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- [Narrator] In a world of cookie cutter stars,
this firecracker female rapper dared to be unique.
She is Onika Tanya Maraj,
better known as the one and only Nicki Minaj,
the reigning queen of rap.
[instrumental music]
Inhabitating both the world of perky dance pop
and gritty gangster rap,
she has carved out a space for herself
in a male dominated industry, beating all the odds,
and with over 15 years in the game,
it doesn't look like Nicki Minaj
will leave her throne anytime soon.
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Throughout her career,
she has dominated the charts and headlines
with her undeniable talent and vibrant personality,
attracting an army of devoted fans.
From the mean streets of Queens, New York,
to the heady heights of rap superstardom,
the story of Nicki Minaj is one for the books.
It's a lot of pressure.
You don't wanna let anybody down, you know,
so people put so much in you, into you.
It's kind of like investing into a stock.
So it's like you don't wanna cause them to lose.
[instrumental music]
Long before she became known as Nicki Minaj,
Onika Tanya Maraj was born in 1982 in the Caribbean.
Her father is Robert Maraj,
who worked as a financial executive.
Her mother, Carol Maraj,
was a foreign exchange teller and gospel singer.
When Minaj was young,
her mother immigrated to the United States.
She lived with her grandmother
in Saint James, Trinidad Tobago
with her 11 cousins and older brother.
Her mother sent for her and her brother
when Onika was just five,
moving them into her house
in South Jamaica, Queens, New York.
She is the second oldest alongside two brothers
and two sisters.
- And first of all, I'm a proud immigrant,
and when I came to America,
shout out to my country Trinidad,
when I came to America, I wanted to see America.
I thought I'd be living in this big castle.
But unfortunately, my mother, you know, didn't really...
My parents didn't have it like that.
So, you know, humble beginnings.
- [Narrator] Minaj had a troubled and traumatic childhood.
Her father had problems with alcoholism
and was addicted to crack cocaine.
[sad instrumental music]
In 1987, his substance fueled violent temper led to him
burning down their Trinidad and Tobago family house.
[fire crackling]
In New York,
it was soon realized that young Onika
had a keen ear for music
and played the clarinet in her middle school band.
With the natural flare for performance,
her interest led her to successfully audition
for LaGuardia High School, a prestigious hub for the arts.
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When she graduated,
Minaj had her hopes set on being an actress.
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She was cast in an off-Broadway play,
but her career wasn't taking off.
She worked several odd jobs,
being fired from a Red Lobster in the Bronx
for poor customer service.
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Although her fiery attitude
didn't translate so well to service jobs,
her ferociousness would soon become her superpower.
[instrumental music]
[Fans] Nicki Minaj!
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- [Narrator] Nicki was always determined
to rise above her circumstances
and prove her skills to the world.
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In her teenage years,
Nicki would be a fan of hip hop artists,
such as Jay-Z and Foxy Brown.
She began to take on backup singing roles
for local New York rappers, including Full Force.
Armed with a pen and a fierce rapping game,
Nicki soon became a key figure
in New York's thriving rap scene.
[instrumental music]
She began wrapping in a foursome called The Hoodstars
which was made up of 7even Up,
Lou$tar, and Scarf Breezy.
In 2004, The Hoodstars recorded the song "Don't Mess With,"
which was a contribution to a compilation album
from the WWE entitled 'ThemeAddict, WWE: The Music."
Minaj soon left The Hoodstars,
and began writing her own solo material.
Her undeniable raw talent, sharp wit,
and killer flow meant she was eventually
discovered by the Dirty Money CEO, Fendi.
Fendi came across Minaj's Myspace Page,
loved what he heard, and signed her to his label.
That connection led Minaj to Lil Wayne,
one of the biggest heavyweights in hip hop.
Lil Wayne will collaborate with her
on a series of mixed tapes.
The first of which, "Playtime Is Over,"
was released in April 2007.
Subsequent mix tapes like "Sucka Free" in 2008
and "Beam Me Up Scotty" in 2009
blew up New York's underground rap scene,
positioning Minaj at the forefront of the cutting edge.
She presented herself as self-assured with out front style.
In 2009, she signed with Lil Wayne's label,
Young Money Entertainment,
becoming its first ever female artist.
