Just as Minaj holds the title of the queen of rap, Beyoncé reigns as the queen of R&B. The two iconic artists collaborated for the first time in 2014 with the remix of Beyoncé’s track “Flawless.”Later that year, they joined forces again on Nicki Minaj’s “Feeling Myself,”marking their second musical partnership. Notably, Nicki Minaj is the only singer for whom Beyoncé has recorded a tribute, referring to her as a “rap queen”in the song.
While the exact date of their first meeting remains unclear, Nicki Minaj discussed her initial encounter with Beyoncé during a 2011 interview. Beyond their collaborations on songs, they’ve supported each other’s musical accomplishments, performed live together, and even enjoyed double dates.
Exploring the Timeline of Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé’s Friendship
January 2011: Nicki Minaj Praises Beyoncé on RWD TV
On January 23, 2011, Nicki Minaj was interviewed by RWD TV, where she expressed her admiration for Beyoncé, stating:
“Just her name alone defines greatness, you know? Like, that push that every woman wants to be that driven.”
Minaj described the warm welcome she received from Beyoncé upon their first meeting, recalling:
“When I met her she was a super sweetheart and I liked the fact that she complimented me, I never forgot that, yeah. That stuck with me. She was like, you killed it, and I was like, huh? That just didn’t even register… here was someone who I admire so much and she told me I killed it… that really resonates with me.”
August 2014: Nicki Minaj Featured in Beyoncé’s Flawless (Remix)
Approximately a year and a half after the release of “Flawless,”its remix premiered, featuring Nicki Minaj. This track marked the first collaboration between the two artists, achieving a peak position of 41 on the Billboard chart.
Two days after the remix dropped, Minaj shared the story of how her feature came to be during an interview with Hot 97, revealing:
“A month or two ago, Gee [Roberson] called me when I was on my way to Vegas and said, ‘Beyoncé wants you to remix to ‘Flawless.” After I got proper medical help and started breathing again, I was like, ‘What?’”
Minaj also recalled Beyoncé encouraging her to be herself throughout the process, which boosted her confidence in delivering a standout performance.
September 2014: Minaj and Beyoncé Perform Flawless (Remix) Live in Paris
Following their successful collaboration, Beyoncé included “Flawless (Remix)”in her setlist for the On the Run tour. During her concert in Paris, she delighted fans by inviting Nicki Minaj on stage to perform the song together, both donning matching Versace outfits.
Shortly after the performance, Nicki shared a blurry snapshot from the event on her Instagram.
December 2014: Beyoncé Featured in Minaj’s Feeling Myself
Just four months after “Flawless (Remix),”the duo released a second collaborative track, adding to their impressive library of music.
February 2015: Minaj Calls Beyoncé “So Hands-On”in a TIME Interview
On February 4, 2015, Nicki Minaj shared her insights on working with Beyoncé in the studio, confessing:
“I always feel like I learn so much when I work with her. I don’t normally work with people like me. I’m always the one feeling like I’m a lunatic. Like I’m over-thinking everything. But she’s very, very hands-on. So whenever I work with her, I feel maybe I’m not so bad after all.”
March-May 2015: Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj Spotted Together
Following the release of “Feeling Myself,”Nicki and Queen Bey were frequently seen together. On March 31, 2015, Minaj posted a picture with Beyoncé and Alicia Keys on Instagram, captured at what appeared to be a party on Instagram.
Shortly after, Beyoncé and her husband Jay Z were seen dining out with Nicki and her then-boyfriend Meek Mill. Nicki also shared a photo of the four of them on Instagram.
October 2015: Beyoncé Pays Tribute to Minaj on YouTube
On October 27, Beyoncé shared a black-and-white rehearsal video featuring herself and Nicki Minaj for the TIDAL concert. In the video, she sang improvised lines from the first verse of Prince’s “Darling Nikki”as a tribute to Minaj, with lyrics such as:
“I met this girl named Nicki, I guess you could say she was the rap queen/ I met her in the studio lobby, but her booty looked bigger than in the magazines/ She said, ‘Bey will you jump on this song of mine?’/ How could I resist when I heard little Nicki rhyme?”
September 2022: Beyoncé Congratulates Minaj on MTV Video Vanguard Award
In September 2022, Nicki Minaj received the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMAs, a prestigious lifetime achievement honor. After her victory, she was delighted to receive a bouquet of white flowers from Beyoncé and Jay Z, which included a note that read:
“Congrats on your beautiful award. Sending you all of our love. Hov and B Holla”
Nicki shared a photo of the flowers and note on her Instagram story, expressing her gratitude to the celebrity couple.
March 2024: Beyoncé Sends Nicki a Handwritten Note
On March 15, 2024, Nicki Minaj introduced her new manicure line, Pink Friday Nails. In appreciation, she sent nail sets to several celebrity friends, including Queen Bey.
In response, Beyoncé sent a handwritten note expressing her admiration for the nails and congratulating Nicki on her ongoing Pink Friday 2 tour.
Both Minaj and Beyoncé released their latest studio albums within a three-month window. As Nicki’s tour is set to conclude in October, Queen Bey has yet to announce dates for her Cowboy Carter tour.
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