Nicki Minaj Named MTV’s Video Vanguard Awardee

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known to the world as Nicki Minaj is expected to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year’s MTV Awards, televised August 28. Joining former winners Madonna, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez, and Missy Elliott, the five-time MTV Award-winning rapper will be beginning the music celebration with a bang by performing on the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) stage for the first time in four years. 

“I’ll be getting the Video Vanguard Award at the 2022. NO, YOU DO NOT!!!! I SAY AGAIN!!!! You really do NOT want to miss my show.”

Nicki Minaj via Instagram

I’m receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 #VMAs! You don’t want to miss my performance – Sunday August 28 at 8p on @MTV Aaaahhhhhh:tired_face::pray::skin-tone-4::two_hearts::ribbon::hearts::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face::unicorn_face:csfxffvmmkbdsavgkmkkevhvjj pic.twitter.com/dPGgXe2gZA

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) August 8, 2022

Minaj, who has five MTV Video Music Awards for singles including “Anaconda,” “Chun-Li,” and “Hot Girl Summer,” will receive the honor and perform at the presentation on August 28. According to MTV, the award is given to musicians for their great accomplishments and deep influence on music video and popular culture. The Vanguard Award, unlike the other trophies presented at the VMAs, is a gold-plated Moon Person rather of a usual silver one.

Nicki Minaj is nominated for Best Hip Hop this year for her major track “Do We Have a Problem?,” featuring Lil Baby. This is her seventeenth VMA nomination since she debutted in 2010.

In 2011, she won her first VMA statue for Best Hip Hop Video for the song “Super Bass.” The next year, she took home another award for Best Female Video for the “Starships” music video. In 2019, she received a Moon Person for Best Power Anthem for the song “Hot Girl Summer.” Nicki Minaj has won a total of five VMA awards throughout her career.