The pink stage is set for Nicki Minaj’s VMA debut. The hip-hop hottie, wearing skintight pants and a cowboy hat, rehearsed in downtown Los Angeles for her first-ever televised solo performance at tonight’s pre-show. In addition to delivering a remix of her No. 1 rap song “Your Love,” she will be joined by will.i.am for their single “Check It Out.”

“She’s dope, she’s really nice,” the Black Eyed Peas says of his collaborator. “She loves music, she loves to express herself, and she’s a sick-ass lyricist.”