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Lil Wayne is definitely building an army behind him. As the CEO for his label Young Money, he has recently acquired the likes of Drake, Bow Wow and now he can add Nicki Minaj to the list.

Just months after getting the rookie of the year, Drake, to sign with Universal, Minaj decided to join the ranks of the New Orleans rapper. Not to say that it was expected, but it was expected.

Nicki Minaj asserts, “To say I’m excited would be an understatement. It’s validation. It’s proof. It’s empowerment. I represent every little girl in a hood near you. To everyone that supported me two years ago when I was on underground mix-tapes and DVDs and to the people that only caught on two weeks ago, I say thank you. Be proud of yourself. You’ve given girls all around the world the permission to change the face of female rap.”

As Drake had done, Minaj avoided immediately signing onto major labels and instead tried to build her own brand and establish her own buzz. At first it seemed as though she was trying to be the new version of Lil Kim, but she chose to avoid the sexual side and focus on her lyrics. She used the Internet to create an immense buzz for herself through interviews, as well as showcasing herself by means of freestyles and mixtapes.

Playtime is Over, Sucker Free and the most recent Beam Me Up Scotty have been able to establish the young female rapper as more than just a butt and a smile as she has shown her lyrical presence.

Lil Wayne asserts, “I am honored to have Nicki Minaj as Young Money’s First Lady. She is a star.”

In terms of the debut, the first official album from Minaj should be released in early 2010 and will see distribution from Universal Motown. Currently, she is alongside the rapper eater on the America’s Most Wanted tour with other big acts such as Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy and others.

Although tension built between Jeezy and Gucci Mane, Minaj is still managed by Mizay Entertainment’s Debra Antney with Gucci.