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Quick Facts
Born
1982
1982
From
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Journey
Before becoming known as Nicki Minaj, Onika Tanya Maraj was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. She moved to the U.S. as a young child and grew up in Queens, New York, where her focus quickly shifted toward writing and the arts. To hone her talents, she studied drama at the prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts before launching a career across hip-hop, film, and business.
Minaj began her recording career through a series of mixtapes, including "Playtime Is Over" (2007), "Sucka Free" (2008), and "Beam Me Up Scotty" (2009). Her growing reputation in New York led to a recording deal with Young Money Entertainment in 2009, placing her alongside Lil Wayne and establishing an important foundation for her commercial career.
Her breakthrough came with "Pink Friday" in 2010. The album introduced her to a worldwide audience through singles such as “Your Love,” “Moment 4 Life,” and “Super Bass,” while her guest verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” further established her reputation as a formidable rapper. "Pink Friday" also demonstrated her ability to move between rap, pop, and R&B without abandoning the technical side of her writing.
She expanded that approach with "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" (2012), which included “Starships,” “Pound the Alarm,” and “Beez in the Trap.” Her third album, "The Pinkprint" (2014), took a more personal direction, addressing relationships, ambition, family, and loss through songs including “Anaconda,” “Only,” and “The Night Is Still Young.” "Queen" followed in 2018, reinforcing her position as both a commercially successful artist and a highly competitive rapper.
After a five-year gap between studio albums, Minaj returned with "Pink Friday 2" in December 2023. The project revisited the identity of her debut while reflecting the experiences and musical interests she had developed throughout her career. Her official catalog now includes "Pink Friday," "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded," "The Pinkprint," "Queen," and "Pink Friday 2," alongside mixtapes and expanded editions.
Beyond music, Minaj has worked in film and television, including roles in "The Other Woman," "Barbershop: The Next Cut," and "The Angry Birds Movie 2." She has also built a substantial commercial presence through fashion, beauty, endorsements, and other ventures.
With 12 Grammy nominations to her name, including recognition for "The Pinkprint," “Anaconda” and other recordings, Nicki Minaj remains one of the most commercially prominent rappers of her generation.