Nicki Minaj presents Trinidad and Tobago as music video backdrop

Trinidadian rapper and BET Award Winner Nicki Minaj has unveiled her latest music video ‘Pound the Alarm’ as a cinematic tribute to her homeland’s natural beauty, Carnival, and culture.

Trinidadian rapper and BET Award Winner Nicki Minaj has unveiled her latest music video ‘Pound the Alarm’ as a cinematic tribute to her homeland’s natural beauty, Carnival, and culture.

The video, which can be viewed at www.youtube.com, pays homage to all the major aspects of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, from resplendent feathered fantasy creations to traditional characters, including moko jumbies (stilt walkers), fire breathing blue devils, and fancy sailors.

Taking viewers on a musical tour of Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj’s video opens with the sounds of “Pound the Alarm” being played by the electronic-pan, which ushers in breathtaking vistas of quintessentially local scenes, from a coconut vendor outside Queen’s Royal College in the nation’s capital and the aquamarine waters off Tobago’s iconic Pigeon Point to the mangrove covered waterways of the Caroni Swamp, waterfalls, and Maracas Beach.

The beauty of this country’s people and culture are also on display as masqueraders donned their costumes to create a Carnival atmosphere through the streets of Belmont, a historic suburb in Port of Spain.

Also highlighted in the video is an intricate wrought-iron arch, which is the official entrance into St. James, known as the “city that never sleeps” for its dynamic nightlife. The town also happens to be where Niki Minaj was born. Visitors are always welcome in St. James, and at any hour, night or day, activities are in full flight. Some of the best street food, restaurants, and sport bars are open for business around the clock, and closing time is when the last patron leaves – a fitting kingdom for the reigning queen of rhythm and rap!

Not to be left out of the action were home-grown soca stars, Bunji Garlin and Machel Montano, who both joined Minaj atop a large music truck, which is a staple for every Carnival celebration in Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2000, a similar scene made it to the international stage when Jay Z filmed the video for his hit song “Big Pimpin’” during Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival celebrations. The video, which highlighted the steelpan and gave local masqueraders a chance to show-off some of their best moves, also showed the rapper partying atop a music truck.

And while both videos reinforce Trinidad and Tobago’s reputation as the home of Carnival, the stunning visuals of Minaj’s video goes beyond the festival to boost the country’s profile as a must-visit tourism destination.

Nicki Minaj has certainly done her home country proud.

To view the video in its entirety go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdrqA93sW-8 .

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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