Nicki Minaj: Welcome to the Hip Hop boys club

“I am not Jasmine, I am Aladdin.”

A newcomer is trying to change the “15 minutes of fame” mentality when it comes to female rappers. With a combination of toughness and swagger, Nicki Minaj is poised and ready to take the hip-hop world by storm.

Hip-hop music has seen its share of female performers. Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown and Missy Elliot have all tried their hand at joining a genre of music that is overwhelmingly made up of men. All three were successful for a while, but none were able to keep their career momentum going.

As a member of Lil’ Wayne’s label, Cash Money Records, Minaj hit the ground running and is set to release her first solo album, “Pink Friday.”

Speaker-blowing beats, big-time cameos and songs that showcase her surprisingly strong singing ability make the release of “Pink Friday” a very promising moment for Minaj.  From songs about her love life, like “Right Thru Me,” to aggressive tracks, like “Roman’s Revenge” featuring Eminem, the album has a little something for everyone.

Minaj has come to the forefront as the hip-hop heavyweights’ top choice for collaborations. Drake, Ludacris, Trey Songz and the aforementioned Eminem have all taken a liking to what she brings to a song.

What sets her apart from those who came before her is the seamless way she changes her style. On “Roman’s Revenge,” for example, Minaj begins speaking in a British accent and quickly shifts to spitting her Lil’ Wayne-esque metaphors. It’s hard not to pick up on the connection between her and the “Cash Money” boss man.

Another labelmate, Drake, also shares a stylistic approach with Minaj. Both artists combine witty verses with sweet-sounding hooks. There are few hip-hop artists who can cover both of these bases on a song.

With all of this attention Minaj has been getting, there is bound to be conflict with her female counterparts. Lil’ Kim has recently taken notice and attempted to fire back at the newcomer. Backed by some of the biggest names in the industry, Minaj doesn’t have much to worry about so far.

Central graduate Kelly Hogan, has taken notice of Minaj’s attitude. Living in New York City, Hogan tries to stay connected to the hip-hop genre.

“I think Nicki Minaj mixes all of the things that make a great female Hip-Hop artist. Her flow is unique, and she doesn’t apologize for who she is. She is the shit,” Hogan said.

Minaj is certainly setting an example for all females who don’t want to take a backseat to anyone. Time will tell if she can keep the momentum going and set a new trend for the hip-hop industry.