(AllHipHop News) Young Money rap diva Nicki Minaj will be in good company in the next couple of months as she shows appreciation for U.S. troops as part of this year’s VH1 Divas special. The entertainer will join singers Keri Hilson, Katy Perry and music groups Sugarland and Paramore for the event, which will be taped at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. In addition to performing via satellite, Paramore will visit Marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors, coastguardsmen and reservists at an undisclosed military base in the Middle East Minaj’s appearance on VH1 Divas Salute the Troops comes as the rapstress gears up for the release of her forthcoming debut album, Pink Friday. Media sources report the offering, originally scheduled to hit stores Nov. 23, will now arrive a day early on Nov. 22. The new release date will place Pink Friday among a string of albums coming out the same day, including Jay-Z’s The Hits Collection Vol. 1, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Ne-Yo’s Libra Scale and Akon’s Stadium. With three BET Hip Hop Awards to her credit, Minaj is riding a wave of momentum leading to Pink Friday. The femcee recently made Billboard history by becoming the first female rapper to top Billboard’s Rap singles chart since 2002 with her hit song, “Your Love” as well as garner the most entries at one time on the Billboard Hot 100 with seven singles on Nielsen Soundscan’s 200 best-selling songs of 2010. VH1 Divas Salute the Troops featuring Nicki Minaj will air Dec. 5 on VH1. The Armed Forces Network will broadcast the show internationally.
