The Six Degrees Of Nicki Minaj

Using collaborations or band connections, Nicki Minaj can be connected to artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Stevie Wonder in six steps or less.

In the nearly two years since Nicki Minaj has released her debut album, she's recorded more than 50 songs with other artists. Using those connections, the singer/rapper can be connected in six steps or less to artists like Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Johnny Cash and Stevie Wonder.

"She's kind of an everything to everyone artist," said Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts and retail for Billboard. "She can move through both (hip-hop and pop)."

Caulfield said artists collaborations have become much more common since the mid '90s. "It became a trend once hip-hop became so enormous ... I think that sort of spread in a way to pop music."

Duets were "usually reserved for event records," Caulfield said, but today, they are much more common.