Nicki Minaj is set to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards."The award is presented to artists for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture," according to MTV.Related: How Nicki Minaj's Husband Is Gaining Popularity The Wrong WayThe "Starships" singer joins previous Vanguard Award recipients such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Missy Elliot. Elliot was the most recent artist to receive the Vanguard Award in 2019. MTV hasn't presented the award in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry," Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events, Paramount and chief content officer, music, Paramount+, told Billboard in a statement. "She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’."
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Minaj is the fourth rapper to receive the honor. LL Cool J received the award in 1997, Kanye West received it in 2015, and Elliot. Beastie Boys, who began as a rap trio before going in an alternative direction, received the Vanguard Award in 1998.
Minaj is nominated in the Best Hip-Hop category for "Do We Have a Problem" featuring Lil Baby. She is currently tied with Drake for the most wins in the category. Her previous videos to win were "Super Bass" in 2011, "Anaconda" in 2015, and "Chun-Li" in 2018. If she wins this year, she will take the lead.
The "Anaconda" rapper has previously won in the Best Female Video category in 2012 for "Starships." She also won Best Power Anthem in 2019 for Megan Thee Stallion’s "Hot Girl Summer," where she and Ty Dolla Sign were featured.
In addition to receiving such a prestigious award, Minaj is also set to perform on the show.
Minaj recently released her new single, "Super Freaky Girl," on Friday. The track samples the Rick James classic, "Super Freak." After a preview of the track was unveiled on social media July 13, the cover art was announced on August 5. The song is Minaj's first solo single since "Megatron" in 2019.
Minaj has also brought back Queen Radio, her Amazon radio show. The first new episode premiered Friday night on Amazon's Amp app. Minaj has also been teasing a six-part documentary series about her life. She says the series will be released soon, but hasn't found a home yet.
It sure looks like Barbz are in for a very exciting era.
Next: Nicki Minaj Announces New Single, 'Freaky Girl,' And Possible New Alter Ego
