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Moments 4 Life - It’s been a truly monumental year for Queens rapper Nicki Minaj, who will be performing live at 2011 BET Awards (and who is nominated for two awards). Her journey to the forefront of the music industry in just over a year has been. Let's take a look back at some of Nicki Minaj’s Moments 4 Life.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ABC)

Photo By Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ABC

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Young Money Is The Monster CrewAugust 2009 - Nicki Minaj officially signs with Young Money/Cash Money  making her the crew’s first lady. “There’s so many people that kind of shut you down as a female before you even get your foot in the door,” Nicki told XXLMag.com. “So when you get moments like this it’s like ‘Yes, finally!’” (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

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Nicki Bodies BET Hip-Hop Awards CypherOctober 2009 - Nicki set out to prove herself in the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards freestyle cypher alongside Buckshot, Crown Royal, and Joe Budden. Her five nominations and three wins (for People’s Champ, Rookie of the Year, and Made You Look) were not enough. She also had to spit bars on par with the boys. Mission accomplished. Ladies first. (Photo: Ben Rose/PictureGroup)

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Putting Femcees Back On Top June 2010 - She’s got spark, she’s got spunk, she’s got something all the girls want. For Nicki, having her single “Your Love” reach #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart was a nice surprise, but the news that this song made her the first female artist to top that chart solo since 2002 was downright surreal.(Photo: Universal Motown)

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BET Awards Best New Artist June 2010 - Dolled up in a ball gown and an fiery auburn wig, Nicki accepted the Best New Artist award at the 2010 BET Awards. The rap newbie thanked host Queen Latifah for her positive energy, actress Jada Pinkett for her inspiration, Young Money CEO Lil Wayne for believing in her, former manager Deb Antney, and "all the female rappers that paved the way."(Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

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Hits On Top Of Hits September 2010 -         Minaj teamed up with superproducer Will.I.Am of the chart-topping Black Eyed Peas for one of her most successful singles to date, “Check It Out” is an infectious, bubble-gum-pop-meets-rap song that buzzed on the charts for months. The hit track was followed by the popular rap love ballad “Right Thru Me” and the inspiring “Moment 4 Life” featuring Drake, the video for which depicted Minaj’s life like a princess in a fairy tale. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Dominating The Billboard Charts October 2010 - Nicki truly became a rap chick’s nightmare when she began dominating the airwaves. By the fall of 2010 Minaj had become the first artist ever to have seven songs within the Billboard 100 at the same time. There’s nothing much haters could say to that. (Photo: Billboard Magazine)

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Pink Friday Debuts  November 2010 - "In this very moment I'm king." The release of her solo studio debut, Pink Friday was a moment plucked from Minaj’s lifelong dreams. Moving 375,000 units in her first week, Nicki came in at #2 behind Kanye West’s My Dark Twisted Fantasy (which boasted a hot Nicki verse on the hit single, "Monster.") Nicki's numbers gave her the highest first-week sales of any femcee since her idol Lauryn Hill. (Photo: Universal Motown)

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Nicki's MTV Documentary  November 2010 - Proving once and for all that she's more than a big butt and a smile, MTV opted to go in-depth into the Harajuku Barbie’s life to expose what’s really behind all the spastic rhymes, wigs, and pink lipstick. The documentary Nicki Minaj: My Time Now was well received, especially by women who identified with Minaj’s strong feminist message.(Photos: Fafotos/Elevation/PictureGroup)

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Saturday Night Live January 2011 - The young starlet who studied acting at La Guardia High School for the performing arts got the opportunity to flex her acting chops with an appearance on Saturday Night Live. She participated in two skits and performed “Right Thru Me” and “Moment 4 Life.” Although she previously performed “Shakin’ it 4 Daddy” alongside Robin Thicke on Letterman, it was the first time viewers saw Nicki play the jokester. (Photo: Dana Edelson/NBC)

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 First Grammy Nomination February 2011 - Although Nicki didn’t win, she did receive her first Grammy nod for her hit duet with Ludacris “My Chick Bad.” Minaj has since gone on to win an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist and is currently nominated for the Best Female Hip Hop Artist and Coca-Cola Viewers Choice at the upcoming BET Awards.(Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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On Tour With Weezy and Britney  March 2011 - This past spring Nicki Minaj embarked on the epic I Am Music II tour. If that wasn’t a big enough look Minaj, was later invited to join the all-female line-up of pop princess Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale tour this summer.(Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

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Magazine Covers Galore April 2011 - In April 2011, Nicki’s daring fashion statements and musical versitility earned her the cover of Elle's music issue. The beauty magazine saluted her for “redefining what it means to be a rapper.” Over the last year Minaj has also covered Fader, VIBE, XXL, Complex, Black Men, Hype Hair, Honey, King, and Billboard--to name a few.(Photo: Elle Magazine)

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Dancing With The Barbz May 2011 - Although she didn’t do much dancing, Nicki’s performance of “Moment 4 Life” on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars was nothing less than epic. Rocking a new do on a raised platform behind the show’s professional dancers, Nicki turned her star power all the way up that evening.(Photo: ABC/ADAM TAYLOR)

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Performing At The BET Awards June 2011 - A years' worth of goals set, dreams realized, and unexpected successes will culminate on stage at the Shrine Auditorium when Nicki performs at the 2011 BET Awards on June 26 8P/7C. Tune in and "Watch the Queen conquer."(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)