Minaj cites Foxy Brown and Jay-Z as major influences: "I really loved [Foxy] as a female rapper.
I was really interested in her mind and her aura [and] I was really, really into Jay-Z. Me and my friends in high school, we were reciting all of the Jay lyrics.
His words were our words in our conversations all the time."
She said, further: "I never really told Foxy how much she has influenced me and how much she changed my life, and you've gotta tell people that when they're alive to even be able to take the compliment, instead of paying tribute to them when they're no longer here", adding that Foxy Brown was "the most influential female rapper" for her, though she initially was compared to Lil Kim when she debuted.
Nicki and Lil Kim, often cited as Foxy's main rap rival, have reportedly exchanged words with each other, on social media and in their music.

Jada Pinkett Smith is one of Minaj's role models in her acting career.
Minaj was inspired by R&B singer Monica, singing "Why I Love You So Much" at every talent show she entered.
While performing in Atlanta as part of her Pink Friday Tour, she called Monica one of her all-time greatest musical influences.
Minaj has also cited Madonna, Enya, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Trina and Drake as influences.

She called Betsey Johnson a fashion inspiration: "[Betsey] is a free spirit.
When I met her the other day, I felt like I knew her for my whole life.
She's so warm and considerate and caring.
She's amazingly talented and I've been wearing her clothes forever, so to meet her was like, 'Yay!' [
I was] bowing down to her; she's dope!"
Minaj has also expressed appreciation for Cyndi Lauper's style and how her videos inspired her as a teenager: "When I first went to get my hair colored, I was about 14 and I wanted blonde highlights.
The beautician said, 'No, you have to get your mother on the phone,' and I was just crying and begging.
I've always been experimenting.
Cyndi Lauper's videos – that's what intrigued me."
Minaj cites Foxy Brown and Jay-Z as major influences: "I really loved [Foxy] as a female rapper. I was really interested in her mind and her aura [and] I was really, really into Jay-Z. Me and my friends in high school, we were reciting all of the Jay lyrics. His words were our words in our conversations all the time." She said, further: "I never really told Foxy how much she has influenced me and how much she changed my life, and you've gotta tell people that when they're alive to even be able to take the compliment, instead of paying tribute to them when they're no longer here", adding that Foxy Brown was "the most influential female rapper" for her, though she initially was compared to Lil Kim when she debuted. Nicki and Lil Kim, often cited as Foxy's main rap rival, have reportedly exchanged words with each other, on social media and in their music.
Jada Pinkett Smith is one of Minaj's role models in her acting career. Minaj was inspired by R&B singer Monica, singing "Why I Love You So Much" at every talent show she entered. While performing in Atlanta as part of her Pink Friday Tour, she called Monica one of her all-time greatest musical influences. Minaj has also cited Madonna, Enya, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Trina and Drake as influences.
She called Betsey Johnson a fashion inspiration: "[Betsey] is a free spirit. When I met her the other day, I felt like I knew her for my whole life. She's so warm and considerate and caring. She's amazingly talented and I've been wearing her clothes forever, so to meet her was like, 'Yay!' [I was] bowing down to her; she's dope!" Minaj has also expressed appreciation for Cyndi Lauper's style and how her videos inspired her as a teenager: "When I first went to get my hair colored, I was about 14 and I wanted blonde highlights. The beautician said, 'No, you have to get your mother on the phone,' and I was just crying and begging. I've always been experimenting. Cyndi Lauper's videos – that's what intrigued me."
Nicki Minaj