Lil Wayne has backed Nicki from the very beginning,
calling her an icon
who has reached far beyond anything I would've imagined.
She will go down as one of the best to do it
in the history of music.
You are beautiful.
I've never had a chance to meet you.
Yeah, thank you.
- Now tell me, how's it feel like, you know, to really,
really be plucked from doing what you were doing
to now being poised
to be the number one female rappers in the game?
What's that pressure feel like?
- [Nicki] Oh God, it feels insane,
but it's exciting, and I'm grateful
that the people have chosen me to be that person.
Now tell me, in your opinions
being a female hip hop artist,
why has yet there been a female artist
to take this game away from the men?
- Because when girls dare to be different,
they're judged so much, way more than the boys.
[Narrator] After her string
of buzzy mix tape drops and features,
anticipation had built up around Minaj's debut album.
It was due for release in autumn 2010.
[instrumental music]
[Fan] Thank you!
[Fan] Thank you, Nicki!
[Narrator] In April 2010,
she released her first single, "Massive Attack,"
followed by "Your Love."
Two months later,
she won Best Hip Hop Female at the annual BET Awards.
She dedicated the award to Lil Wayne.
Her verse on Kanye West's 2000 single, "Monster,"
was critically acclaimed,
and contributed significantly to her popularity.
Many critics said she has the best verse in the song.
♪ Yeah I'm in that Tonka color of Willy ♪
[Audience] Wonka!
♪ You could be the king but watch the queen ♪
[Audience] Conquer.
♪ First things first I'll
[Audience] Eat your brains.
♪ Then I'ma start rockin' gold
[Audience] Teeth and fang.
♪ 'Cause that's what a motherfuckin' monster do ♪
♪ Hairdresser from Milan that's the monster 'do ♪
♪ Monster Giuseppe heel that's the monster crew ♪
♪ Young money is the roster and the monster crew ♪
♪ And I'm all up in the
[Audience] All up in the bank.
♪ With the funny face
♪ And if I'm fake
- [Audience] I ain't notice 'cause my money ain't.
♪ So let me get this straight wait I'm the rookie ♪
♪ But my features and my shows ten times your ♪
- [Narrator] This feature has gone down in history
as one of the best ever
and as Nicki's finest guest appearance.
Her verse on "Monster" garnered instant respect
from her peers and solidified her place
in the runnings for hip hop royalty.
It is widely thought that Minaj's verse was superior
to West himself,
who was seen as the most important pop rapper
at that time.
Complex rated the verse
as the number one best rap verse in the past five years.
For someone at the beginning of her career,
Minaj carried herself with a confidence swagger
and showed off her rapping finesse.
[instrumental music]
Her debut studio album, "Pink Friday,"
was released that November
and was promoted with eight singles from it.
It went triple platinum and received positive reviews.
Nicki's debut album took the music industry by storm,
blending rap and pop
to create infectious hooks and razor sharp lyrics.
- My first album, I had Eminem, Kanye West, Brianna.
- [Interviewer] Right. - Lil Wayne, will.i.am.
Who does that on their first album? No one.
You know, so people are expecting me now
- to get, you know, savior. - [Interviewer] Jesus.
Yeah.
[everyone laughs]
- [Narrator] "Moment 4 Life" was released
as the fourth single from Pink Friday,
shortly after the album's release,
followed by the internationally successful single,
"Super Bass."
[bright instrumental music]
♪ This one is for the boys with the booming system ♪
♪ Top down AC with the cooler system ♪
♪ When he come up in the club he be blazin' up ♪
♪ Got stacks on deck like he savin' up ♪
♪ And he ill he real he might gotta deal ♪
♪ He pop bottles and he got the right kind of build ♪
♪ He cold he dope he might sell coke ♪
♪ He always in the air but he never fly coach ♪
♪ He a motherfuckin' trip trip sailor of the ship ship ♪
♪ When he make it drip drip kiss him on the lip lip ♪
♪ That's the kind of dude I was lookin' for ♪
- [Narrator] "Super Bass" was the bubblegum pop sleeper hit
that propelled Nicki's career to the stratosphere.
[instrumental music]
It brought a new kind of rap to the mainstream
through its addictive pre-course and hook.
It also paved the way
for the dance-pop direction she would later embark on.
