Nicki Minaj is one of the most successful and influential artists of her generation. Over more than a decade in the spotlight, she has amassed dozens of awards and nominations across major U.S. and global award shows. But exactly how many awards does she have — and what kinds of honors are we counting? In this article, we’ll offer a comprehensive look at her award history, what those numbers mean (and don’t mean), why she remains so decorated, and how her awards reflect her impact on music and culture.
1. What counts: Awards, nominations, and official tallies
First — a quick clarification. When people talk about how many awards an artist has, they often mean different things:
Major industry awards (like American Music Awards, BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, etc.)
Smaller / niche or regional awards
Certifications, honors, and non-award accolades (e.g., chart records, plaques)
Nominations, not just wins
For clarity, when I say “awards,” I’ll mean mostly recognized wins at formal award events. I’ll also note major nominations when relevant, because they help illustrate how seriously the industry has taken Nicki’s work over time.
Based on publicly available tallies (from award-tracking sites and media), here’s a snapshot of Nicki Minaj’s recognized achievements. (IMDb)
2. The headline numbers: Wins, nominations and major awards
According to one tally, Nicki has around 46 recognized wins and 105 total nominations across various award shows. (IMDb)
Her major accolades include — but are not limited to — 9 American Music Awards, 11 BET Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, 8 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), 12 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), 6 People’s Choice Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award. (Wikipedia)
She has also been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards — though as of now she has never won a Grammy. (GRAMMY)
These numbers establish Nicki Minaj as one of the most decorated female rappers — and one of the most awarded artists overall — of her generation.
3. Breakdown by major award shows & major wins
Here’s how Nicki’s awards stack up by major award institutions and categories.
🎯 BET Awards
Nicki holds the record for most wins for Best Female Hip Hop Artist — 8 wins. (Wikipedia)
With 15 nominations in that category, she is also the most-nominated artist there. (Wikipedia)
This makes her arguably the most awarded female hip-hop artist in BET Awards history in that category.
🏆 American Music Awards (AMAs)
She has won 9 American Music Awards over her career. (Wikipedia)
These cover major categories like Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, Favorite Female Artist – Rap/Hip Hop, and Favorite Song (in Latin category for her collaboration “Tusa”). (Wikipedia)
🎬 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs)
Nicki Minaj has won 8 MTV VMAs. (Wikipedia)
She holds the record for most wins in the “Best Hip-Hop Video” category — with 5 trophies. (Wikipedia)
Her wins reflect her strength in visual artistry, music videos, and mainstream appeal.
🌍 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) & Other Global / International Awards
She has earned 12 MTV Europe Music Awards. (Wikipedia)
She’s also picked up awards from other ceremonies — including a Soul Train Music Awards — adding to her global and cross-genre recognition. (Wikipedia)
📈 Billboard Music Awards & Others
She’s won 5 Billboard Music Awards. (Wikipedia)
Plus several other awards — including People’s Choice Awards, and smaller or genre-specific honors — contributing to her overall tally of wins. (Wikipedia)
4. Nominations — The “So Many Shots Fired” Side of Her Career
Awards are partly about wins — but frequent nominations also indicate how often an artist’s work is in contention. For Nicki Minaj:
She has had 12 Grammy nominations to date, across categories like Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and even Best Song Written for Visual Media (for her collaboration “Barbie World”). (Wikipedia)
Across her career, she has received dozens of nominations beyond the Grammys — including multiple nods from BET, MTV, Billboard, and other shows. (IMDb)
These nominations show sustained recognition over many years, even when she didn’t always collect the trophy.
5. Why the Count Varies — Different Sources, Different Criteria
When trying to state exactly “how many awards does Nicki Minaj have,” you’ll often see different numbers. That’s because:
Some counts include only major awards, while others aggregate all wins — big and small (including niche awards, international honors, regional awards, and even some non-music awards).
Some sources include nominations, others only wins.
Some include certifications, honors, and “special awards” (like lifetime-achievement or video-vanguard awards), others do not.
For example:
One tally reports 46 wins & 105 nominations. (IMDb)
But if you include every minor award, certification, or non-mainstream award, numbers may swell — and some fan communities or aggregator websites claim much higher totals.
The variation doesn’t diminish her achievement — it only reflects how broad the landscape of music honors can be.
6. Notable Awards & Milestones That Stand Out
Beyond raw numbers, some of Nicki’s awards and honors are particularly noteworthy.
She’s the most awarded and most nominated female rapper in the history of the BET Awards’ “Best Female Hip Hop Artist” category. (Wikipedia)
At the VMAs, she leads all artists in the “Best Hip-Hop Video” category with 5 wins. (Wikipedia)
Despite being nominated 12 times for Grammys, she has never won — making her one of the most-nominated artists without a Grammy win. (Forbes)
She has shown longevity: her awards and nominations span more than a decade, proving that she isn’t a fleeting star but a lasting force in music.
