The New Queen Bee

Turn on the radio to any pop or hip-hop station and you are bound to hear “BedRock,” a collaborative rap song from Lil Wayne’s super group Young Money. Yet the verse that has been getting the most attention — and critical appreciation — is that by feisty femcee Nicki Minaj.
Born Onika Maraj in Jamaica, Queens, Minaj set her sights early for a career in entertainment, attending a performing arts high school. Initially she was reluctant to cast herself as a rapper because the industry, so heavily dominated by males, often left no room for successful female rap artists. To take on the industry, Minaj developed her three-part “Wonder Woman” persona: Nicki the Ninja, the naughty hip hop lyrical assassin; Nicki the Harajuku Barbie, the girly fashionista; and Nicki the Boss, the savvy business women. No matter which persona, her skills and talents were noticed, and in August 2009, Lil Wayne signed Minaj to his record label.
Minaj has released three mix tapes; the most recent, Beam Me Up Scotty, earned her critical success including a “Female Artist of the Year” award at the Underground Music Awards.
Minaj is already impacting the music industry. Her brazen and energizing sound is featured as a guest appearance on nearly 10 albums. She spits faster than the beat in “Shakin’ It 4 Daddy,” on Robin Thicke’s album Sex Therapy and outshines Mariah Carey in the remix of “Up Out My Face,” a cheeky song from Carey’s remix album, Angles Advocate. Minaj has also recorded tracks with Ludacris and Usher for their upcoming albums. With an already impressive résumé and a debut album out later this year, it seems the future is bright for this rising queen of rap.
 

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1 comments

Anonymous

Tue Mar 16 2010 14:22

Speaking of up and coming artists I found a new site that is all about indie artists its sick. I haven't listend to the radio since www.musicwithoutlabels.com I like to know the artists before the become big cuz wants they become big that's when their art becomes someone elses. They are coming out with another site called www.beatplay.com that is supposed to put the power back in the indie artists hands so women like nicki minaj are on a equal playing field with the over populated male hip hop genre

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