Foxy Brown, Lil Wayne and Drake join Nicki Minaj onstage at free New York City concert

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Nicki Minaj’s New York City concert featured usual suspects like her mentor Lil Wayne and label mate Drake, but it was another guest appearance that was really striking: rapper Foxy Brown.

Brown joined Minaj onstage Tuesday at the Roseland Ballroom. Before she took the stage, Minaj said she wanted to introduce “the female rapper who influenced me the most.”

As Brown entered, the crowd of nearly 3,000 roared. She performed three songs from her last album, 2001’s “Broken Silence.” Minaj said the album changed her life.

Brown has released three successful albums, but she’s seen her career wane after criminal charges led to time behind bars. But Brown said she’s returning to music, thanks to Minaj.

She yelled to the crowd: “I’m coming back. My sister’s making sure.”