Friday, March 6, 2015 6:35am ET by  
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Nicki Minaj to go ahead with tour in memory of late crew member

Nicki Minaj says she wants to go ahead with her next tour in dedication of a crew member who was stabbed to death in February.

Police confirmed last month that 29-year-old De'Von Pickett died in hospital after being struck with a knife outside a bar in Philadelphia.

He was due to work on Minaj's upcoming Pink Print live show as a tour manager.

Speaking to the Metro, the rapper said she considered pulling the tour as a result of the tragic news.

However, she decided to press ahead with the show in honour of Pickett.

Minaj said: "I don't think people understand how fast-paced this business is. You never get a chance sometimes to do what normal people do, like mourn a loss. Everything happens so fast.

"My band members took it very hard. They were with him all the time and toured with him for years. When I came to rehearsal after he had been killed, the look on everyone's face - it was heart-wrenching.

"I can't let anything stop us from putting on the show because that would be quitting. So we're going to continue the tour in his memory."

The world tour meanwhile is due to kick off in Stockholm on March 16.

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Watch Minaj perform live below: