A sexy montage of Minaj

As Nicki Minaj stormed onto the Roseland Ballroom stage on Tuesday night, it was clear that she had a point to prove.

Back in June, the Queens-raised rapper was due to perform at Hot 97s annual Summer Jam concert in front of a packed house at MetLife Stadium. But when DJ Peter Rosenberg took a swipe at her lightweight Top 40 hit Starships and suggested she had no real hip-hop credentials, Minajs label boss, Lil Wayne, was irritated enough to order her not to perform.

So while this show was meant as an apology to fans, with all the tickets given away free on Hot 97 and other stations, Minaj also used it as an opportunity to give her critics the middle finger. She jumped off the blocks with an opening half-hour of bold and brash hip-hop cuts that showed off her rhyming power and lyrical wit.

Alexander Michael/Retna

Nicki Minaj silenced critics with a booty of hits performed with an all-star hip-hop lineup including Lil Wayne, Drake, Camron and Foxy Brown.

Minajs ability to switch from eye-wateringly vicious (Did It On Em) to laugh-out-loud funny (Stupid Hoe) was dizzying, and she thought nothing of tossing in the odd a capella breakdown whenever it struck her fancy. As a display of classic hip-hop style and flair, it was a near faultless opening.

But Minaj didnt bother cupping her ear to listen for the sound of doubters eating their words. Instead, she moved swiftly on to serve up another platter of songs, this one heavy on her radio hits.

They may not have boosted her cred as a rapper, but the Euro-disco beats of ! Starship s and Pound the Alarm have made her a star, and judging from the reaction, theyre the songs many had come to hear.

The only point where Minajs cross-genre appeal faltered slightly was when she donned a white gown and delivered the overly dramatic ballads Fire Burns and Save Me both of which showed her natural singing voice to be passable but unimpressive.

But it was a minor chink in her act, and one easily forgotten as the set progressed into a roll call of famous guests. In the hip-hop world, nothing says credibility more than props from your peers, and Minaj whod already duetted with Camron early in the show had those in spades.

First up was Foxy Brown, who arrived to run through versions of her classics Oh Yeah and Tables Will Turn. Her appearance paled in the pandemonium that followed the first sight of Drake. The Canadian heartthrob nonchalantly soaked up the screams while delivering a slick rendition of Drake/Minaj collaboration Up All Night.

But even Drakes ego could be seen shrinking the moment Lil Wayne strode onstage. Evidently bearing no grudges, the Cash Money president contributed to the party atmosphere by jousting with Drake on The Motto as Minaj watched with glee from side stage.

With all that support, Minaj still couldnt help but sound a little insecure at the nights end.

I love you from the bottom of my heart; please dont ever leave me, she pleaded by way of farewell.

Dont worry, Nicki, were not going anywhere.