Nicki Minaj Performs BlackOut Movement Single at Grammy Awards‏

Famed producer Winston "BlackOut" Thomas is behind Nicki Minaj's new smash single, "Roman Holiday," which she premiered in a jaw-dropping performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards on February 12, the world's biggest stage for music. "After producing 'Blow Your Mind' for her debut album Pink Friday, which received the Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, I was pleasantly surprised they were using my new track for Nicki to premiere at the Grammy's," states an elated BlackOut.

"They informed me a month ago about the Grammy performance, so I hosted a Grammy-viewing party in Miami for a few close friends but they didn't know...everyone went wild when she performed 'Roman Holiday.' I am honored to be a producer on both of her albums and to play a part in her creative process and success."

Minaj's performance has raised brows worldwide and furor within the Catholic community, as she pulled from religious symbolisms to exploit the exorcism of her favorite alter ego Roman Zolanski, on whom the song is based. Her Hype Williams' directed Grammy performance saw her using a pope as a prop, wearing a nun's habit-like outfit, and culminated in spectacular fashion as she levitated above the stage, and over a stunned audience.

"The Grammy's chose 'Roman Holiday,'" revealed Minaj, calling in to Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show on Monday to discuss the shocking spectacle. "They heard 'Roman Holiday' and I could not play them another record after that." The single is from Minaj's sophomore studio effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, due to hit stores on April 2, 2012.

The production house BlackOut Movement is at the helm of more than 20 hit singles, including productions for Flo Rida, Jim Jones, Trina, Jah Rule, Jason Derulo and Aaron Carter, just to name a few, and is best known for the blockbuster "This Is Why I'm Hot" by Mims, back in 2007. It scored BlackOut Movement its first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and secured BlackOut's place in pop music and in its formula for success.