"Super Bass" remains one of Nicki Minaj's most loved songs.
On "Pink Friday,"
it wasn't just Nicki's clever double entendres
and humorous rhymes that caught the public attention.
It was also her bombastic, outlandish style.
At this time in her career,
Minaj found inspiration
from the world famous Harajuku district in Tokyo, Japan.
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- What all I wanted to do was go to Tokyo.
And so I went to Tokyo, and I'll never forget,
I was so obsessed with the Harajuku culture,
and I met the girls down there,
and they were dressed like me.
And I went back to my hotel and cried
'cause I couldn't believe that I couldn't understand a word
that girls were saying,
but there was a universal language we both spoke,
and that was fashion and that was hair
and that was makeup, and you know, all those fun things.
- [Narrator] She sported a bright rotation
of rainbow colored wigs.
She told Hype Hair Magazine that, "Color makes me happy.
It really excites me.
I'm a very visual person.
And when I look in the mirror,
and I see green or I see pink,
it does something to my attitude.
It makes me feel positive."
But I think from the outside,
when people don't get to know me
and they don't know how layered I am
and they don't really know my music,
and they just see someone that's dressing, you know, crazy,
they think, "Oh, you're this one, or you're that.
Well, you're trying to be this one," but I'm just doing me.
[Narrator] As a rising artist,
Nicki would also introduce several personas
that she would inhabit while rapping.
In her mixtapes, this would often be Nicki Lewinsky,
a reference to Monica Lewinsky,
who was the mistress of US President Bill Clinton.
When Nicki Lewinsky is on the track,
expect to hear sexual and tough bars.
Another notable alter ego
that Nicki would first use in "Monster"
was that of Roman Zolanski.
Often saying, "he is a demon inside her,"
whose character she assumes when she's angry.
Roman has often been compared to Eminem's alter ego,
Slim Shady.
The bonkers song, "Roman's Revenge,"
sees Roman and Slim Shady face each other head on
in an energetic collaboration between Minaj and Eminem.
In November 2010,
Minaj assumed the alter ego, Nicki Teresa,
wearing a colorful headdress,
and calling herself healer to her fans.
She introduced another alter ego,
Rosa, pronounced with an exaggerated R
to commemorate her December 2010 appearance
on "Lopez Tonight."
She is Nicki, who is that?
Her name is Rosa.
Rosa.
Rosa!
Rrrr.
But you have to say it like...
You have to really roll it long, pause.
- You have to say Rosa. - Rosa.
[Nicki laughs]
- [Narrator] Due to her difficult upbringing
and her parents' frequent fighting during her childhood,
Minaj lived through the characters she created
as a means of escape.
She recalled that fantasy was my reality.
Her style, music, and confident persona set Nicki apart
from everything else in the industry,
marking her as a true and exciting original to watch.
Nicki Minaj's unapologetic self-confidence
and unique style has earned her a legion of devoted fans
that she affectionately calls her Barbz.
♪ Up up up
♪ Then put your number twos
♪ Put your number twos in the air if you did it ♪
♪ All these bitches is my sons
♪ And I'ma go and get some bibs for 'em ♪
♪ A couple formulas
[Narrator] In the early 2010s,
there was an electronic dance music boom.
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Minaj became a leader in this particular sound
going toe to toe with the pop stars of the era.
At the 2012 Superbowl halftime show,
Minaj performed alongside Madonna.
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Soon after the appearance,
Minaj would drop her album,
"Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded."
The record proved to be a commercial hit,
reaching the top of the pop, R&B, and rap charts.
I felt like this one,
I was so much more like seasoned,
and you know, so I created an album
with like all of the different facets
of my personality.
So you got the hard stuff and you know, Queens Girl,
and you got like the dance rockets
like "Pound the Alarm," that red one did,
which I was so excited to do.
And then you have...
I think it's like a billion times better
than my first album.
And it's just because I'm more confident,
and I just went for it.
I didn't change stuff.
I didn't, you know, go crazy,
and redo my verses a billion times.
I was just like, "You know what?
This is who I am right now.
Take it or leave it."
- [Narrator] The booming dance track, "Starships,"
was the first breakout single.
