According to Nicki Minaj, it’s a foregone conclusion that she’ll be the first female rapper to make MTV News’ Hottest MCs in the Game list.

“Of course I’m on the list,” she told MTV News. “If I’m not on the list, let me tell you something: Them Barbiez will find your asses. So we know Nicki Minaj is on the list, but we don’t know here she ranks.”

The Lil Wayne protégé has a strong case to make the 2010 list. Although she has yet to release her debut album, Pink Friday, she already hit the top of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart with “Your Love.”

Nicki Minaj has been a major presence at awards shows and television specials throughout the past 12 months, from the BET Hip Hop Awards to MTV’s VMA pre-show.

Where she’s really made her mark has been as a guest artist on records by Mariah Carey, Robin Thicke, Trey Songz and Ludacris, among others. The animated lyricist has proved particularly adept at rhyming alongside her male counterparts, including Jay-Z, Kanye West and Drake.

“I believe I’m a dope MC in the big scheme of things, period,” she said. “Like, if you put 10 girls in a row, I’m not only gonna stand out with them, but I’m gonna stand out if you put nine boys in a row and put me in the middle. I believe there’s a lot of girls like that. I believe most female MCs are better than the boys. But they don’t really get a shot sometimes. Labels are afraid to sign females and things like that. Don’t get me wrong, the boys are super dope. But the girls are up there too and are important and equal in the way we deliver raps.”