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Nicki Minaj Makes Colorful Entrance On VMA Pre-Show

Spacesuit-clad Young Money honey performs 'Your Love,' 'Check It Out' with will.i.am in solo TV debut.

When you're making a live solo performance debut on TV, you have to make it count. And Young Money honey [article id="1647615"]Nicki Minaj is not one to pull up short[/article]. Which explains why she poured herself into a pink-and-purple spacesuit topped by a cotton-candy-colored wig for the MTV VMA pre-show run of her new single, "Check it Out."

Accompanied by two dancers in matching outfits, Nicki stood stock-still like a futuristic superhero for the song's intro, then began to wiggle her world-famous hips over the song's sample of the iconic MTV launch-pad tune "Video Killed the Radio Star." Tossing in some high kicks and plenty of looks at her ample assets, Minaj held onto a railing ringing the stage and shook it slow as guest [artist id="1521450"]will.i.am[/artist] of the Black Eyed Peas strutted out to drop his verse.

Dressed like a bondage cartoon character from the phantom zone, Will kicked it in a skin-hugging black leather suit with a Devo-like plastic high-top fade and white shades, pulsing back and forth alongside Minaj as the crowd shouted out its approval.

"Dummies can't touch me 'cause I'm floatin' sky-high," he rapped, as Nicki wore a sneer on her face and dropped into a double-time island patois with her hand on her hips.

"The DunDun/ Yep, in London," she rapped, shaking her head. "Competition/ Why yes I would love some." But by the time she ended with a grimace frozen on her face, it was clear that Minaj had blown away any and all comers and set the stage for the night of unforgettable performances to come.

What did you think of Nicki's solo debut TV performance at the VMAs? Tell us in the comments!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards are happening live, right now at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles! Keep it locked on MTVNews.com for the latest behind-the-scenes scoop, red-carpet interviews, photos, winner reactions and more.

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