[instrumental music]
♪ Uh let's go to the beach-each ♪
♪ Let's go get a wave
♪ They say what they gonna say
♪ Have a drink clink found the Bud Light ♪
♪ Bad bitches like me is hard to come by ♪
- [Narrator] "Pound the Alarm" soon followed
as did "Va Va Voom."
- For the Reloaded Tour in October,
oh my God, it's just bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger.
Obviously, the set is gonna be on steroids.
All of the things that I love when I go and see a tour,
the lights and the backdrops and the video contents,
and you know, the dancers.
♪ Boom badoom boom boom badoom boom bass ♪
♪ He got that super bass
This is like every little girl's dream come true.
I mean, I never imagined that I would be doing a show
in the middle of Times Square
on these people would be singing every lyric.
♪ Oh oh oh oh oh oh
- [Narrator] The album received mixed reviews.
Minaj's departure into full mainstream pop was criticized
by some, despite her commercial success.
The same year, Minaj became the first solo female rapper
to perform at the Grammy Awards.
She performed her song, "Roman Holiday,"
unleashing her alter ego, Roman Zolanski.
The theatrical performance was controversial
due to its themes of religious exorcism
and received backlash from the Catholic church.
[Cameraman] Nicki!
Nicki, right here!
[Narrator] In March 2012,
Minaj moved into the world of competition reality TV,
making a guest appearance as a judge on American Idol.
She showed off her charisma on the panel,
but also ruffled feathers of fellow judge, Jennifer Lopez.
To make room for her at the judge's table,
she tells J.Lo to scoot over a little bit.
The exchange led to rumors of a potential feud
between Minaj and Lopez.
Minaj would dismiss these claims
and was later invited back as a permanent judge on the show.
- I caught the face that J.Lo made-
- J.Lo gave you side eye, look at that.
She gave you crazy side eye.
[interviewers laugh]
- Well, I ain't gonna say nothing to J.Lo right about now,
but the kid gonna be back on that show, J.Lo.
[Interviewer] Oh yeah!
- [Narrator] However, when back on the screen,
Nicki had noticeable friction with Mariah Carey,
who was also judging.
The pair would openly argue
during the show's early auditions.
With her next album released in 2014,
"The Pinkprint," Minaj noticeably
took on a more subdued pared back appearance.
She was seen less and less in bright wigs
and flamboyant styles.
Instead, wearing her hair natural,
paired with more minimalist
and luxurious silhouettes.
[Camera Operator] Nicki!
I think once I have music,
I do tend to try to dress like the music,
but I think recently,
I've just been doing a lot of toned back looks,
and keeping it more chic, more grown and sexy.
- [Narrator] The album similarly signaled a departure
from the electronic dance pop that defined "Roman Reloaded."
Instead, the album saw Nicki go back to her hip hop roots.
[instrumental music]
Nicki also broke it off with her longtime boyfriend,
Safaree Samuels, in this era,
inspiring songs on the album.
The album star-studded feature list included Beyonce,
Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, and Drake.
It went double platinum.
And in 2016, she won the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist award
at the BET Awards for the seventh consecutive time.
[instrumental music]
Ice-T stated, "Minaj's rapping style,
she does her thing.
She has her own way of doing it.
She has an ill vocal delivery.
She reminds me of a female Busta Rhymes,
like how she throws her voice
in different directions."
[instrumental music]
The conversation described Minaj
as a preeminent female rapper,
and that she has consistently
straddled the distinct personas of a gangster boss
and sexy pop siren without truly committing to either,
and that her chameleonic ability
matches some of rap's most verbose, witty, filthy,
and pop-friendly stars such as Eminem and Lil Wayne.
[instrumental music]
When "Anaconda" was released as the second single
from "The Pinkprint," it was a cultural phenomenon.
The song showcases all of Nicki Minaj's strengths
and controversial appeal.
The track uses a sample from Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1992 track,
"Baby Got Back,"
weaving it into a self-empowerment anthem.
Unapologetically sexual, the song, video, and single artwork
all embrace the size matters ethos,
and it went viral almost immediately.
♪ My anaconda don't
♪ My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun ♪
♪ Oh my gosh look at her butt
- [Narrator] The video broke the 24-hour streaming record
on Vevo by accumulating 19.6 million views
on the first day.
However, not everyone was so impressed with the song.
Critics called it degrading to women
and promoted immorality to young girls.
