Watch: A Young Nicki Minaj rapping

A video has surfaced of a very young Nicki Minaj rapping on the streets of Queens. It's difficult to recognise the rapper without one of her signature outlandish wigs on, or some wild outfit ensemble, though. In fact, the flashiest things about Minaj in this clip are her talon-like nails and her big hoop earrings.

It would seem that the dreams of the young MC are well and truly on their way to fulfilment since those days though. Minaj raps “They say I’m too pretty to be spittin’ sixteen / I should be on the screen, posing for Maybelline.” Well that cosmetics giant may or may not have come knocking yet, but the rapper is a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics, so that's certainly something of a prophecy realisation.  

Watching the clip, it's easy to see how Minaj has reached the fame that she commands today. Not only is her flow as good (if not better) than ever, but without all the glitzy distraction, there's nothing left but an amitious and talented MC. And don't she know it. The mini Minaj asserts herself, "I only rap because I'm good at it." 

THEN

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