Nicki Minaj has evolved into a full blown superstar since her 2007 debut on street DVD’s. Along with the music growing and changing, her look has drastically changed as well. She addresses it on a cut off her debut album Pink Friday called Dear Old Nicki. “Ya earrings bamboo, long nails too. BMW every time you came through,” she raps, referencing her signature old style of long, colorful acrylic nails, big bamboo hoops and wavy black hair with a pink undertone. “But you was underground, and I was mainstream,” she tells “Old Nicki”. After the jump, take a look at Nicki’s styles from the year she hit the scene in 2007 through now.
Nicki in 2007
In 2007, Nicki hit the scene on the Come UP DVD, bringing her to a feature on Lil Wayne’s highly successful mixtape, The Drought 3. She released her debut mixtape Playtime is Over that summer. She was rocking the classic “Old Nicki look at this time. Trucker hats, long nails, bamboo earrings and the like!
Nicki in 2008
Riding off the success of Playtime is OVer, Nicki dropped her second mixtape, Sucka Free, which heavily featured collabs with Lil Wayne. Late that year, she embarked on a tour with Wayne and Young Money across the country. She started playing with makeup more this year, and adopted her signature pink streaks toward midyear.
Nicki in 2009
Nicki catapulted to the forefront of the music scene with the success of her 09 mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty. The diamonds came out with her Barbie chain and spandex, the nails got shorter and the pink streaks stayed put.
Nicki now in 2010
Old Nicki is but a ghost now as Minaj’s style has completely evolved. She got heavy into wigs this year and you never know which color you’ll catch her in. She’s been both praised and criticized for her cooky fashion choices…even being compared to Lady Gaga.
Do you think Nicki should have stuck with the old look? Or do you love the wigs and crazy dresses? Let us know!
