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Politically Controversial Performances - International gigs can get sticky when there's political controversy involved, and every so often music superstars learn this lesson the hard way.Kanye West, Beyoncé and 50 Cent are just a few of the celebs who have pocketed big bucks for touching down in countries where human rights violations run rampant, usually at the hands of some of the world's most loathed dictators. Most have claimed to not be aware of the controversy until after the fact, but the backlash came nonetheless.Nicki Minaj is the latest to fall under criticism regarding a scheduled performance in Angola. Per The Guardian, the Christmas event is connected to Angola's controversial leader Eduardo dos Santos by way of the sponsor Unitel, a company run by dos Santos's family. While many are suggesting Nicki cancels her performance as the Angolan leader ha...

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Erykah Badu - Human rights activists have a bone to pick with Erykah Badu after her recent performance at the birthday party of Swaziland's King Mswati III. Activists demanded an explanation for the performance stating that King Mswati III lives in "obscene luxury" while the rest of his country is subjected to extreme "poverty for less than $2 a day." Badu responded to the critics stating that the king did not pay her for the performance, nor was it planned. She was already recording her sixth album in South Africa and sang "Happy Birthday" as a favor to her friend Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo, who was throwing a party for the king.(Photo: Marta Szczesniak/WENN.com)

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Mariah Carey — President José Eduardo dos Santos, the Qaddafi Family - Mariah Carey was taken to task for collecting $1 million in performance fees from Angolan despot José Eduardo dos Santos. The show was made all the more controversial because she publicly apologized for the time when she unknowingly performed for the Qaddafi family in 2009. Carey said she felt "horrible and embarrassed" once she learned of the Qaddafi link to the party. 

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Kanye West — Kazakhstan Show - Yeezus recently took home a cool $3 million to perform at a wedding for Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev's grandson. Kazakhstan is a "human rights wasteland," according to the Human Rights Foundation.(Photo: 13thWitness/Getty Images for Samsung)

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Beyoncé — the Qaddafi Family - Beyoncé was exposed for performing at more than one party thrown by Hannibal and Mutassim Qaddafi, sons of former Libyan tyrant Muammar Qaddafi. The backlash began when Bey donated her reported $1 million check to aid earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Usher — the Qaddafi Family - Like Bey, Usher also pocketed a nice fee to perform at a 2009 Qaddafi family New Year's Eve bash in St. Barts. Usher said he was "sincerely troubled" to learn of the uprising in Libya, and of Qaddafi's reputation. He donated the money to "various human rights organizations."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Jennifer Lopez — Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow - Jennifer Lopez has made over $10 million in global performances for dictators like Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, president of Turkmenistan. When she was called out for the choice, Lopez denied having knowledge of the various human rights violations in the countries where she performs. (Photo: Don Arnold/WireImage)

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Tina Turner — South Africa During Apartheid - Tina Turner was one of many stars who played at South Africa's Sun City casino resort during the apartheid era of racial divide. (Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns)

Photo By Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns

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Ray Charles — South Africa During Apartheid - Music legend Ray Charles was boycotted in 1986 over a performance in South Africa during apartheid. Protesters accused Charles of defying U.N. sanctions by performing in the country in 1981.(Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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James Brown — President Mobutu Sese Sek - Mobutu Sese Seko, president of Zaire (now named the Democratic Republic of Congo), tapped the Godfather of Soul along with B.B. King, Celia Cruz and Bill Withers for a 1974 music festival. Seko is accused of torture and embezzlement.(Photo: Paul Hawthorne/WireImage)

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Michael Jackson — Moved to Bahrain - Michael Jackson took it a step further by actually moving to Bahrain, a nation known to torture political prisoners and monitor websites surrounding human rights complaints and legal opposition to the regime. MJ's living arrangements with friend Sheik Abdullah bin Hama al-Khalifa ended with a lawsuit against the King of Pop for taking money but never recording a promised album. They settled out of court in 2008. (Photo: REUTERS/Havakuk Levison)

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50 Cent — the Qaddafi Family - 50 Cent earned an undisclosed amount to perform for the Qaddafis during the 2005 Venice Film Festival. He donated the money. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Lionel Richie — the Qaddafi Family - Lionel Richie got caught up for performing five songs at an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's attack on Benghazi and Tripoli.  (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)