Any examination of Nicki Minaj must include a hat tip to the performance that arguably helped her break through in the hip hop community and cement her place as one of the best rappers in the world. It is, of course, her cameo on Kanye West's "Monster" AKA the verse that launched a million fire emojis. "Monster" was the third single off Kanye's critically acclaimed album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It featured not only West but also Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), so Minaj was in rarefied company. However, she shone the brightest, producing a verse so brilliant that it catapulted her to forefront of hip hop conversations. Rick Ross said that this song confirmed Minaj as "one of the greatest" and in 2013, Complex magazine voted it the best rap verse of the last 5 years. Give it a listen. You're sure to agree.