QUEEN OF RAP: THE EVOLUTION OF NICKI MINAJ

Before Nicki Minaj became a household name she was once known as Nicki The Ninja & the Harajuku Barbie. Back in the early 2000's she was releasing a mixture of her own original music along with covers of some of hip-hop's popular records at the time. One of her big breakout songs was "I Get Crazy" featuring Lil' Wayne that took over the radio airwaves, with this track alone she proved that she has bars that not even a hater could deny. Remember when she bodied Soulja Boy's song "Donk" with her version titled "Itty Bitty Piggy", from beginning to end she owned it in a way that you totally forgot about it's original version. 

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Beam Me Up Scotty was one of many of Minaj's ills mixtape that featured a remix of Drake's song "Best I Ever Had" that flaunted a more smoother side of Nicki's rap skills further proving that she is more then a hood female rapper.



We must not forget the mixtape titled track that boasts a reggae flavor while the Young Money front woman recited her lyrics in her famed accent as her flow ever so effortlessly rode the beat.

Nicki released her very first mixtape Playtime Is Over on July 5, 2007 & she kicked down the doors of hip-hop & gave many reasons as to why playtime was indeed over.

On April 18, 2008 the Sucka Free mixtape & one of the stand out tracks was "Dead Wrong" that was originally done by the Notorious B.I.G. With this song Onika slaughtered the streets of the hood with gutter lyrics that made anyone who heard this song not care that she was a female & gave her the props she deserved. 

On November 22, 2010 she released her debut studio album Pink Friday that served track after track of how hungry of an artist she was to be one of the best to ever do it. The album gave birth to the singles "Fly" featuring Rihanna, the Drake assisted "Moment 4 Life", "Check It Out" with Will.i.Am, "Super Bass" & the fan favorite "Your Love".

Nicki Minaj delivered her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded on April 3, 2012 showing a more eclectic side of her artistry that many at the time did not understand. She boasted a more pop sound with songs "Starships", "Pound The Alarm", "Whip It", "Automatic" & "Beautiful Sinner". 

December 15, 2014 saw the unveiling of the third album The Pinkprint that greatly satisfied fans who were happy to see Minaj get back to her hip-hop roots with lyrics & rap metaphors that truly put her talents on display. The project released the singles "Feeling Myself" with Beyoncé, the Lil' Wayne, Drake & Chris Brown featured song "Only", "Anaconda" & "Pills N Potions". 

In 2015 after winning countless awards for her music & album sales she released The Pinkprint movie that brought to life the song from the album with heart evoking storylines. The film within itself brought Nicki's career to all new heights showing that she has longevity in the music industry that many do not have. 

Since day one when Nicki Minaj introduced herself to the world with her mixtape & raw talent many denied her greatness as a artist. Over the years she has proven many times through her music, interviews, business sense, her fans & drive that she has that it factor that the industry needs. She is a artist that can't be replaced, while many feel as though she has forgotten her roots of the hood she has managed to tap into the pop market further pushing her record sales & net worth onto the forbes list. 

Say what you want, but Onika Tanya Maraj is here to stay & regards of who came before her she has carved out her very own lane where she simply can't be compared to any other artist Her unique style of rapping & writing skills have also proven that a women does not necessarily have to sell sex to have a hit record. We are in the beginning of 2016 & their is not telling what she has in store for her fans & the music world.