7. Why Awards Don’t Tell the Full Story — Impact Beyond Trophies
Even though trophies are tangible markers of success, they don’t fully capture why Nicki Minaj remains influential and celebrated. Here’s what awards don’t show, and what else matters.
🧠 Cultural impact & influence
Nicki’s influence extends beyond charts and awards. Her style, persona, lyricism, ability to crossover between rap and pop — all have influenced a generation of artists (especially female rappers). Awards don’t always capture that influence.
🌍 Global reach
Her international fanbase, global tours, streaming numbers, and social-media dominance often matter more than a regional award.
🕰 Longevity & consistency
Sustaining relevance over decade(s) — through changing industry dynamics, evolving tastes, and new artists — is often a more impressive feat than one “award-heavy” year.
🎨 Artistic innovation
Nicki has experimented with genres, visuals, and reinvention; sometimes that doesn’t lead to an award, but it changes the landscape.
In many ways, her legacy is built on consistency, influence, versatility — and the respect of peers, fans, and critics. Awards reflect that, but they don’t encompass it.
8. Context: How Nicki’s Award Count Compares to Her Peers
When you compare Nicki’s award history to other major rappers or pop-rap artists:
Her repeated domination at BET Awards — many years in a row — makes her stand out among female rappers.
Her MTV-VMA success in a genre where visuals matter (hip hop + pop + rap) puts her among the most decorated video artists.
But the lack of a Grammy win — despite 12 nominations — illustrates a recurring tension: commercial/pop appeal and awards-show recognition don’t always align.
Sometimes, artists with fewer nominations but a more “critics-friendly” or “alternative” approach accumulate more award wins; Nicki’s blend of mainstream rap/pop and bold persona has made her both massively successful and, at times, controversial — which may affect award outcomes.
9. The Debate: Does Having Many Awards Matter for Legacy?
Some critics and industry observers downplay awards — arguing that sales, streaming, cultural impact, influence, touring success matter more than trophies. With Nicki Minaj, this debate is particularly relevant because:
She has dominated award shows (especially BET, MTV, AMAs), showing broad appeal.
She hasn’t won a Grammy — which many consider the most prestigious music award. Some view that as a dark mark; others view it as proof that Grammy recognition doesn’t always reflect real influence.
Her influence extends to fashion, music videos, rap style, global culture — beyond what any award counts.
So while her award count is impressive, many fans (and critics) argue her true legacy lies beyond that: in how she changed what mainstream female rap could look like, how she opened doors for others, and how enduring her music remains.
10. What’s the “Current” Award Tally? (As of 2025)
Based on latest publicly available data:
~46 recognized major-award wins (across many shows) (IMDb)
~105 total award nominations (again across major + minor shows) (IMDb)
0 Grammy wins despite 12 nominations. (GRAMMY)
Because award shows continue — and because Nicki remains active — those numbers may increase in future years.
11. Why Nicki Minaj’s Award Legacy Is Special (Even With Zero Grammys)
It may seem jarring to note that someone as decorated as Nicki Minaj — with tens of awards — has never won a Grammy. But that fact also reveals important truths about awards, recognition, and music industry dynamics.
It shows that mainstream success + popular appeal + cultural influence don’t always translate to “prestigious award recognition.”
It highlights industry biases, genre divisions, and gatekeeping (especially in awards that lean toward certain styles or demographics).
It underscores longevity and consistency: Nicki didn’t just have a golden year — she’s stayed relevant for 15+ years.
Her award haul reflects a broader strength than any single trophy: peer recognition (through nominations), fan support (popularity, sales, streams), critical success (video/music quality), and staying power.
12. What’s Next? — Could Nicki Add More Awards to Her Shelf
Given her track record and the trajectory of her career, it seems likely Nicki Minaj will continue adding to her awards list — here’s why:
She remains active and relevant: new music, collaborations, and high-profile features keep her in contention.
As musical tastes evolve, pop-rap and cross-genre hits (areas where Nicki thrives) remain popular — increasing her chances for nominations and wins.
She has a dedicated fan base and massive streaming/ sales influence — often a strong factor in awards that rely partly on popularity and metrics.
So unless industry gatekeepers severely shift away from her style, it’s reasonable to expect new awards or honors in coming years.
13. Final Thoughts — What The Numbers Actually Mean
If someone asks “How many awards does Nicki Minaj have?” — the short answer: dozens of major wins, many more nominations, and a legacy that extends far beyond trophies.
But the real story isn’t about the sheer count. It’s about:
Her consistency over more than a decade.
Her ability to dominate multiple spheres: rap, pop, visuals, videos, global appeal.
Her influence on an entire generation of artists, especially women in rap.
The fact that even without a Grammy win, she remains one of the most decorated and influential artists in modern music.
In many ways, her award legacy — and the gaps in it — tell the story of an artist who has pushed against boundaries, challenged norms, and stayed relevant in a fast-changing industry.
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