Nicki Minaj is a rapper and songwriter from the United States. The brilliant soprano has also made a name for herself as a television host and a role model for women. Her distinctive voice (which frequently incorporates numerous dialects) and aggressive, fast-flow rap style have made her a successful solo artist as well as a featured cameo voice on other albums. Minaj is recognized for her dramatic, loud fashion statements, which include brilliantly colored cosmetics, outlandish hair styles, and unique costumes, in addition to her songs. She overcame numerous challenges on her way to popularity, including being born outside of the United States, migrating with her family to New York at a young age, dealing with an abusive and drug-addicted father, and working a variety of odd jobs before finally achieving recognition as a famous musician. While her quick temper has sparked squabbles and conflict with other celebrities (including Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey), fans adore her feisty, direct demeanor. She’s gone from a social media hopeful to a successful multi-media entrepreneur in less than 10 years, with various recorded ventures, TV hosting, and even a Super Bowl performance under her belt. Nicki Minaj continues to dazzle fans with her chart-topping hits with no signs of slowing down.
Childhood and Adolescence
Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, on December 8, 1982.
Robert Maraj, her father, worked as a finance executive. Carol Maraj, her mother, worked as a foreign exchange teller and gospel vocalist. Brandon Lamar and Michaiah Maraj are her brothers, and Ming Maraj and Jelani Maraj are her sisters.
Nicki’s parents immigrated to the United States when she was a child. When she was five years old, her mother sent her and her brother to live with her grandmother in Saint James.
Her father was a drug addict who was particularly abusive to her mother. In an apparent and unsuccessful attempt to kill her mother, he once set fire to the family home.
She began playing the clarinet in her middle school band at an early age, having had a great ear for music. Following that, she auditioned for and was accepted into ‘La Guardia High School,’ an arts magnet school.
Following a failed effort at acting after high school, she performed a variety of odd jobs, several of which she was fired from due to alleged bad customer service.
Career of Nicki Minaj
She began her musical career rapping with 7even Up, Lou$tar, and Scaff Breezy as part of a foursome known as ‘The Hoodstars.’
In 2004, ‘The Hoodstars’ recorded the song ‘Don’t Mess With,’ which was included on the WWE’s ‘ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol. 6’ collection album.
Minaj quit ‘The Hoodstars,’ and much of her work was uploaded on her Myspace page. Fendi, the CEO of ‘Dirty Money Entertainment,’ noticed this and signed her to a 180-day contract in 2007.
On July 5, 2007, she released her first mixtape, ‘Playtime is Over,’ and in April of the following year, she released a follow-up, ‘Sucka Free.’
‘Beam Me Up Scotty,’ her third mixtape, was released on April 18, 2009. The album included the smash single “I Get Crazy,” which peaked at number 20 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart in the United States.
In August of 2009, Minaj secured a contract with Lil Wayne’s record label, ‘Young Money Entertainment,’ after catching his interest.
She began appearing as a featured appearance on other artists’ tracks in November 2009, including Mariah Carey and Robin Thicke.
Her debut album, ‘Massive Attack’ (an early title that was eventually altered to ‘Pink Friday’), was released on March 29, 2010. The album included the smash single ‘Your Love,’ which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and first on Billboard’s Rap Songs chart.
The fifth single from ‘Pink Friday,’ ‘Super Bass,’ hit number three on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was certified octuple-platinum in the United States. For the 2012 Super Bowl half-time show, she sang ‘Give Me All Your Luvin,’ which featured Madonna and rapper M.I.A.
On April 2, 2012, she released her follow-up studio album, ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,’ which included the singles ‘Roman in Moscow’ and ‘Stupid Hoe.’
In June of 2012, she voiced the character Steffie in ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift.’
She joined the television show ‘American Idol,’ alongside judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, and Keith Urban, in September 2012, and left the following May.
Though she is best recognized for her rapping, she began acting in the 2014 film ‘The Other Woman,’ starring Cameron Diaz.
