick Lesabre.

While police did not identify the victims, rapper Fabolous identified the dead man as De’Von Pickett, Minaj’s tour manager, and said that the other victim was associate Eric Parker.

“My heart is heavy right now… God opened my eyes this morning at 9:49am. For some reason at that time I woke up thinking about both of these guys. They both work with me, but I couldn’t figure out why they were in my mind at 1st wake up. Wasn’t sure if I had a dream & they were in it or just some wake up & process things type shit.. But at 10:04 my brother hit me & told me that they both were fatally stabbed in Philly last night. My friend @daydaydoesdis (left) died & my friend Eric Parker is in critical condition in the hospital fighting for his life. I am still in shock & don’t want to believe this. And it hurts even more knowing how good these two dudes are. How hard these guys work. And how loyal they are to whoever they are down with & each other. Please send Eric Parker your blessings & a prayer for him to pull thru. And RIP to the fallen soldier Day Day. I can’t even believe I’m saying that with your name attached to it. & I HATE this being a post!! I will miss your energy, your vibe, & you but I’ll hold on to your spirit!! #RIPDayDay #PrayForEricParker,” Fabolous wrote on Instagram.

Trinidadian-born, New York-raised Minaj has emerged in recent years as one of the most acclaimed women in hip-hop, a genre often notorious for its machismo.

Minaj has collaborated with superstars as diverse as Madonna and Justin Bieber. Her third studio album, The Pinkprint, was released last year and is full of autobiographical material, including a song about the trauma of a cousin’s violent death.

Minaj had been planning a one-month tour of Europe, where she will play major arenas. – Rappler.com

Nicki Minaj stock photo from Shutterstock