Acts on stage also included The White Stripes, the Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, Dido, The Darkness and Missy Elliott.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | MTV awards rock Edinburgh

At the BDC, where there are many African American and Asian dancers, the sounds of the genre's Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes reverberate.

FORBES: Dance Diaspora

Blige, or Missy Elliott, Faith Evans, all of these folks who say that the Clark Sisters inspired them, do you understand now the role you played in all of this?

NPR: The Sheards: A Mother-Daughter Gospel Duo

In the summer of 2003, Jay-Z spent much of his time on the road, playing 33 dates with 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott on the Rock the Mic tour.

FORBES: Eleena Azlan Shah

Scott-Young's previous foray into unscripted television was UPN's "Road To Stardom with Missy Elliott" -- a quasi-mash-up of "America's Next Top Model" and '"American Idol" -- back in 2005, but the treacherous family dynamics and scandalous love lives of hip-hop stars is proving to be a winning recipe.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

But Minaj is also in the Gaga lane, the Bowie lane, the Missy Elliott and Gary Glitter and Katy Perry and Betty Boop lanes. (By the sound of "Right by My Side" -- a blustery duet with Chris Brown -- she can cruise in the Jordin Sparks lane, too.) Then there's the Roman Zolanski lane.

CNN: Review: Nicki Minaj's 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'

Mona Scott-Young is a former hip-hop dancer who later managed hit-making producers Trackmasters before becoming one of the most influential women in music, overseeing the careers of Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Maxwell and Fantasia at Violator Management.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS