Nicki Minaj

2022 VMAs host and Video Vanguard Award winner Nicki Minaj has a history of taking the battle from rap to real life, feuding publicly with everyone from ...

Shots were first fired between Minaj and Iggy Azalea in 2010, when the then-unknown “Fancy” rapper tweeted “lmao at nikki saying she did the bet awards live. “When Nicki walked off the set, people heard her say if she had a gun she would ‘shoot that bitch.’ ” As judges on Season 12 of “American Idol,” Minaj and Mariah Carey were notorious for throwing shade — at each other. Cardi B ended up hurling her red shoe at Nicki and then was escorted out of the Plaza with a knot on her forehead from getting hit herself. Shortly after that, Minaj clapped back while accepting the award for best hip-hop video at the VMAs being hosted by — you guessed it — Cyrus: “And now, back to this bitch who had a lot to say about me the other day in the press. Nicki vs.

Nicki Minaj took the stage at the 2022 MTV VMAs to accept the Vanguard Award and mentioned the likes of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.

and I want you to know that I appreciate each and every one of you, I don’t take that for granted. The moon person recipient also thanked “key people” that inspired her including Lil Wayne, Foxy Brown, Lauren Hill, Jay-Z, Slick Rick and Doug E. “I wrote this down, I don’t know why y’all but this is what this was in my spirit to say, I wish that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were here,” Minaj said at the Prudential Center.

After a show-stopping medley performance, Minaj accepted the coveted Vanguard Award on Sunday night at the 2022 VMAs.

She closed off her performance in front of her Barbie dollhouse as she rapped to “Moment 4 Life” and Chlöe Bailey mouthed the lyrics. Minaj then put her hand to her chest before her biggest hit, “Super Bass,” walking into the audience as Taylor Swift rapped along. The rapper/pop star has been nominated for 17 VMAs over the course of her career and won five. After grabbing her phone from someone in the crowd, Minaj started her speech by thanking a slew of rappers who came before her for “inspiring her flow,” including Lil Wayne, Foxy Brown, and Lauryn Hill. “Mommy loves you so so so so so much,” she said. “I don’t know why y’all, but this was in my spirit to say: I wish Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were here,” she said.

Nicki Minaj delivered a career-spanning performance at the MTV VMAs 2022 tonight (August 28), where she collected the Video Vanguard Award.

At The Disco](https://www.nme.com/artists/panic-at-the-disco), [Red Hot Chili Peppers](https://www.nme.com/artists/red-hot-chili-peppers) and more. [Måneskin](https://www.nme.com/artists/maneskin), [Panic! [Keep up with all of the winners as they happen here.](https://www.nme.com/news/music/mtv-vmas-2022-winners-list-3299368) The track is also her first US Number One as a lead artist. [Lil Nas X](https://www.nme.com/artists/lil-nas-x) and [Kendrick Lamar](https://www.nme.com/artists/kendrick-lamar) led the nominations going into the night, with seven each. BLACKPINK also [made their debut appearance at the VMAs with ‘Pink Venom’](https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-blackpink-debut-mtv-vmas-2022-pink-venom-3299385). I wish people took mental health seriously, even for the people you think have perfect lives. Watch footage of the performance below now. [Pop Smoke](https://www.nme.com/artists/pop-smoke), [Nipsey Hussle](https://www.nme.com/artists/nipsey-hussle) and [Juice WRLD](https://www.nme.com/artists/juice-wrld) were still here.” [Doja Cat](https://www.nme.com/artists/doja-cat) and [Harry Styles](https://www.nme.com/artists/harry-styles) follow behind on six nods, while [Taylor Swift](https://www.nme.com/artists/taylor-swift) is in the running for five awards. [Whitney Houston](https://www.nme.com/artists/whitney-houston) and [Michael Jackson](https://www.nme.com/artists/michael-jackson) were here,” she also said. [Jack Harlow](https://www.nme.com/artists/jack-harlow) and [LL Cool J](https://www.nme.com/artists/ll-cool-j) at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

Following a show-stopping performance, rap legend Nicki Minaj scored the highest honor an artist can receive at the VMAs: the Video Vanguard Award.