On the flip side,
many saw the video as Nicki Minaj
asserting her power as a sexual subject.
Regardless, "Anaconda" was placed
at number two on MTV's best songs of 2014.
[instrumental music]
Nicki's talents extend beyond her music career.
Using her acting skills she honed at her time at LaGuardia,
Nicki acted in the other women alongside Cameron Diaz.
- [Reporter] How terrifying is Nicki Minaj in real life?
Oh my God, not at all.
She's so lovely.
She's the sweetest.
She came to our set, and she was so fantastic.
She was so prepared, she was so dynamic.
She delivered literally like this,
like immediately, she just delivered,
and we were like, right on.
And she was so sweet and she was so humble,
and really, she had come from...
Flown in the night before from some award show,
went straight to set, got ready,
and came to set like she was all business.
Yeah, she was amazing.
[Narrator] She later
received a Teen Choice Awards 2016 nomination
for her role in "Barbershop: The Next Cut."
She has fronted several endorsement deals
and advertising campaigns,
including Mac Cosmetics, Adidas Originals, and Pepsi.
And she has her own fragrance line.
Despite all her other projects,
music is still Minaj's big focus.
She would feature on a handful of singles in 2017,
and with the simultaneous release
and successes of "No Frauds,"
"Regret in Your Tears," and "Changed It,"
she took over the record for most entries
on the Billboard Hot 100 by a female artist,
a mark previously held by Aretha Franklin.
After a short hiatus,
following the release of "Regret in Your Tears,"
Minaj burst back onto the music scene in April 2018
with the two back-to-back singles,
"Chun-Li" and "Barbie Tingz."
♪ Ayy yo I been on bitch you been corn ♪
♪ Bentley tints on Fendi prints on ♪
♪ I mean I been Storm X-Men been formed ♪
♪ He keep on dialin' Nicki like the Prince song ♪
♪ I-I-I been on bitch you been corn ♪
♪ Bentley tints on Fendi prints on ♪
♪ Ayy yo I been North Laura been Croft ♪
♪ Plates say Chun-Li drop the Benz off uh ♪
♪ Oh I get it
♪ They paintin' me out to be the bad guy ♪
♪ Well it's the last time you're gonna see a bad guy ♪
♪ Do the rap game like me
- [Narrator] It would be the first taste
of her forthcoming album titled "Queen."
A clear throwback
to the kind of mid 90s swagger she grew up on,
Minaj introduces another alter ego, Chun-Li,
into her arsenal named
after the ass kicking Street Fighter video game character.
Over a hypnotic saxophone line and head nodding beat,
Minaj delivers one of her most quotable singles yet.
Upon debuting second on the Billboard 200,
Minaj expressed frustration and criticized several people
in a series of tweets, including Travis Scott,
whose album, "Astroworld," claimed the top spot
for a second week in a row,
blocking "Queen" from the top spot.
Minaj claimed that Travis Scott sold shirts, merchandise,
and ticket passes for an unannounced tour
to boost his album sales.
"Queen" received generally positive reviews,
though some critics took issue
with the album's length and lyrical content.
Rolling Stone wrote that "Queen"
brings a new Minaj character, the regal haughty monarch.
A woman who insists on sword sharpened rhymes
as a prerogative for excellence.
"Queen" is seen as a true Nicki Minaj hip hop album
that additionally combined elements
of trap, reggae, dance hall, and pop.
A standout track which displayed Nicki
reclaiming the throne of hip hop
after her foray into dance pop
would be the track, "Barbie Dreams,"
a re-imagining of the controversial notorious B.I.G. song,
"Just Playing [Dreams]".
Minaj's "Barbie Dreams" playfully subverts the narrative
by instead name dropping several male figures
in the music industry.
Come on, let's go!
Hey!
♪ I'm looking for a dude to give some babies ♪
♪ A hand full of Weezy's sprinkle of Dave East ♪
♪ Man I ain't got no type like Jxmmi and Swae Lees ♪
♪ But if he can't three times a night ♪
[Audience] Peace!
