Nicki Minaj

Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter (born 1982)

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj (/mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian rapper, singer and songwriter based in the United States. She is known as the Queen of Rap[7] and is the most successful female rapper of all time.

Nicki Minaj
Minaj in 2018
Born
Onika Tanya Maraj

(1982-12-08) December 8, 1982 (age 42)
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
Years active2004–present
Works
Spouse
Kenneth Petty
(m. 2019)
PartnersSafaree Samuels (2003–2014)
Meek Mill (2015–2017)
Children1
AwardsFull list
Musical career
OriginNew York City, US
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
Websitenickiminajofficial.com

She became the first and only female rapper to be listed on Forbes' Hip Hop Cash Kings list.[8]

Background

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Nicki Minaj moved to Queens, New York City at age five. Her father went to rehab for alcoholism in 2012.[9] Minaj claimed he burned down their house in her youth.[10] As a teenager, Minaj had an abortion, which is referenced in her song "All Things Go" from The Pinkprint.[11]

Career

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2009 - 2011: Beginnings and Pink Friday

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In August 2009, Nicki Minaj signed to Young Money Entertainment with distribution from Universal Motown. Her debut album, Pink Friday, was released on November 9, 2010. It climbed to number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart and contained the singles "Your Love", "Moment 4 Life" (featuring Canadian rapper Drake), "Super Bass", "Did It on 'Em", and "Fly" (featuring Barbadian singer Rihanna). The first, second, and fifth singles reached the top 20 in the US, while "Super Bass" managed to peak at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked in the top ten around the world. The song has been certified 8× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for combined shipments and streams of 8 million copies in the US alone.[12] Minaj was also featured with Kesha on a remix of Britney Spears' song "Till the World Ends".

 
Nicki Minaj in 2010

Minaj has been instrumental in challenging the patriarchal norms of the music industry, as a Black female rapper. Additionally, in Minaj's early career she used sexuality as a way to gain fans and relate to audiences. She was able to gather a large female and LGBT+ identifying audience through her implying that she was bisexual herself.[13] Through her wigs, costumes, and bold designs she attracted fans from the LGBT+ community, who found themselves to be able to identify with her boldness and expressivity.

2012 - 2013: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and The Re-Up

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Minaj released a single, "Starships", on Valentine's Day of 2012, before releasing her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, on April 3, 2012. This album contained more pop- and dance-leaning songs, with some songs produced by RedOne (known for working with Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga) and Dr. Luke. "Starships" reached number one in Scotland and the top five in the US, UK, and Canada. Minaj released two more singles from the album, "Pound the Alarm" and "Va Va Voom", which both reached the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100. She was featured on David Guetta's single "Turn Me On", which reached the top ten worldwide. Minaj re-released Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded later in the year as Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up that contained songs like "Va Va Voom" and "Freedom".

From 2012 to 2013, she was featured as a judge on the music competition series American Idol alongside Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, and Randy Jackson.

2014 - 2017: The Other Woman, The Pinkprint, and other projects

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In 2014, Minaj was featured in the film The Other Woman. She released her third studio album, The Pinkprint, in December of that year. It was preceded by the singles "Anaconda", which samples the 1992 hit single "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot, and "Only". "Anaconda" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Minaj's highest-peaking song in the United States up until 2022. Minaj performed "Anaconda" at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.[14]

Minaj was featured on Guetta's single "Hey Mama" alongside Bebe Rexha and Afrojack, along with Ariana Grande's "Side to Side".

On March 10, 2017, Minaj released three singles: "No Frauds", "Regret in Your Tears", and "Changed It". "No Frauds" became a top 20 hit in the US.[15] Minaj took a break from social media at the end of the year to focus on new songs.

2018 - 2019: Queen

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Nicki Minaj at the MTV European Music Awards 2018

On April 13, 2018, Minaj released two singles: "Chun-Li" and "Barbie Tingz". The first reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was picked as the lead single from Minaj's fourth studio album, Queen. "Barbie Tingz" reached number 25 in the US but was later removed from the track list for Queen, except as a Target edition bonus track.[16] The promotional single "Rich Sex", featuring American rapper Lil Wayne, was also released from the album. Minaj was featured on the single “Fefe” by rapper 6ix9ine which reached number three on the Hot 100 in both the US and Canada.

Minaj released a new single, "Megatron", on June 21, 2019.[17]

2020 - present: Hiatus and Pink Friday 2

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After a social media hiatus, Minaj returned to Twitter and Instagram on January 30, 2020. The following day she appeared in the music video for Meghan Trainor's single, “Nice to Meet Ya” which also featured Minaj. On February 7, Minaj released her first single of 2020, titled “Yikes”.

Minaj was featured in two remixes of the song “Say So” by American rapper Doja Cat. The song would go on to become her first US number-one hit. On June 12 Minaj featured on the song “Trollz” by rapper 6ix9ine. The song went on to become Minaj’s second US number one.

In 2021, Minaj released the song Boyz (feat. Nicki Minaj) with Jesy Nelson.

