Legendary rapper, singer and songwriter Nicki Minaj will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.
The announcement, which was made earlier this morning, comes shortly after Minaj reunited with fellow Young Money labelmates Drake and Lil Wayne during a reunion show in Toronto on Saturday, Aug. 6.
In addition to receiving the Video Vanguard Award, the 39-year-old star is also set to perform. Minaj last performed at the VMAs in 2018, when she performed a medley of songs from her album “Queen.”
Other iconic names who have received the prestigious gold-plated award include: Missy Elliot, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Kanye “Ye” West, Justin Timberlake, Pink, LL Cool J, Janet Jackson, Madonna and more.
“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 +, said 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.’”
Minaj has previously received 17 VMA nominations and has taken home five awards in the past. She nabbed her first VMA in 2011 – winning Best Hip-Hop Video for her smash hit “Super Bass.”
She would go on to win the same award in 2015 and 2018 for her songs “Anaconda” and “Chun-Li.”
This year, Minaj is nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video once again for her track “Do We Have A Problem” featuring Lil Baby.
With rumors of a highly anticipated fifth album looming, Minaj is also continuing to drop new music. Her new single “Super Freaky Girl” is scheduled to be released on Friday, Aug. 12.
Other artists including J Balvin, Panic! At The Disco, Anitta, Marshmello and Khalid are also set to take the VMA stage.
The 2022 MTV VMA Awards will air live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/ PT.
