Nicki Minaj: A Collaborative Career

Nicki Minaj is known as one of the most successful female rappers of all time. Over the course of her decade-long career, Minaj has sold over 100 million records worldwide and earned 10 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles. A big part of Minaj’s success has been her willingness and ability to collaborate with a wide variety of artists from different genres. While she has collaborated with over 100 artists throughout her career, there are a few in particular that Minaj has worked with repeatedly – Drake, Ariana Grande, and David Guetta. These frequent collaborations have resulted in some of Minaj’s biggest hits and shown off her ability to blend styles.

Drake

One of Nicki Minaj’s most frequent and successful collaborators has been fellow rapper Drake. The two Toronto natives first linked up in 2009 on the song “BedRock” from Young Money labelmates Lil Wayne’s album I Am Not a Human Being. On the track, Minaj and Drake traded bars over the beat, showing off their chemistry and potential as a duo right from the start. Their collaboration was a sign of things to come as they would work together numerous times in the following years.

In 2010, Minaj and Drake teamed up again for “Moment 4 Life” from her debut album Pink Friday. The song was a major success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of Minaj’s signature hits. Drake complemented Minaj’s verses with a melodic hook, and their back-and-forth flows demonstrated why they work so well collaborating. Their live performances of the song at awards shows and concerts always generated excitement from fans.

After “Moment 4 Life,” Minaj and Drake continued collaborating sporadically on both their own projects and others. They appeared together on Lil Wayne’s “Rich As Fuck” in 2011 and Drake’s “Make Me Proud” in 2012. However, one of their most impactful collaborations came in 2015 on Minaj’s “No Frauds.” The hard-hitting track featured Minaj and Drake trading bars and subliminal shots at their rap peers, further cementing their status in the game.

In 2018, Minaj and Drake linked up once again – this time for two songs on Drake’s massive Scorpion album. First was “Barbie Tingz,” a fun track where they playfully referenced their past hits and dynamic. But it was their second collaboration, “In My Feelings,” that became one of their most successful songs yet. The infectious Keke challenge on social media propelled the song to #1 on the Hot 100, where it stayed for multiple weeks.

Throughout their decade-long working relationship, Minaj and Drake have developed an undeniable musical chemistry. Their ability to complement each other’s flows while also sparring competitively has resulted in some of their most memorable songs. Whether trading bars or crafting melodic hits, Minaj and Drake consistently deliver magic whenever they collaborate. Their dynamic as friends and peers in the rap game has kept fans excited for each new collaboration over the years.

Ariana Grande

While Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande come from very different musical backgrounds, their collaborations have shown off their ability to blend styles seamlessly. Grande, known primarily for her pop vocals, and Minaj, a pioneering female rapper, may seem like an unlikely pairing. However, their collaborations have proven massively successful by bringing their contrasting talents together.

Minaj and Grande’s first collaboration came in 2014 on “Bang Bang” with Jessie J. The infectious pop/hip-hop track was a global smash, topping the charts in over 15 countries. On the song, Minaj delivered a rap verse bringing swagger and edge, while Grande and Jessie J provided the melodic hook and verses. Their individual styles meshed together perfectly to create one of the biggest songs of the year.

Two years later in 2016, Minaj and Grande linked up again for “Side to Side.” Released as a single from Grande’s album Dangerous Woman, the song took their collaborative chemistry to another level with an even more contemporary pop sound. Minaj once again delivered a rap verse, but also contributed ad-libs and backing vocals throughout the track. Their back and forth delivered a steamy, hypnotic vibe that dominated pop radio and saw immense success.

While they’ve only collaborated twice so far, Minaj and Grande have proven they know how to make magic whenever they work together. Their contrasting styles – Grande’s pristine pop vocals and Minaj’s dynamic flow – create a synergistic effect. Whether delivering seductive pop/R&B anthems or high-energy club bangers, their collaborations consistently deliver massive crossover hits by bringing new dimensions to both of their sounds. Fans eagerly await the next team-up from this dynamic duo.

David Guetta

In addition to rap peers like Drake and pop stars like Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj has also found success collaborating in the EDM world – most notably with French DJ/producer David Guetta. Their first collaboration came in 2011 on the song “Where Them Girls At” also featuring Flo Rida. Showcasing Minaj’s rap skills over a pulsing electronic beat, the song became a moderate club and radio hit.

However, it was Minaj and Guetta’s follow-up collaboration in 2011, “Turn Me On,” that became one of their most massive hits. The sultry dance track featured Minaj delivering seductive vocals alongside Guetta’s signature buildups and drops. Released as the lead single from Guetta’s album Nothing But the Beat, “Turn Me On” was an immediate global smash. It topped the charts in countries across Europe as well as Australia and Brazil, becoming one of the biggest dance hits of the year.

Since “Turn Me On,” Minaj and Guetta have continued collaborating sporadically. They linked up in 2012 for “Where Them Girls At (Remix)” with Flo Rida and David Guetta. Then in 2015, Minaj appeared on Guetta’s “Hey Mama” alongside Bebe Rexha, bringing her hard-hitting flow to the track. Most recently in 2020, they joined forces once more for “Light It Up” from Guetta’s album Club Future Nostalgia. Showcasing Minaj’s ability to glide over dance productions, the collaboration continued their streak of club-ready hits together.

Over the course of their collaborations, Minaj and Guetta have demonstrated a winning formula in the dance/pop world. Guetta provides massive beats and hooks suited for festivals and clubs. Meanwhile, Minaj brings dynamic rapping, catchy vocals, and undeniable star power. Together they’ve crafted some of the biggest dance hits in recent years. While they don’t collaborate too frequently, Minaj and Guetta consistently deliver smash collaborations that dominate dance floors worldwide.

Long Term Success

Through a decade-long career, Nicki Minaj has proven herself as a master of collaboration. Whether linking up with fellow rappers like Drake, pop stars like Ariana Grande, or EDM titans like David Guetta, Minaj consistently delivers hit-making collaborations. By blending her dynamic flow with the styles of diverse artists, she expands her own musical palette and brings new dimensions to her collaborators’ sounds as well.

Minaj’s willingness to work with artists across genres has undoubtedly contributed to her commercial success over the years. But more than that, her collaborations have shown off an ability to seamlessly mesh styles that seem incompatible on paper. From hard-hitting rap tracks to seductive pop anthems to massive dance hits, Minaj delivers magic no matter the genre.

While she has collaborated with over 100 artists throughout her career, Drake, Ariana Grande, and David Guetta stand out as the collaborators Minaj returns to most frequently. Their partnerships have resulted in some of Minaj’s most iconic songs and biggest crossover successes. As her career progresses, fans eagerly await whenever Minaj links up with these tried-and-true collaborators, confident they will once again deliver hits. Through a decade of dynamic collaborations, Nicki Minaj has cemented herself as a master of the art form.