In 2022, Minaj released her first greatest-hits album, Queen Radio: Volume 1. It featured the single "Super Freaky Girl", which became her third US number-one single when it debuted atop the Hot 100.[18]

Minaj released her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2 on December 8, 2023.[19] It was preceded by the singles Super Freaky Girl, Red Ruby Da Sleeze, and Last Time I Saw You.

Personal life

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In 2011, her cousin Nicholas Telemaque was murdered in Brooklyn, New York.[20] Minaj had dated Safaree Samuels for 11 years, and later dated rapper Meek Mill from 2015 till January 2017.[21] In November 2018, She began dating Kenneth "Zoo" Petty. She has known him since her teenage years. They married in October 2019, after just one year of dating.[22] After the marriage, Minaj changed her surname to Maraj-Petty.

In July 2020, Minaj announced that she is expecting a child.[23] In September 2020, Minaj gave birth to a baby boy. Out of respect for the baby's privacy, she nicknamed him "Papa Bear" for use in public.[24]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Mixtapes

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Re-releases

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  • Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up (2012)

Compilations

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  • Queen Radio: Volume 1 (2022)

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 Nicki Minaj: My Time Now - TV documentary [25]
2012 Nicki Minaj: My Truth - TV documentary; executive producer
The Cleveland Show Herself Episode: "Menace II Secret Society"
Ice Age: Continental Drift Steffie Voice role
2014 The Other Woman Lydia Feature film
2014 - 2020 Steven Universe Sugilite Voice role
2015 Nicki Minaj: My Time Again - TV documentary
2016 Barbershop: The Next Cut Draya Feature film
2019 The Angry Birds Movie 2 Pinky Voice role

References

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  1. Haramis, Nick (August 3, 2011). "In the pink: First lady of hip-hop Nicki Minaj is a bewigged global phenomenon". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  2. "Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat Makes Guinness World Record With 'Say So'". urbanislandz.com. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022. Nicki Minaj is quickly cementing herself as one of the greatest rappers of the decade as she continues to rake in accolades over her illustrious career.
  3. McInnes, Laura (September 1, 2023). "Nicki Minaj shares lead single from Pink Friday 2, 'Last Time I Saw You'". Sniffers. Retrieved September 8, 2024. back in her R&B-pop bag.
  4. Greenwood, Douglas (March 13, 2019). "Pop is Not a Dirty Word: Nicki Minaj is an ex-pop star. Good for her". NME. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  5. Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (December 11, 2023). "Pink Friday 2". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  6. McIntyre, Hugo (March 10, 2017). "Nicki Minaj Releases 3 New Singles--is an Album Coming Soon?". Forbes. Retrieved December 27, 2024. All three new cuts fit squarely under the hip-hop genre label, which isn't always a guarantee with Minaj, who has found success in rap, R&B, pop and even dance, with the latter two styles having helped her make it to the upper reaches of the charts several times.
  7. "Nicki Minaj: See her award-winning rap career in pictures". USA Today. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  8. "Hip-Hop's Top 20 Earners". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. Hattenstone, Simon (April 27, 2012). "Nicki Minaj: 'I have bigger balls than the boys'". The Guardian.
  10. Strang, Fay (September 9, 2014). "Nicki Minaj's reveals her 'crack-addict father set fire to their home with her MUM inside'". Mirror. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  11. "Nicki's abortion: Minaj reveals unspoken truths". New York Post. January 8, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  12. "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  13. Shange, Savannah (January 2, 2014). "A king named Nicki: strategic queerness and the black femmecee". Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory. 24 (1): 29–45. doi:10.1080/0740770X.2014.901602. ISSN 0740-770X. S2CID 191486577.
  14. Shenton, Zoe (August 25, 2014). "MTV VMAs 2014: Watch Nicki Minaj's raunchy twerktastic performance of Anaconda". Mirror.
  15. "Nicki Minaj". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  16. "Nicki Minaj - Queen [Explicit] (Target Exclusive)". target.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  17. "Nicki Minaj drops new song, 'Megatron'". Global News. June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  18. Inman, DeMicia; Inman, DeMicia (September 9, 2022). "Nicki Minaj Drops "Super Freaky Girl (Queen Mix)" Feat. JT, BIA, And More". Vibe (magazine). Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  19. Kaufman, Gil (October 25, 2023). "Nicki Minaj Pushes Back 'Pink Friday 2': 'It Will Come Out on My Birthday'". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  20. "Rap star Nicki Minaj's cousin shot dead in Brooklyn". New York Post. July 5, 2011.
  21. "Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill Split After Nearly 2 Years of Dating". People. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  22. Henderson, Cydney. "Nicki Minaj marries Kenneth Petty after a year of dating: The 'Clyde to my Bonnie'". USA Today. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  23. Respers France, Lisa. "Nicki Minaj announces pregnancy". CNN. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  24. Weaver, Hilary (May 31, 2021). "Nicki Minaj Shared a Rare Video of Her Baby Boy in an Adorable Burberry Teddy Bear Outfit". Elle. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  25. "Nicki Minaj". IMDb. Retrieved June 21, 2019.

Other websites

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Preceded by
Cee-Lo Green
Saturday Night Live musical guest
January 29, 2011
Succeeded by
Linkin Park
Preceded by
Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
Saturday Night Live musical guest
December 6, 2014
Succeeded by
Charli XCX