Nicki Minaj is a Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress born on December 8, 1982. She’s known for her ability to switch between different musical styles and personas. She gained fame after releasing three mixtapes from 2007 to 2009.
Her first album “Pink Friday” (2010) topped the US charts. The song “Super Bass” became a huge hit reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a diamond certification. Her next album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” (2012) blended pop and dance and also topped the charts featuring the hit “Starships”. Her collaboration “Bang Bang” with Ariana Grande and Jessie J in 2014 made history by earning a diamond certification.
In 2014, her album “The Pinkprint” returned to her hiphop roots. The single “Anaconda” reached number two on the Hot 100. She achieved her first solo number-one singles in 2020 with “Say So” featuring Doja Cat and “Trollz” with 6ix9ine. In 2022, her song “Super Freaky Girl” from her fifth album “Pink Friday 2” topped the charts and the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. She also embarked on the successful Pink Friday 2 World Tour in 2024 setting a record as the highest-grossing tour by a female rapper.
| Full Name | Onika Tanya Maraj |
| Date of Birth | December 8, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Occupation | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Actress |
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches (157.5 cm) |
| Spouse | Kenneth Petty (m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Net Worth | $150 million |
Nicki Minaj Early Life and Education
Onika Tanya Maraj known as Nicki Minaj was born on December 8, 1982, in Saint James Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Her father Robert Maraj was a financial executive and part-time gospel singer of mixed Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian descent. Her mother Carol also has Afro-Trinidadian roots and worked in payroll and accounting.
Nicki Minaj grew up with her brother Jelani and grandmother in Saint James alongside many cousins. Her mom moved to New York for college when Minaj was young and later brought them to live in Queens. Despite some challenges, Minaj found her way to LaGuardia High School where she focused on music and arts.
Struggling with her acting career at 19 she worked as a waitress but was fired multiple times for being rude to customers. She also tried other jobs like customer service and office management on Wall Street. Minaj’s journey included buying a BMW with her waitressing money at just 19 years old.
Career
Nicki Minaj briefly joined a Brooklyn group called Full Force and rapped in a quartet named Hoodstars. The group included Lou$tar, Safaree Samuels (known as Scaff Beezy), and 7even Up. In 2004, they recorded a song called “Don’t Mess With” for WWE Diva Victoria which appeared on the album “ThemeAddict: WWE The Music Vol.6”. Later Minaj left Full Force and started sharing her songs on Myspace to get noticed by the music industry.
In 2007, Fendi the CEO of Brooklyn’s Dirty Money Entertainment signed Minaj to a 180-day contract after she sent him her music. Originally using the stage name Nicki Maraj she changed it to Nicki Minaj because “Maraj” was flipped by Fendi when he heard her impressive flow.
Minaj released her first mixtape “Playtime Is Over” in 2007 followed by “Sucka Free” in 2008 and “Beam Me Up Scotty” in 2009. These mixtapes gained positive attention from BET and MTV while she was managed by Debra Antney. Her track “I Get Crazy” from “Beam Me Up Scotty” reached number 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart.
After being discovered by rapper Lil Wayne, Minaj signed with his Young Money Entertainment. She appeared on several tracks including the remix of “5 Star Bitch” with Gucci Mane and Trina in November 2009.
In early 2010, Nicki Minaj made her Billboard Hot 100 debut with features on songs by Lil Wayne and Mariah Carey. She also contributed to tracks on the compilation album “We Are Young Money” which performed well on the charts.
Minaj’s career continued to soar with the release of her debut album “Pink Friday” in November 2010. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and later reached number one selling 375000 copies in its first week. The album received positive reviews and was certified platinum. Her singles “Your Love” “Right Thru Me” and “Moment 4 Life” were well-received with “Super Bass” becoming a massive hit.
Throughout 2011 and 2012, Minaj expanded into pop music with singles like “Starships” and “Super Bass” which achieved significant commercial success despite some criticism from hip-hop purists. Her second album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” released in 2012 debuted at number one and featured a mix of hip-hop and pop receiving varied reviews.
