Minaj briefly signed with Brooklyn group Full Force, in which she rapped in a quartet called The Hoodstars composed of Lou$tar (son of "Bowlegged Lou"), Scaff Beezy and 7even Up.[23][24] In 2004 the group recorded the entrance song for WWE Diva Victoria, "Don't Mess With", which was featured on the compilation album ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol.6. Minaj left Full Force, dissatisfied with their lack of success,[citation needed] uploaded songs on her Myspace profile and sent several of her songs to people in the music industry; at the time, she was managed by Debra Antney. Fendi, CEO of Brooklyn label Dirty Money Entertainment (who also discovered rapper Gravy), signed Minaj to his label. Originally adopting the stage name "Nicki Maraj", she changed it to Nicki Minaj: "My real name is Maraj. Fendi flipped it when he met me because I had such a nasty flow! I eat bitches!"[25] On Fendi's label Minaj appeared on the street DVD, The Come Up Volume 11, featuring underground rappers from New York.[citation needed]

Minaj released her first mixtape, Playtime is Over, on Dirty Money Records on July 5, 2007[26] and her second, Sucka Free, on April 12, 2008.[27] That year, she was named Female Artist of the Year at the 2008 Underground Music Awards.[28] In 2009 Minaj was involved in a conflict with ego trip's Miss Rap Supreme winner Rece Steele, who was annoyed when Minaj interrupted her interview and put a sign behind Steele's head;[29] Minaj hung up on interviewers from Spate magazine when they asked about the incident.[30] She released her third mixtape,Beam Me Up Scotty, on April 18, 2009[31] and it received favorable coverage on BET and MTV.[32][33] One of its tracks, "I Get Crazy", reached number 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and number 37 on the magazine's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[34]

After Minaj was discovered by fellow rapper Lil Wayne,[35] in August 2009 it was reported that she signed a recording contract with his Young Money Entertainment.[36] That November, she appeared with Gucci Mane and Trina on the remix of "5 Star Bitch" by Yo Gotti.[37] Minaj also appeared on "BedRock" and "Roger That"[38] on the compilation album,We Are Young Money (2009).[39] The singles peaked at numbers 2 and 56, respectively, on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100;[40] their parent album reached number nine on the U.S.Billboard 200, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[40][41] Minaj was featured on Mariah Carey's "Up Out My Face", which reached number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100.[42] At Jay-Z's suggestion, that February Robin Thicke featured Minaj on "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" and included her in several live performances (including The Late Show With David Letterman).[43]