♪ I tried to 50 for a powerful hour ♪
♪ But all the dude wanna do is talk power for hours ♪
♪ Beat the cookie up make sure it's a K-O ♪
♪ Step your banks up like you movin' that yayo ♪
♪ Somebody go and make sure Karrueche okay though ♪
♪ I heard she think I'm tryna give the to Quavo ♪
♪ They always wanna beat it up goon up the ♪
♪ Man maybe I should let him autotune up the ♪
♪ All these bow wow challenge dudes lying and ♪
♪ Man these Fetty Wap dudes stay eyeing my ♪
♪ Drake worth a hundred milli' always buying me ♪
♪ But I don't know if the cookie or if he crying and ♪
♪ Meek still be in my DMs I be having to duck him ♪
- [Audience] I used to pray for times like this.
♪ Face-Ass
♪ Uzi is my baby he ain't takin' an L ♪
♪ But he took it literally when I said go to Hell ♪
♪ I used to with Young Thug I ain't addressing this shit ♪
♪ I caught him in my dressing room stealing dresses and ♪
♪ I used to give this dude with a lisp tests and ♪
♪ How you want the
♪ Can't say your S's and
Hey, come on!
Whoo!
♪ I'm just playing
Hey, come on!
Hey!
♪ I'm just playing
♪ Barbie
[Audience] Dreams!
Hey!
Come on!
♪ Barbies
♪ I'm just playing
- [Narrator] Nicki has always been aware of her being
in a previously thought to be male dominated industry.
In "Barbie Dreams,"
Nicki is asserting her dominance
with her tongue firmly in cheek.
To support the "Queen" era,
Nicki embarked on an ambitious tour
with rapper, Juice WRLD,
aptly called the Nicki World Tour.
The tour captivated audiences
with her undeniable charisma and talent.
[audience cheering]
♪ Whatever you want you can have from me oh oh ♪
♪ I want your love just lead me on ♪
♪ Won't give it up hey hey hey hey ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a sucker for ya
♪ Boom shang-a-lang-a-la
♪ Uh yo I got the money and the power now ♪
♪ The G5'll get me out there in an hour now ♪
♪ The MAC movin' like crack I'm sellin' powder now ♪
♪ Game over locker room hit them showers now ♪
♪ I got the trophies and the catalogue ♪
♪ Just did a deal Mercedes-Benz check the catalogue ♪
♪ I'm buyin' buildings we don't buy the blogs ♪
♪ The Nicki challenge when I fly to Prague uh ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a sucker for ya
♪ Boom shang-a-lang-a-la
♪ Who want it with Nicki now
♪ I smoke 'em like hippies now
♪ They see me say yippie now
♪ Homes runnin' like Griffey now ♪
♪ They switchin' like sissies now ♪
♪ These is iffy now
♪ Bitches tune switchin' up
♪ We take 'em to Jiffy now
- [Narrator] She made a guest appearance
at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
during Ariana Grande's set,
and performed alongside her
to their collaborations "Side to Side" and "Bang Bang."
However, she experienced technical difficulties
with her earpiece.
Later that month, Minaj parted ways
with her longtime management team
after a mutual agreement.
Overall, to Barbz and the broader public,
the "Queen" era was a testament to Nicki Minaj's artistry.
The album incorporated all the aspects
of Nicki Minaj's career and growth so far.
- If you wanna do what I do, I work very, very hard,
and I love to make my Barbz AKA my babies happy.
[Narrator] After "Queen,"
it felt like nothing could stop Nicki.
She had solidified herself in hip hop's hall of fame,
claiming the throne as rightfully hers.
However, she made a surprising announcement in 2019,
revealing that she would be retiring from music
to start a family.
Fans were shocked.
But after a decade of consistent output,
it made sense that Nicki would need a break.
The Barbz rallied around her
and eagerly hoped for her return.
[instrumental music]
Nicki's retirement was short-lived.
The "Queen" never leaves the throne
and will certainly not give it up.
A couple months later,
Nicki featured on PnB Rock's track "Fendi" with Murda Beatz.
[instrumental music]
In May 2020,
Nicki announced she was pregnant with her first child
by sharing a series of maternity photos on Instagram.
Later that year, Nicki welcomed her son
with her husband, Kenneth Petty.
[instrumental music]
Since the release of "Queen,"
Nicki has consistently collaborated
with other artists on hit songs.
- [Interviewer] Did you love watching Nicki Minaj?
Oh, a dream.
