Nicki Minaj made her VMA debut with a choreographed performance of a sped-up “Your Love,” backed by dancers who mimed her moves as she fast-forwarded to the future with her full-length body suit and pink beehive. Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, clad like a porcelain doll, joined the Harajuku Barbie for her new single “Check It Out,” which closed out the performance with a bang. Watch above and get in the VMA spirit.

Here is the video of Nicki Minaj presenting an award with Katy Perry for “Best Male Video” which Eminem won:

LOS ANGELES — Nicki Minaj is so popular right now she can shut down the scene anywhere she goes. On Saturday (September 11), her fans who happened to be downtown got a big surprise as Nick rehearsed her VMA pre-show performance, practicing “Your Love” and her brand-new single with will.i.am, “Check It Out.”

Although Nicki’s performance was outside, fans, members of her entourage, various MTV crewmembers and anyone sitting in one of the J.W. Marriott hotel’s lounges could see Nick go to work.

“Get it! Get it!” veteran choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson — who MTV viewers will remember from Diddy’s “Making the Band” — yelled after every Minaj “ow ow!” at the beginning of “Check It Out.” “Get it, girl!” Gibson encouraged again.

Two female dancers started in front of the crowd and grooved to “Your Love,” then there was a reveal of the Young Money queen, who stood with her head down and arms folded. Wearing a pink tank top, black leather jacket and black leggings, Minaj moved forward and danced in sync with her backup ladies.

Expect plenty of movement and plenty of energy come Sunday night. Nicki — who’s known for her lyrical acumen and facial expressions (she made those faces in rehearsal too!), but not for dancing — can hold down some steps. “Amaaaazing,” Gibson yelled at the end of another run-through.

There were a few mechanical problems with a key piece of equipment for the stage that’s also an integral part of Nick’s reveal. However, the crew seemed to have the matter under control toward the end of rehearsal.

During her last practice round, Nicki and her dancers switched up the entire beginning of the show. Instead of just playing “Your Love,” Nicki went right into “Check It Out.” There was also smoke that time and more applause from Nick’s biggest cheerleader on Saturday, Laurie Ann.

After the rehearsal, Nicki walked through the lobby taking pictures and even giving a couple of hugs to fans. “Oh my God. She is so real!” one lady said after taking a pic with Nicki.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News’ VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.

Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber are at war … sort of. They’re actually competing against Jason Derülo, Broken Bells and Ke$ha in the Best New Artist VMA category. To some people, though, it’s a two-horse race. Nicki’s nominated for “Massive Attack,” Justin for “Baby.” To an outsider, “Baby” was a much bigger hit than “Massive Attack,” but Best New Artist is voted on by the fans, so come Sunday, who’ll rep harder, the Barbies or the Beliebers?

Hit the jump for more on Nicki and Justin B …

“[Nicki] has no chance at beating Bieber,” says Brendan Frederick, deputy editor at Complex. “ ‘Baby’ was a genuine hit for Bieber, a highlight of a huge year where he really proved himself as a pop phenomenon who makes surprisingly decent R&B music. Nicki has proven herself to the hip-hop community, but she’s just starting to make her presence felt in the crossover pop world. This is definitely Bieber’s year.”

But not everyone thinks he’s a shoo in. Some argue that Bieber isn’t exactly a new artist, and that he doesn’t really have any big hits besides “Baby.” “I think Nicki Minaj has a very strong chance of taking home the Best New Artist VMA,” says Kathy Iandoli, media director at HipHopDX. “Nicki may not be causing malls to shut down, but her presence has been felt on almost every important hip-hop track that has been released this year. The Biebs only had one real hit that most people are still ashamed of liking.”
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How do you make the MTV Video Music Awards debut of Nicki Minaj, one of the hottest new MCs in the game, even more major? Add one of the most sought-after producers reppin’ one of the biggest groups in the world: will.i.am.

When Minaj takes the stage at the VMA pre-show, which kicks off Sunday at 8 p.m. ET live from Los Angeles, she will be joined by the Black Eyed Peas frontman for her first-ever televised performance as a solo artist. Will and Minaj will rip the stage with their peppy hip-pop single “Check It Out.”

“I love Nicki,” Will told MTV News at the BMI Urban Awards on Friday night. “I love the song that we’re doing, ‘Check It Out.’ She’s fresh.”
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Can’t wait to find out who’s sitting in the front row at tomorrow’s MTV Video Music Awards? Pics of seating cards inside Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre hit the web, giving a sneak peek of what you can expect when the camera swings from the stage to the audience.

Thirteen-time nominee Lady Gaga is seated next to Eminem in the front, with Diddy positioned a seat away from Slim Shady, while Usher, and Nicki Minaj have seats reserved behind them. Justin Timberlake will grab a chair next to his Social Network co-star Jesse Eisenberg, and performer Florence of Florence + the Machine cops a spot behind Minaj.

Remember to cast your vote for Nicki Minaj as today is the last day! Text BNA to 97979, then text 5 to vote @NICKIMINAJ as Best New Artist for the 2010 MTV VMAs!