THE QUEENS RAPPER WHO BECAME ONE OF HIP-HOP'S MOST COMMERCIALLY DOMINANT VOICES
Nicki Minaj
b. 1982 · Female Musician
Early Life
Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj on December 8, 1982, in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, and moved with her family to Queens, New York, as a young child.
She attended a performing arts high school in New York City, studying drama, and worked various jobs while pursuing an entertainment career, including a stint as a waitress before her music career took off.
Rise to Fame
Minaj built a following through a series of mixtapes released in the late 2000s, showcasing her rapid-fire flow and versatile character-based delivery style.
She signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in 2009, and her 2010 debut studio album ‘Pink Friday’ launched her into mainstream stardom, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
Career Highlights
Minaj became known for chart-topping singles, guest verses, and albums including ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ and ‘The Pinkprint,’ cementing her status as one of the best-selling female rap artists in history.
She holds numerous Billboard Hot 100 chart records among female rap artists and has built a devoted global fanbase known as the Barbz, alongside ventures in fashion and television, including a stint as a judge on ‘American Idol.’
Personal Life
Minaj married Kenneth Petty in 2019, and the couple has a son together.
She has been open about her upbringing in a difficult household environment in Queens, crediting her early experiences with shaping her drive and artistic voice.
Net Worth & Legacy
Nicki Minaj’s net worth is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, built through record sales, touring, endorsement deals, and business ventures.
From a Queens upbringing and independent mixtapes to one of the most commercially successful and influential female rappers in music history, Minaj has built a legacy that reshaped hip-hop’s mainstream landscape for women in the genre.