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♪ He know this thing A-1 like a felony ♪

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- [Ashley] Nicki Minaj just
got her first number one song,

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yeah, the first, on a collab
with Doja Cat this year.

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♪ Queen is the title ♪ ♪
And if you are my rival ♪

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♪ Then that means you're suicidal ♪

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But her road to chart-topping success

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is paved with jaw-dropping
verses and even wilder outfits.

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(upbeat music)

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♪ Beez in the trap ♪

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♪ Be-beez in the trap ♪

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Nicki Minaj earned her place in history

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at the top of the rap game.

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And she did it by building a reputation

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as an unpredictable and
unfuckwitable pop diva.

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♪ He got that super bass ♪

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♪ Boom badoom ♪

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After not so humble beginnings
in the mixtape circuit,

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Minaj signed with Lil Wayne's label,

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Young Money Records, in 2009.

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She raised her profile with
guest appearances on tracks

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with rappers like Yo Gotti,
Ludacris, and Trey Songz.

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♪ My body, Anna Nicki ♪

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While also being featured on songs

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by Justin Bieber and Madonna.

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♪ I'm a barbarian, I'm Conan ♪

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♪ You was sleeping on
me, you were dozin' ♪

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She even went on tour with
Britney Spears in 2011.

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In addition to her never
ending list of collabs,

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she kept people talking by
making huge pop anthems,

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donning extravagant costumes,

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and incorporating alter egos into her act.

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- With you have many, many
different alter egos, right?

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- Oh, oh, yes.

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- Roman is one and then you have.

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- Roman is one, Barbie's one,

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she's, like, the little innocent girl.

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I have Martha who's Roman's mother.

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It's Martha.

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What?

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It's Martha. (bellowing)

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(laughing)

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♪ Ra-ra-ah-ah-Ah ♪

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- [Ashley] Minaj's early
fashion was reminiscent

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of another rising pop star at the time.

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Both Gaga and Minaj started
acting at a young age

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and would go on to become two

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of the most theatrical pop
stars of our generation.

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Neither were afraid to be at
the subject of controversy.

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In 2011, Gaga angered religious groups

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with the music video for "Judas."

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The next year, Nicki drew
the ire of Catholic leaders

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by staging an exorcism of her alter ego,

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Roman, at the Grammys.
♪ You done, you tired ♪

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♪ You suck at life ♪

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♪ You don't want a round three ♪

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Of course, Minaj never wore
a dress made of raw meat,

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but they both made statements
with wild hair styles,

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and outfits that belong in art museums.

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And Nicki's colorful fits
served a clear purpose,

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to make sure you knew
who the fuck she was.

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Critics wrote about Nicki as
if she was in Gaga's shadow.

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The comparisons irked Minaj

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because they were in different lanes.

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In 2012, Nicki told E!
News, "I really don't get

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"the comparison anymore.

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"Our music doesn't sound the same.

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"Our stage presence is not the same.

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"I just can't see the similarities."

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Nicki always had the talent,
but because of her collabs

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and her expertly crafted personas,

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Minaj was able to cross over into pop

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in a way that few women in
hip hop before her ever could,

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which gave her the clout
to a seat at the table

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with some of the greatest
names in hip hop.

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- When you're a girl you
have to be, like, everything.

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You have to be, you have
to be dope at what you do,

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but you have to be super
sweet, and you have to be sexy,

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and you have to be this,
and you have to be that,

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and you have to meet
eyes, and you have to,

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it's like I can't be
all those things at one.

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I'm a human being.

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- [Ashley] Minaj has since toned down

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those loud fashion choices,

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but there's one thing she
won't keep quiet about,

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her claim as the reigning
queen of hip hop.

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(upbeat hip hop music)