On December 15, 2014, she released her third album, ‘The Pinkprint,’ which included her biggest hit to date, ‘Anaconda.’ Billboard’s Hot 100 charted the song at number two. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 in the United States. It garnered largely excellent reviews from critics, and she was nominated for three Grammy Awards for it.
Along with Ice Cube, Eve, Cedric the Entertainer, and others, Minaj starred in the third installment of the Barbershop film series, ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut.’ Draya, a hairstylist, was played by Minaj. For her performance, she was nominated for a ‘Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress: Comedy.’
In 2017, Minaj appeared in Jason Derulo‘s single “Swalla” and joined with Wilhelmina Models, a modeling firm.
Minaj made history on March 20, 2017, when her three concurrently released songs (“No Frauds,” “Changed It,” and “Regret In Your Tears”) set a new record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a female artist. She unveiled her fourth album, ‘Queen,’ during the 2018 Met Gala, and it was set to be released on June 15, 2018. On April 12, 2018, she released the album’s lead song, ‘Chun-Li,’ which reached number 10 on the ‘Billboard Hot 100.’ ‘Bed,’ Queen’s second song, was released on June 14, 2018, and reached number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.
She revealed in May 2018 that Queen’s release date would be pushed back to August 10, 2018. Queen’s release date was put back to August 17, 2018, on August 1, 2018, but it was finally released on August 10, 2018. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 in the United States, fifth in the United Kingdom, and fourth in Australia. The album garnered largely positive feedback. Minaj released a music video for the album’s opening track, “Ganja Burns,” shortly after its release.
She revealed in May 2018 that Queen’s release date would be pushed back to August 10, 2018. Queen’s release date was put back to August 17, 2018, on August 1, 2018, but it was finally released on August 10, 2018. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 in the United States, fifth in the United Kingdom, and fourth in Australia. The album garnered largely positive feedback. Minaj released a music video for the album’s opening track, “Ganja Burns,” shortly after its release.
Major Projects of Nicki Minaj
‘I Get Crazy,’ from the 2008 album ‘Beam Me Up Scotty,’ is one of the many chart-topping songs written by the legendary singer-songwriter. On Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart, the single reached number 20. The song ‘Super Bass,’ from the album ‘Pink Friday,’ reached number three on Billboard’s Hot 100 the following year.
The Pinkprint’s song ‘Anaconda’ reached number two on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 2014.
Achievements & Awards
At the 2008 ‘Underground Music Awards,’ she was named ‘Female Artist of the Year.’
She was the first female artist to be included on MTV’s ‘Hottest MCs in the Game’ in 2010, and she returned the following year.
She was the first solo female rap artist to perform at the Grammy Awards in 2012. At the 2012 MTV Music Awards, the video for the song “Starships” won “Best Female Video.”
At the ‘2012 MTV Europe Music Awards,’ she took home the title for ‘Best Hip-Hop.’
She was the first artist to win BET’s Best Female Hip-Hop Artist award four years in a row starting in 2013. She won the following year as well.
Personal & Family Life
Minaj claimed to be bisexual early in her career, but later clarified her sexuality in an interview with ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine, stating she had purposefully branded herself bisexual to gain attention.
She dated Safaree Samuels from 2000 to 2014 and had a long love relationship with her. In late 2014, she divorced her long-term boyfriend.
Nicki Minaj began dating rapper Meek Mill in early 2015. They were engaged in 2015, but she confirmed her breakup from Meek Mill on January 5, 2017.
Nicholas Telemaque, Minaj’s cousin, was slain near his home in Brooklyn, New York, in a tragic incident in July 2011.
Jelani Maraj, her older brother, was arrested in December 2015 on suspicion of assaulting his stepdaughter. The defense claimed that all of the charges were false, but a jury in Nassau County convicted him guilty of child endangerment and predatory sexual assault of a kid.
Estimated Net Worth
This talented rap performer is said to have a net worth of $100 million, according to insiders.