- She's so lovely, she's very supportive of us.
I love her.
[Narrator] In June of 2020,
Minaj and 6ix9ine released "TROLLZ,"
which became their third collaboration.
It debuted atop the Hot 100,
becoming Minaj's second number one single.
Minaj, not shy of controversy,
received backlash for this collaboration
because of 6ix9ine's history of legal issues.
American rapper, Doja Cat, featured Minaj
on two remixes of her song, "Say So."
That week, the remix top Billboard Hot 100,
becoming Minaj's first single
to reach number one on the chart.
The collaboration was also the first time
that a song by two female rap artists reached the top,
which became influential for other female rappers
to work together in the future.
- Shout out to all of the kickass women,
not only in this room, but all around the world
who, you know what?
We win and fail in the public eye.
And that's not easy to do.
People think they know what it requires.
People think they could do it.
Everybody wants to walk in your shoes,
until you put them in your shoes,
and then it's like, ugh.
You know what I mean?
So I wanna say congratulations
to all the girls in this world
who are strong, who are confident,
and yes, we have insecure moments, and that's okay.
But guess what? You do something
that millions of people would never be able to do
if they had the opportunity,
because it takes guts, it takes balls!
- [Narrator] She continued to appear as a featured artist
on several songs into late 2020.
Late November, Minaj announced a six part docuseries,
cataloging her life set to premiere in 2021 on HBO Max.
In a full circle moment,
2021 saw Minaj release a reissue
of one of her first mixtapes, "Beam Me Up Scotty."
The reissue introduced her early work
to a much larger audience.
It let the public see both how far she has come
and also her undeniable talent from day one.
The reissue featured new tracks with guest appearances
from artists like Lil Wayne and Drake.
It was well received by critics and Barbz.
In 2022, Minaj released her hit single,
"Super Freaky Girl,"
sampling Rick James's 1981 song, "Super Freak."
♪ Ay yo
♪ I can lick it I can ride it while you slippin' and slidin' ♪
♪ I can do all them little tricks ♪
♪ And keep the dick up inside it ♪
♪ You can smack it you can grip it ♪
♪ You can go down and kiss it
♪ And every time he leave me 'lone ♪
♪ He always tell me he miss it
♪ He want a F-R-E-A-K
♪ F-R-E
♪ A-K A-K A-K E-A-K E
[Narrator] "Super Freaky Girl"
feels like a companion song to "Anaconda,"
driving the fans wild as a result.
The song debuted at number one in the US,
becoming the first solo song by a female rapper
to debut at number one in the US in 22 years.
As of 2023, Minaj is working
on her much anticipated fifth studio album.
She described it as fun, gutta, and back to the basics.
[instrumental music]
Known as one of the most legendary artists
in the rap industry,
Nicki Minaj has dominated the genre for years.
She has topped lists as one
of the most influential people globally
and has had singles,
make it onto the Billboard Hot 100 on numerous occasions.
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[crowd singing and cheering]
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- Okay, how you get your life more like Nicki Minaj?
Work hard.
If you wanna do what I do,
I work very, very hard,
and I love to make my Barbz AKA my babies happy.
And you know, that's about it.
Stay in school.
Don't drop out and don't, you know,
do silly things with boys and stuff.
Just focus, girls.
[instrumental music]
- [Narrator] Minaj is often called the queen of rap.
[instrumental music]
She has been nominated for 10 Grammys
throughout her decade-long career,
earned a Guinness World Record in 2017
for most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a solo female artist.
[instrumental music]
And achieved an outstanding five MTV Video Music Awards.
Her career opened the doors for many other women
looking to make a career in the rap game.
Nicki Minaj is an icon of brash confidence
and unapologetic self-belief.
Defying her humble roots, she dared to dream bigger.
It's a lot of pressure.
You don't wanna let anybody down,
you know, so people put so much in you, into you.
It's kind of like investing into a stock.
So it's like you don't wanna cause them to lose.
- [Narrator] She's a walking exaggeration,
outsize and sound personality and looks,
and she's a rapid revolver,
discarding old modes as quickly as adopting new ones.
[instrumental music]
Throughout her career,
she has proven time and time again
that she earned her spot at the top.
Often imitated, but never replicated.
Nicki Minaj is truly one of a kind.
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