While Nicki Minaj‘s rise may have been spawned by Hip Hop, it’s become increasingly apparent that the bread and butter of her success come from feats scored on a ‘Pop’ front.

Indeed, by way of an ever growing audience and an undeniable commercial pull, the Rapper has successfully convinced a number of brands to both partner and invest in her own cause- Pepsi and MAC being two of them.

However, if a report by the Hollywood Reporter is anything to go by, her deal with Pepsi has caused a conflict of interest between the company and ‘American Idol’ sponsors Coke.

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Details below…

According to HR:

The rapper and singer, whose colorful, cartoon-like style has made her among the most successful new acts of the past three years, is at the top of the list for the open seat on season 12 of Idol.

But as the new face of Pepsi, an endorsement deal that includes commercials along with touring and album promo, Idol sponsor Coke is none too thrilled at the prospect.

The leading soda company has been an Idolpartner since season one, at a cost of $26 million per year, according to reports. The show ran into a similar problem when longtime sponsor Ford got wind of judge Jennifer Lopez’s commercial deal with Fiat.   

Basically, if the report of Minaj joining ‘Idol’ is to be believed, Coke find themselves in a dilemma if ‘Idol’ casts the new face of their biggest competitor.

Problematic, because Coke would then be fueling the star power Pepsi would depend on to make bank from the deal with the MC- and that’s the last thing they’d want.

However, following confirmation from Minaj that she was invited to join FOX’s X Factor USA, we’re not too sure why she’d decline that offer to accept another from a smaller outlet.

Especially, when it could hinder her chances of landing a  performance spot on X Factor UK, which many fans are hoping would help boost her British profile and sales of her latest LP ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded‘.

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