In the last year, Nicki Minaj has single-handedly brought female MCs back to the forefront of hip-hop music. In recognition of that, the Associated Press interviewed some of hip-hop’s biggest names to break down the success behind the Harajuku Barbie.

 “Now that you have someone that has her own style and does her own thing I feel like people are gravitating towards her. That’s what makes her stick out,” said rapper Ludacris, who features her on his “My Chick Bad” track off his latest “Battles of the Sexes” album.

When Nas declared hip-hop was dead a couple of years ago, it was partially because there were no femcees dominating the game, according to Queen Latifah. “Part of the reason hip-hop was dead is because there were no female MCs, like in the forefront of hip-hop, playing on the radio in the day time, every day,” she said.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Pictured: Musician Nicki Minaj performs onstage during the 2010 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)