The Queen of Rap, Nicki Minaj is the recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in 2022!
Nicki has touched literally almost every major music genre and has topped every billboard chart. She currently holds the title for the most streamed female rapper on YouTube and along with Rihanna fondly takes turns holding the top streamed spot for women in general.
Nicki Minaj is revered for her god-tier lyricism, unmatched flows, cadence, and being the face of versatility in hip-hop.
Her versatility also applies to her music videos. If you ask one of her die-hard fans, the ‘Barbz’, each video should hold a spot. Here’s a list of her most iconic that represent monumental moments in her career:
1. Your Love
This song serves as Nicki’s solo entry on the Billboard hot100 charts and peaked at #14. The video introduced everyone to her versatility as a singer, rapper, and actress.
2. Super Bass
This song truly introduced her to a larger pop-focused audience thanks to Taylor Swift’s unintentional promotion of the record. The Super Bass video would serve as an introduction to Nicki’s colorful side, hair, and outfits. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot100 and is her first diamond-certified record in the US.
3. Starships
This song and video truly catapulted Nicki Minaj into the worldwide mainstream arena. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot100. She was a judge on ‘American Idol’ singing competition along with Mariah Carey, Keith Urban Lionel Richie, and Randy Jackson.
4. Anaconda
When we discuss culture-shifting moments in hip-hop that involve Nicki Minaj, Anaconda needs to be mentioned. This song literally ushered in the current appreciation for the curvy woman.
This song is anthemic to all women but broke countless records for Nicki Minaj. It is also the first solo song for a female rapper to hit 1 BILLION views on YouTube.
5. Chun Li
This period in Nicki Minaj’s career was truly a testament to her and ‘Barbz’s strength. This song came at a period where she was getting slandered on a daily period, and she was literally turned into the villain of the music industry.
In true genius fashion, she made being “The Bad Guy” a brand along with her alter ego Chun Li. You must listen to the dialog in the intro because it indicates the time.
6. Do We Have A Problem?
This music video marks the first time Nicki released a song of her own, after giving birth to her son. It features popular rapper Lil Baby along with actors Cory Hardrict and Joseph Sikora. Upon release, she literally broke the internet again and was welcomed with positive reviews.
It would peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot100 chart, continue her record-breaking string of #1 digital sales chart, and remain one of the top-selling first-week songs by a female rapper in 2022. The song is nominated for a VMA Hip-hop award!
The strengths of Nicki Minaj revolve purely around her unfiltered talent, attention to detail in her content, unrivaled versatility, and her familial connection with fans. This list only scratches the surface of how iconic Nicki’s videography truly is.
What are your most iconic and favorite Nicki Minaj music videos?