How did Nicki Minaj impact the music industry?
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With a personality that commands attention and over-the-top fashion, Minaj expanded her role in the music industry from a freestyle rapper from the Southside of Jamaica Queens, to a global sensation and hip-hop thought leader exploring multiple genres and themes in music and challenging industry standards both in and out of the booth.
Nicki Minaj first began rising in 2009 after building a fan base on the social media platform, MySpace. The world quickly started to notice her talents (Pretty sure the fact I had ‘Your Love’ on my MSN status contributed to her awareness… Lol) and before you knew it, she was signed to Young Money Cash Money Records (YMCMB) founder and rapper Lil Wayne.
She did the obvious, and then more. She became an innovative, evocative rapper. She became an intricate lyricist. She became a thoughtful singer. She became a risky performer. She invented new personae, my most loved to this day is still Roman. More than any other rapper in the mainstream, she pushed hard against expectations, and won. Only rarely did she allow herself to appear secondary to her male counterparts — even on songs like “Monster,” alongside Kanye West and Jay-Z, she more than held her ground. The buzz from the verse quickly got people excited for what was to come from Onika. With no one around to compare herself to, or for others to compare her to, she became her own watermark.
There’s no denying the fact that Nicki Minaj is one of the most influential people in music today. She became the highest-selling female rapper after only 1 year in the game. She single-handedly revived the female rap genre, opening so many doors for other female rappers to follow. She gained immense respect from her male peers namely: Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Jay Z. Nicki Minaj is an inspiration to every female rapper after her (whether they admit it or not)
Nicki Minaj’s first studio album Pink Friday was released on November 19th, 2010 and to this day is still the highest-selling debut album from any female artist this decade. The album sold over 375,000 pure copies in its opening week. That’s not the only major record Minaj holds. She also has the most Billboard Hot 100 entries of any female artist ever with 106 entries.
There is a reason as to why she is the number one most sought out after artists for features. She effortlessly manages to take any song she’s featured into new heights with her lyrics, cadence, and undeniable flawless flow. A track with a Minaj feature statistically performs better in the Billboard Hot 100 charts as it’s been proven time and time again.
Nicki Minaj has managed to be successful and relevant for over a decade in a male-dominated industry, that says a lot about this multi talented woman.
So how did Nicki Minaj impact the music industry?
All of the above plus more,
The mainstream hip-hop scene today is very different to when Minaj entered the game, partially due to her own success and contributions. Today, both fans and artists themselves have expanded the constraints that previously contained women to battle it out for a metaphorical throne. Like her predecessors, Missy Elliot, Lil Kim, and Foxy Brown, who also carried torches lit by their fiery presence, Minaj’s presence and artistry filled a void in music.
In 2021, her influence stands as one of the most successful rappers of the millennium, regardless of gender identity — which only confirms her power. She battled misogyny and industry bias against Black women to carve her own identity and sound. There are Minaj dolls, magazine covers, branded lipsticks, drinks, high-end fashion, affordable retail collaborations, nail polish, fragrances, film roles, and more. P.s Super Bass just went Diamond
While us excited and loyal fans patiently await her next album, Nicki Minaj reunited with former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson on her debut solo single “Boyz.”
The U.K. baddie and the Barbie prove to be a formidable duo on the nostalgic track, which samples Diddy’s 2001 anthem “Bad Boy for Life.” They also remake the music video, complete with a cameo from the Bad Boy icon himself.
Stay safe, remember – You’re still a bad bitch, whether your sporty or your dressy and take care,
Sammi xx
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