Minaj’s influence grew as she performed at major events like the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl halftime show. She also ventured into acting with a role in the animated film “Ice Age: Continental Drift” and appeared as a judge on “American Idol.”
Overall Nicki Minaj’s early career was marked by rapid success in innovative music and a significant impact on both hip-hop and pop music scenes. Her versatile style and outspoken persona cemented her as a prominent figure in the music industry.
Nicki Minaj’s first live-action movie The Other Woman was filmed in the spring of 2013 and came out on April 25, 2014. While working on her third studio album The Pinkprint she described it as a continuation of her previous work with a deeper focus on her hip-hop roots. During interviews, she hinted that the album would be on another level and would cover a lot of personal topics.
The album’s lead single “Pills n Potions” was released in May 2014. That July she collaborated on “Bang Bang” with Jessie J and Ariana Grande which reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became her first UK number-one single. “Bang Bang” was a huge hit achieving diamond certification in 2024 for selling 10 million units and setting records with its music video views.
In August, Nicki Minaj released “Anaconda” as the album’s second single which peaked at number two on the US charts and set a record for its video views in the first 24 hours of release. Later in 2014 she hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards and won the Best Hip-Hop Award. The Pinkprint finally dropped on December 15, 2014, receiving praise for its production and personal lyrics.
Nicki Minaj continued to make waves in the music industry receiving multiple Grammy nominations and embarking on a successful world tour. She also expanded into acting appearing in “Barbershop: The Next Cut” and planning a TV series based on her life. Throughout the years she collaborated with various artists and released singles that topped charts globally.
In 2018, she released her fourth studio album Queen which debuted strongly but faced controversies regarding its promotion and sales. Despite the ups and downs Queen received positive reviews and added to Nicki’s legacy as a trailblazer in music and entertainment.
In 2019, Nicki Minaj’s career continued to flourish with hits like “Megatron” and collaborations such as “Hot Girl Summer” with Megan Thee Stallion. Her influence spans across genres and she remains a dominant force in pop culture constantly evolving and pushing boundaries.
In January 2020, Nicki Minaj collaborated with Meghan Trainor on “Nice to Meet Ya”. Soon after she released “Yikes” as a single in February. In the same month, she appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. In May, she and Doja Cat teamed up on remixes of “Say So” which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 making history as the first all-female rap collaboration to achieve this since 2014. A month later her collaboration with 6ix9ine “Trollz” also debuted at number one making her the first female rapper since Lauryn Hill in 1998 to do so.
Throughout 2020, Minaj featured on Ty Dolla Sign’s “Expensive” and continued as a featured artist on various tracks. In November, she released “What That Speed Bout!?” with Mike Will Made It and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. In 2021, she reissued her mixtape “Beam Me Up Scotty” with new tracks which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 a record for a female rap mixtape. She collaborated with Elton John on “Always Love You” and later switched managers to Wassim Slaiby.
In October 2021, she surprised fans by hosting a reunion of The Real Housewives of Potomac and received a Diamond certification for her 2011 hit “Super Bass”. She won Best Hip Hop at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2021.
From 2022 onwards, Nicki Minaj started gearing up for her fifth studio album “Pink Friday 2” teasing with singles like “Do We Have a Problem?” with Lil Baby and “Super Freaky Girl”. The latter debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 marking her third chart-topper. She released a compilation album and several remixes throughout the year culminating in the release of “Pink Friday 2” in December which topped the Billboard 200 and broke numerous records for female rap albums.
In 2023, Nicki Minaj continued to dominate with hits like “Red Ruby da Sleeze” and collaborations with YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ice Spice. Her album “Pink Friday 2” spawned multiple successful singles including “Barbie World” solidifying her as a chart-topping powerhouse.
In early 2024, Minaj sparked controversy with her diss track “Big Foot” aimed at Megan Thee Stallion generating mixed reviews but setting records for female rap debuts. She also embarked on her largest world tour to date in support of “Pink Friday 2” achieving record-breaking sales.
