Cover Girl: Nicki Minaj

BET looks back at the most memorable magazine covers that built anticipation for Nicki's debut album "Pink Friday."

The Moment of Truth - On November 22, Nick finally released her highly anticipated debut album, Pink Friday. The LP debuted at no. 2, selling 375,000 copies in its first week, and is currently still on Billboard’s Top 10. The album also marked the second highest-selling debut album for a female MC, after Lauryn Hill.

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Cover Girl - Nicki Minaj is a magazine editors’s dream subject. Not only does she have an interesting back story, but the femcee’s colorful image provides a world of creative possibilities. Here, BET.com looks back at some of the covers Nicki’s appeared on leading up to her highly anticipated debut album, “Pink Friday.”

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Nicki Minaj\r - Nicki Minaj is dubbed hip hop’s new queen in the current issue of #5 magazine. Inside, the colorful rapper lets us in on the reason for her British accent, her favorite MCs and how to steal her heart.\r\r(Photo: #5 Magazine)

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New York Times - The New York Times got into the act too. On the strength of her scene-stealing verse on Kanye West’s “Monster,” the Times published a piece about Nicki back in September.

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New York Times - The New York Times got into the act too. On the strength of her scene-stealing verse on Kanye West’s “Monster,” the Times published a piece about Nicki back in September.

The Fader Magazine - In one of her earliest cover stories, Nick spoke on writing her own rhymes, hosting BET’s Rip the Runway and her Sean Garrett-assisted single that turned out to be “Massive Attack.”

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The Fader Magazine - In one of her earliest cover stories, Nick spoke on writing her own rhymes, hosting BET’s Rip the Runway and her Sean Garrett-assisted single that turned out to be “Massive Attack.”

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XXL Magazine - After being snubbed by XXL for the publication’s annual freshmen list a little over a year earlier, Nick appeared alongside her YM crewmate, Drake, on the magazine’s May issue.

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XXL Magazine - After being snubbed by XXL for the publication’s annual freshmen list a little over a year earlier, Nick appeared alongside her YM crewmate, Drake, on the magazine’s May issue.

Right On! Magazine - The Harajuku Barbie appeared in an issue of Right On! magazine back in March.

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Right On! Magazine - The Harajuku Barbie appeared in an issue of Right On! magazine back in March.

Black Men Magazine - Roughly a week ago, photos of a sexy spread scheduled to appear in Black Men Magazine surfaced online. Nick may have a large female fanbase, but this shoot should earn her a few male followers.

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Black Men Magazine - Roughly a week ago, photos of a sexy spread scheduled to appear in Black Men Magazine surfaced online. Nick may have a large female fanbase, but this shoot should earn her a few male followers.

Honey Magazine - In this early tete-a-tete with Honey magazine, Nicki shockingly revealed that she felt she doesn’t have enough fans to release her album this year.

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Honey Magazine - In this early tete-a-tete with Honey magazine, Nicki shockingly revealed that she felt she doesn’t have enough fans to release her album this year.

Hype Hair Magazine - Nick’s been displaying a wide variety of colors when it comes to hair, which made her a fitting cover subject for Hype Hair Magazine’s issue.

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Hype Hair Magazine - Nick’s been displaying a wide variety of colors when it comes to hair, which made her a fitting cover subject for Hype Hair Magazine’s issue.

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YRB Magazine - Ms. Minaj refers to her verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” as her breakout moment and explained why she’s yet to respond to Lil Kim’s jabs.

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YRB Magazine - Ms. Minaj refers to her verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” as her breakout moment and explained why she’s yet to respond to Lil Kim’s jabs.

Complex Magazine - Yet another story that had the internets going nuts. Nick revealed that Drake wrote Alicia Keys’ “Un-Thinkable” with her in mind and revealed that she’s celibate.

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Complex Magazine - Yet another story that had the internets going nuts. Nick revealed that Drake wrote Alicia Keys’ “Un-Thinkable” with her in mind and revealed that she’s celibate.

Rolling Stone Magazine - She didn’t get a cover, but Rolling Stone still noticed Minaj and made sure to feature her in an issue back in October.

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Rolling Stone Magazine - She didn’t get a cover, but Rolling Stone still noticed Minaj and made sure to feature her in an issue back in October.

Out Magazine - Nick appeared in an eccentric cover for Out Magazine back in September, in which she discussed her ambiguous sexuality.

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Out Magazine - Nick appeared in an eccentric cover for Out Magazine back in September, in which she discussed her ambiguous sexuality.

Vibe Magazine - Nick spoke to Vibe about the Diddy dating rumors, understanding that she didn’t have to sell sex and revealed working on a tribute to Ol’ Dirty Bastard in the publication’s June/July issue.

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Vibe Magazine - Nick spoke to Vibe about the Diddy dating rumors, understanding that she didn’t have to sell sex and revealed working on a tribute to Ol’ Dirty Bastard in the publication’s June/July issue.

Billboard Magazine - In her most recent cover story, Nicki told Billboard magazine about her troubled work past, being kicked out of Lil Wayne’s Young Money crew temporarily and confessed to her “Massive Attack” single being one of the low points in her career. The piece also dubbed her the First Lady Gaga of hip-hop, a claim Nick later disputed.

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Billboard Magazine - In her most recent cover story, Nicki told Billboard magazine about her troubled work past, being kicked out of Lil Wayne’s Young Money crew temporarily and confessed to her “Massive Attack” single being one of the low points in her career. The piece also dubbed her the First Lady Gaga of hip-hop, a claim Nick later disputed.