Such scenes, unimaginable just two years ago, reflect how the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom is easing decades-old restrictions on entertainment.

Minaj — well-known for her provocative, profanity-laced lyrics and skin-baring music videos — pulled out of headlining the concert in a show of solidarity for women’s and gay rights in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom.

The cancellation triggered a social media storm, with many fans in the kingdom voicing disappointment and demanding ticket refunds.

The singer insisted on Twitter that her decision was not intended to “disrespect” the Saudi government.

The announcement of her performance had prompted an online backlash from arch-conservatives as the kingdom pursues a contentious liberalisation drive.

Citing unnamed sources, a few Saudi media outlets including the pro-government Okaz newspaper insisted it was the kingdom that cancelled her show, as it went against local “customs and values”.

The country has faced intense international scrutiny over its human rights record since last year’s killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul and the ongoing trial of women activists.

The Human Rights Foundation has urged artists not to perform in the kingdom.

“It’s clear that, after losing Nicki Minaj on the basis of the Saudi regime’s atrocious human rights record and their treatment of women and the gay community, Crown Prince (Mohammed bin Salman) has chosen to spend whatever it takes to give the appearance that things are normal and that this is just another concert,” HRF president Thor Halvorssen said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia is boosting entertainment for its citizens to have fun, in what some see as an attempt to blunt public frustration over an economic downturn and high youth unemployment.

The country’s General Entertainment Authority said it plans to pump $64 billion into the sector in the coming decade.

But some acts have fuelled anger in a country still steeped in conservatism.

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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.

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.

“I am still in shock and don’t want to believe this. And it hurts even more knowing how good these two dudes are. How hard these guys work,” 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.

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Beyonce’s last album which was self-titled was released last December as a surprise package without prior publicity. It has since sold more one million copies worldwide.

The new album is expected to feature celebrated Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who appeared on the track ‘Flawless’ in the last album.

A “release confirmation” and tracklist for a “Beyonce Volume 2” album has been floating around Twitter. The memo includes 10 new songs — including new collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Justin TImberlake and Rihanna — and 11 new videos. Vibe Magazine points out that a Beyonce and Rihanna collaboration has been in the rumor mill for months now. WonderingSound also notes that this could explain why Minaj’s “The Pinkprint,” which was originally set for Nov. 24, was pushed back to Dec. 15. The document states that a digital edition of the album would drop on Nov. 14, and that a four-disc physical copy — including “Beyonce” and a DVD from both her Mrs. Carter World Tour and the On The Run tour — would get released on Nov. 25.

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