Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, was born on December 8, 1982, in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in the United States. Often hailed as the “Queen of Rap,” Minaj is renowned for her musical versatility, animated rap flow, and distinctive alter egos. She first gained attention with three mixtapes released between 2007 and 2009, which set the stage for her remarkable career.
Minaj’s debut album, “Pink Friday” (2010), topped the US Billboard 200 chart, driven by the success of its diamond-certified single “Super Bass,” which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Her sophomore album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” (2012), debuted at number one in both the US and UK, featuring the international hit “Starships.” In 2014, Minaj released “The Pinkprint,” marking a return to her hip-hop roots. The album’s single “Anaconda” peaked at number two on the Hot 100, cementing her status in the rap industry.
Minaj continued her success with notable collaborations, including the 2014 hit “Bang Bang” with Ariana Grande and Jessie J, the first female collaboration to be certified diamond. In 2020, she achieved her first two US number-one singles with “Say So” featuring Doja Cat and “Trollz” with 6ix9ine. Her solo single “Super Freaky Girl,” released in 2022, debuted at number one on the Hot 100, leading the way for her fifth album, “Pink Friday 2” (2023). To promote the album, she embarked on the Pink Friday 2 World Tour in 2024, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour by a female rapper.
Outside of music, Minaj has diversified her career with voice roles in animated films such as “Ice Age: Continental Drift” (2012) and “The Angry Birds Movie 2” (2019), and supporting roles in films like “The Other Woman” (2014) and “Barbershop: The Next Cut” (2016). She also served as a judge on the twelfth season of “American Idol” in 2013, known for her candid and often controversial opinions.
As one of the world’s best-selling music artists, Minaj has sold over 100 million records. Billboard recognized her as the top-selling female rapper of the 2010s and one of the greatest rappers of all time. She holds records for the most number-one albums and top-ten songs by a female rapper in the US. Her accolades include nine American Music Awards, eight MTV Video Music Awards, twelve BET Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, a Brit Award, and three Guinness World Records. Minaj has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards and was listed among Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.
Minaj is celebrated for her animated rapping style, unique flow, and use of alter egos and accents. She frequently incorporates British accents and has been compared to Eminem for her alter egos. Her collaboration with Kanye West on “Monster” was critically acclaimed, with many considering her verse the standout on the track. Influenced by artists like Lil Wayne, Foxy Brown, and Jay-Z, Minaj has carved a niche with her distinctive style, often blending rap with pop and electronic music.
Her influence extends beyond music into fashion, inspired by figures like Betsey Johnson and Cyndi Lauper. Minaj’s bold personality, creative versatility, and resilience have solidified her legacy in the music industry, making her a trailblazer and an icon in contemporary hip-hop.