In late 2014, Nicki Minaj broke up with her longtime boyfriend Safaree Samuels whom she had been dating since 2003. According to Minaj, he proposed to her but she turned him down. Several songs on her album “The Pinkprint” are thought to be inspired by the end of their relationship. Soon after in early 2015, Minaj started dating rapper Meek Mill. By January 2017 she announced their split. She briefly dated fellow rapper Nas later that year.
Net Worth
Nicki Minaj has an estimated net worth of $150 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Nicki Minaj’s net worth comes from her successful music career. She earns money through album sales, streaming of her songs, concert tours, and live performances. Additionally, she makes money from endorsements, partnerships with brands, and her own product lines, like her perfume and cosmetics.
Personal life
Nicki Minaj began a relationship with her childhood friend Kenneth “Zoo” Petty in December 2018. Less than a year later they applied for a marriage license in August 2019. Minaj confirmed their marriage in October of the same year taking on his last name as well. Petty has a criminal history having served time for attempted rape and manslaughter. In July 2020 Minaj announced she was expecting her first child and gave birth to a son on September 30 whom she calls “Papa Bear”.
In her songs “All Things Go” and “Autobiography” Minaj shared that she had an abortion as a teenager a decision she still stands by despite its impact on her. She also faced personal tragedies including the murder of her cousin Nicholas Telemaque in 2011 and the death of her father Robert Maraj in a hit-and-run accident in February 2021.
In 2020, Petty faced legal issues for failing to register as a sex offender in California stemming from his earlier conviction in New York. In August 2021, a woman named Jennifer Hough sued Minaj and Petty alleging harassment and emotional distress. Hough later dropped the case against Minaj but not against Petty indicating plans to refile in California.
On May 25, 2024, Nicki Minaj was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam after marijuana was found in her luggage as she was heading to a concert in Manchester England. She was released the same day but postponed the Manchester show.
Philanthropy
In 2010, Nicki Minaj performed a version of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” with Katy Perry for soldiers at the VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concert. They later teamed up again in 2017 for the song “Swish Swish”. The following year Mattel made a Barbie doll inspired by Minaj to auction for Project Angel Food a charity supporting people with HIV and AIDS.
In 2012, after Hurricane Sandy hit New York City Minaj donated $15000 to the Food Bank For New York City and organized a turkey drive at her old school PS 45.
In May 2017, Nicki Minaj offered to pay off college tuition and student loans for 30 of her fans via Twitter. She granted requests ranging from $500 for school supplies to $6000 for tuition fees promising to consider more requests shortly. She also announced plans to start a charity focusing on student loans and tuition.
During the same month, Minaj shared on Instagram that she had been donating money to a village in India for several years through her pastor Lydia Sloley. Her contributions helped establish a computer center a tailoring institute a reading program and two water wells in the village. Minaj expressed great pride in these improvements.
In August 2017, after Hurricane Harvey struck Houston Texas Minaj responded to a challenge by Kevin Hart and donated $25000 to the Red Cross expressing her concern and prayers for those affected.
On September 4, 2018, Nicki Minaj appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” as a guest performer. Together with Ellen and Walmart, they gave out over $150000 in donations to fans during the episode.
In 2019, Nicki Minaj canceled her performance at a concert in Saudi Arabia following criticism from activists about the country’s treatment of women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul. She was praised by Thor Halvorssen of The Human Rights Foundation for her decision and declared her support for women’s rights LGBTQ rights and freedom of expression.
In 2020, Minaj visited St. Jude’s Home for Girls school in Trinidad and donated $25000. During her visit, she gave a speech encouraging the girls to overcome challenges drawing from her own experiences with domestic violence and difficult times as a teenager.
Also in 2020 after the release of her collaboration “Trollz” with 6ix9ine Minaj announced that a portion of the song’s earnings and all merchandise profits would go to the Bail Project in support of the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder.
Most recently in April 2024, Nicki Minaj joined over 200 artists in signing an open letter addressing concerns about the misuse of AI in the music industry and advocating for better safeguards.