In 2011, “Super Bass” earned Minaj her first win in the Best Hip Hop Video category. But it wasn't long before she ended up scoring yet another Moon Person statue, this time in the Best Hip Hop category for her collaboration with rapper Lil Baby, “ Nicki Minaj is the 2022 VMA Video Vanguard Award recipient, making her the second female rapper in history to earn the top title.

Nicki Minaj just added a new award to her stacked collection. The rapper gave a shout out to her baby boy while accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard ...

"Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry," Bruce said in a statement, per the outlet. I wish that people took mental health seriously, even for the people who you think had the perfect lives." "I have a new baby. "You guys are my babies, but I have a new baby," Nicki said while on stage. Mommy loves you so so so so so much." 28 to deliver a few words on the iconic achievement—and to highlight another milestone she recently welcomed: motherhood. "I wish that people understood what they meant and what they were going through. [Missy Elliott](https://www.eonline.com/news/missy_elliott), [Jennifer Lopez](https://www.eonline.com/news/jennifer_lopez), [Pink](https://www.eonline.com/news/pink), [Rihanna](https://www.eonline.com/news/rihanna), [Beyoncé](https://www.eonline.com/news/beyonce), [Britney Spears](https://www.eonline.com/news/britney_spears), [LL Cool J](https://www.eonline.com/videos/245721/ll-cool-j-reacts-to-possible-kanye-west-stage-crash), [Madonna](https://www.eonline.com/news/madonna) and [David Bowie](https://www.eonline.com/news/david_bowie) in past years. [Whitney Houston](http://www.eonline.com/news/whitney_houston) and [Michael Jackson](https://eonline.com/news/michael_jackson) were here," she said. Nicki took the stage on Aug. She noted, "I want to take a second to just say thank you to all of the key people that inspired me and who I think inspired my flow— [Kenneth Petty](https://www.eonline.com/news/1223364/nicki-minaj-shares-first-full-photos-and-video-of-her-baby-boy) welcomed in [September 2020](https://www.eonline.com/news/1193638/nicki-minaj-gives-birth-welcomes-first-baby-with-kenneth-petty), she also took the opportunity to shout out others in her life, including those who helped shape her skill in music.

Nicki Minaj paid tribute to artists who have inspired her when she was presented with the Video Vanguard Award at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards.

"I wish that people understood what they meant and what they were going through. ... I wish Pop Smoke and Juice Wrld and Nipsey Hussle were here. "I wrote this down, I don't know why, but this was in my spirit to say: I wish that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were here," Minaj began.

Nicki Minaj performed at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards tonight (August 28) in Newark, New Jersey. She delivered a medley that included “Super Bass,” ...

The [Queen](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/nicki-minaj-queen/) rapper also co-hosted the event and received [the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award](https://pitchfork.com/news/mtv-vmas-2022-nicki-minaj-to-receive-video-vanguard-award/). She delivered a medley that included “ [Super Bass](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12196-super-bass-ft-ester-dean/),” “ [Super Freaky Girl](https://pitchfork.com/news/nicki-minaj-shares-rick-james-sampling-new-song-super-freaky-girl-listen/),” “Monster,” “Beez in the Trap,” “ [Anaconda](https://pitchfork.com/news/56036-nicki-minaj-unleashes-sir-mix-a-lot-referencing-anaconda/),” “ [Chun-Li](https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-nicki-minajs-new-chun-li-and-barbie-tingz-videos/),” “Roman’s Revenge,” “Moment 4 Life,” “All Things Go,” and more. [Nicki Minaj](https://pitchfork.com/artists/28745-nicki-minaj/) performed at [the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards](https://pitchfork.com/news/tags/vma-2022/) tonight (August 28) in Newark, New Jersey. “I wish people understood what they meant and what they were going through. “I wish that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were here,” she said. After insisting her assistant bring her a phone with some detailed notes, she thanked influences including Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Ms.