Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Bing Image Creator
Apps
Biotech & Health
clime
Image Credits:Bing Image Creator
Cloud Computing
Department of Commerce
Crypto
initiative
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
ironware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
concealment
Robotics
surety
Social
blank
startup
TikTok
Transportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Welcome to Gag City , the pinkish metropolis live by stans and make likewise .
In the days leading up to the release of “ Pink Friday 2 , ” Nicki Minaj ’s fifth studio album and sequel to her debut criminal record “ Pink Friday ” that dropped on Friday , Twitter was deluge with AI - generated images of pink - toned cityscapes . Gag City , the dreamy false utopia govern by Minaj and her Barbz , broke through stan Twitter and became a viral meme that brand accounts instantly used for their own selling — advertise Minaj ’s record album for free .
Is it an unquestionable stan - led campaign to build hoopla for Minaj ? Is it a industrial plant to secret plan engagement for both the album and firebrand ? What ’s readable is that the viral moment is a win for Minaj , manufacture or not .
It started in September , when Minaj razz the record album ’s covert artistry online . The range features Minaj on a pink tube car , drift through pink cloud with a futurist ( and plain , pinkish ) city visible horizon in the background .
11.17.23#PinkFriday2 🎀 pic.twitter.com / Tm9ugiGAlH
— Nicki Minaj ( @NICKIMINAJ)September 5 , 2023
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
She and her Barbzstarted referringto the album ’s exit as “ Gag City,”NBC News reports , cite gay slang for being so amazed that you ’re at a personnel casualty for words . One might be gagged by witnessing a stunning outfit change , or by listening to a everlasting record , like “ Pink Friday 2 . ” Leading up to the vent , stans jump posted AI - generated images of a pink concrete jungle , joking that fabricated characters and celebrities were arrive to Gag City in expectation of Minaj ’s album . In one of the first , posted on December 1 consort toKnow Your Meme , a devotee explanation shared animageof a pink airplane labeled “ Gagg City ” aviate over a likewise pink skyline .
In the Day before the release , Minaj told fans to “ set up for landing ” and teased a verbal description of her pinkish utopia . Barbz replied with AI - bring forth renditions of the descent into Gag City .
@NICKIMINAJthe view is spectacularpic.twitter.com/KNxA6hewi2
— Drop a rent 💧 ( @DuhhMinaj)December 6 , 2023
Lois Griffin , Marge Simpson , and Linda Belcher have arrived in Gag Citypic.twitter.com/ZIjqtPdhZu
— Fin ( @gofinurself)December 7 , 2023
break : Starbucks lemon tree loaf has arrived in Gag Citypic.twitter.com/KY68wp1Ocu
— farty B ( @basicbenny)December 7 , 2023
not the homophobic dog get in in Gag City?!pic.twitter.com / vYMBgm4vd4
— JB 🐻 ✨ ( @JBfromDC89)December 7 , 2023
fun fact : katy perry is in reality the first artist that ever register a music video in gag city ( 2010)pic.twitter.com / ZIMZ59fuiS
— fazpo🦭 ( @fazpo)December 7 , 2023
X ( formerly Twitter ) users begin crafting elaborate narration about Gag City ’s inhabitants and government . One post an paradigm of Barbz storm the Pink House , whichanother userdescribed as the fandom ’s own January 6th . Anotherposted an epitome of pink - habilitate citizen protesting in the street of Gag City , calling for Minaj to liberate the album ’s course list . Though some may conceive that Gag City is a utopia , one accountposted an imageof a matronly Minaj handing out CDs of her record album to impoverished tiddler “ on the fringe of Gag City , ” implying that the pink society also has a class water parting problem .
Gag City is also interpenetrate with stan warfare , as sports fan of rival pop adept post image of their faves vying for Minaj ’s seat at the headway of her city ’s government . In a nod to Hellenic mythology , one accountposted an imageof a Trojan horse deck in Beyoncé ’s “ Renaissance ” discotheque motif .
🚨 break up : The Barbz have discovered a cryptical , metallic horse at the front gates of Gag City .
An dedication reads “ For their return habitation , the Hive dedicate this offering to Onika.”pic.twitter.com/64SKkWuGoc
— uncle gworl ( @_uncle_gworl)December 8 , 2023
nicki minaj addresses the citizen of gag metropolis prior to the inauguration tonightpic.twitter.com/sfC964ly7o
— Xeno 👾 ( @ACIDBLEEDER)December 7 , 2023
Never one to lack out on an loose trend , brand accounts started join in on the Gag City plug . Chili’sposted an imageof rosy locoweed billow from its restaurant , which makes me question if air defilement exists in Gag City . Wheat Thins , Baskin - Robbins , Dunkin ’ donut , Pizza Hut , Red Lobster , Oreo , Bing ( ? ? ) , theEmpire State Buildingand countless others posted their versions of Gag City .
deepen our headquarters in honor of#PinkFriday2release#chilisgrillandbarbzpic.twitter.com / ecmllJIz3d
— Chili ’s Grill & Bar ( @Chilis)December 8 , 2023
On one bridge player , memes tend to die the arcminute brand accounts start co - opting them — nothing is more tiresome than seeing a fun prank twist into a corporate - friendly marketing gambit . AI - generated images arealready ethically pregnant , and critic haveraised concernsover AI generators train on nontextual matter without the consent of the work ’s artist . artist have alsocriticized brandsfor using AI - get nontextual matter instead of commissioning study from a real , human creative person . Though using AI - get art for commercial use is effectual , ascopyright law pertaining to AIare virtually non - existent , it’sgenerally seen as a shitty moveby many in the art world .
On the other , it ’s gratuitous promotion for Minaj , and as a womb-to-tomb Barb who spent her adolescence running a stan account for “ Pink Friday , ” I consider it a win .
Nicki Minaj is an artist who ’s been embroiled in contestation throughout her vocation , fromposting unfit takes about COVID vaccinesto defending her husband Kenneth Petty , aconvicted sex wrongdoer . She may be a brilliant artist , but her problematic history makes her far from the house - well-disposed public number that brands are more likely to back .
But with Gag City , Minaj has brands doing all of her selling for her . “ Pink Friday 2 ” is an aesthetic marvel in itself ( though I am likely biased ) , but the gratis furtherance that it ’s been getting as a viral meme is in particular astounding . Artists have spent the last few years trying to drum up engagement for their work by stimulate their songs trend on TikTok , whichaudiences have started to resist . Gag City does n’t bank on being the viral song of the summertime to get streaming numbers — the chip is removed enough for non - stans to enjoy it , while still revolving around the album it ’s kick upstairs .
