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It is known that Drake and Nicki Minaj have collaborated on several tracks, this partnership has helped elevate each other’s careers, and working together has inspired them both to exchange ideas. Drake is renowned for his melodic style when rapping, seamlessly blending singing with rap verses on melodic beats which inspired and resonated with Nicki Minaj which also incorporated melodic elements. Both artists inspired me in a way where that showed that it is possible to blend trap music with melodic rhymes. Nicki Minaj mentions that Drake also helped her to get over writer’s block by sending her many

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Lil Wayne was a big influence in the new generation of Rap, Nicki Minaj was inspired by the way he was unapologetic when writing his texts and did not hold back when spitting his rhymes, alongside his cadence, he would frequently switch flows and taught artists like Nicki that switching tones while rapping is possible as well. By signing Nicki Minaj to one of the most unforgettable hip-hop record label called “YMCMB” both of these artists created an empire. Wayne also pushed Nicki Minaj to expand her creativity and get more playful with her tracks by switching tonality, pitch, and sound to break the monotonous vocals in her music.

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The famous R&B singer Monica is Nicki Minaj’s idol, Nicki Minaj has expressed many times how Monica is her all-time greatest musical influence and how she would try to emulate her singing with low notes and riffs. During her debut, Nicki would perform “Why I love you so much” by Monica at every talent show she would participate in. Beyond the musical aspect, both Monica and Nicki Minaj have a wild and extravagant sense of fashion and a whole fantasy around their aesthetic.

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Eminem is undeniably the most predominant rapper of all times, and there’s no doubt that Tyler, The Creator has taken some inspiration from his lyrical and rapping approach. Eminem is known to have rejected the classical industry mold by creating his own label and become independent, Tyler has taken inspiration from him and the desire to maintain artistic freedom and have full control over his music. This artistic freedom is crucial for them since they’re both known to push boundaries with their controversial and provocative lyrics, sometimes facing backlash for their authenticity and raw delivery in lyrics.

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Tyler, The Creator has taken inspiration from Erykah Badu’s musical production over the years by incorporating sonically rich tunes into his music since Badu is known to add organic sounds, live instruments, and soulful production into her art. Erykah Badu's distinctive style and artistic expression, evident in her music and persona, revolve around embracing individuality, eccentricity, and creative freedom. This resonated with Tyler, the Creator, who like Badu, frequently challenges norms and pushes boundaries in his music and visuals. Tyler fearlessly and authentically expresses himself, drawing inspiration from Badu's unapologetic approach.

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Pharrell Williams was the biggest influence on Tyler, The Creator both musically and as an entrepreneur, since Tyler did not have any older brothers or cousins, he would look up to Pharrell Williams as a mentor and built a strong friendship over the years. He is known to pass on the message of positivity, unity, and self-empowerment through his music, and Tyler, The Creator was surely inspired by that and that explains his shift in music to create more uplifting and introspective content. Pharrell was successful in making commercial pop music that preserved artistic integrity, in his late content, Tyler incorporated this approach in targeting a pop-based audience and making international hits as well. They are also known as being fashion icons and creative directors in their respective fields.

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The Weeknd uses ambient, atmospheric and eerie synths sounds which influenced a lot  XXXTentacion’s incorporation of sound in his track to create a certain atmosphere and mood. Even though XXXTentacion created a distinctive musical style and voice of his own, he was inspired by the seamless blending of different genre of music that The Weeknd proposed to his audience, his musical versatility and the way he could mix aspects of hip-hop, R&B, and pop pushed XXXTentacion to explore different sounds and experiment on his own. Both of these artists made emotionally-charged where they open up about internal thoughts, introspections, heartbreaks, depression,etc…

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Tyler, The Creator is a rapper and record producer who is known for his unique and experimental style of music blending elements of alternative hip-hop, pop, neo-soul, funk, and R&B. Tyler’s imagination and creativity are the number 1 reason for his influence and popularity amongst our generation. He often incorporates synthesizers and electrical piano sound into his track to accompany his deep and raw vocal delivery. As a producer, Tyler uses Logic Pro X as a DAW, an Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for his audio interface, and an M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 Advanced 61 Key USB MIDI Controller. He influenced me through his raw vocals and well-thought lyrics as well as his unique production style, I admire the fact that as a rapper, he also is in charge of producing his own beats and that is something I would like to do as well.

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Kurt Cobain and XXXTentacion build up emotions at the beginning of some of their songs like “pain = best friend” where you can notice a melodic guitar which Cobain used a lot too then expresses anger with a scream at the end of the song. X admired Kurt Cobain’s authenticity which also inspired his rock and metal songs. There are many parallels, both struggled with addiction, and were suicidal to an extent, they were also both leaders of an entirely new generation of music. Fans have linked both artists as well because of the fact that they died a tragic death at such a young age.

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Both XXTentacion and 2Pac both had a rough past growing up in violent households and speaking about it, which inspired their music as well. Both changed the rap scene by incorporating cutting edge styles which glorified a lifestyle on the edge of society. “Both had cult-like followings, and both lived and died in chaos. But, beyond their turbulent existences and exaltation as generational figures, “Pac and XXX are bound by an apparent need to position one as an evolution of the other.” (staff, 2018)

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It is indisputable that Nicki Minaj is a great influence to many female rappers, like me. In a genre like rap which is where men dominate the uppermost echelon, Nicki changed the scene of rap with her lyrical skills, flow, confidence, and charisma. On top of being a ruthless rapper, she is a great singer with unique vocals. She is inspiring because she is a go-getter who pushes her fans to put in the hard work in order to achieve excellent results. Nicki Minaj has inspired me to push my lyrical content to another level and make memorable lyrics that stand out while also incorporating clever punchlines and intricate wordplay.

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XXXTentacion influenced me through his unique style when blending different elements of hip-hop, punk, screamo-rap, etc… to create a new captivating sub-genre of rap raising in the United States. Cadence and flow are key to his most popular tracks. Sensitivity and openness, X was transparent and open about mental health issues and raised awareness about the topics through his art and this is what changed the way I write, to make emotionally-charged music. Like me, we can distinguish two different sides in his artistry: a dark side and a more joyful one. Being emotionally honest made him closer to his fanbase, and more relatable as an individual on top of being an artist. He made music from the heart and was versatile, pushing other artists to think outside the box.