11 photos of rappers before they became rich and famous..

9. Nicki Minaj

Do you recognize her without a neon skintight outfit and electric wig? We almost didn’t. This is the “queen of rap” back in high school. She attended a performing arts high school in New York and has stated that it changed her life. In an interview, Minaj said that being at that school was the first time in her life she felt she truly fit in because she was around other creative people.

You probably know her for her extreme and in-your-face personality, so this photo is interesting because it shows her back when she was a regular person. The brand she’s created since this was taken has made a huge splash all around the world and has kept her on top for years. If you ever need to create an image, she seems like a good person to go to.