Nicki Minaj is a rapper and singer based in the United States.
Frequently called the “Queen of Rap,” Minaj is celebrated for her diverse musical style, dynamic rap delivery, and use of alter egos.
Early life and Education
Onika Tanya Maraj, born on December 8, 1982, in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is the daughter of Robert Maraj, a financial executive and gospel singer, and Carol Maraj, also a gospel singer. Her father struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and had a violent temper, once burning down their house in 1987. Minaj has three siblings: Jelani, Micaiah, and Ming.
During her early years, Minaj and her brother Jelani lived with their grandmother and 11 cousins in Saint James while their mother worked in New York. When Minaj was five, her mother, having secured lawful permanent residency, brought Minaj and Jelani to live with her and their father in Queens, New York. Minaj attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, aspiring to be an actress. She appeared in the Off-Broadway play “In Case You Forget” in 2001.
At 19, Minaj worked various jobs, including as a waitress at Red Lobster, where she was fired for her attitude, a fate she faced at numerous other jobs. She also worked in customer service and office management on Wall Street, using her earnings to buy a BMW at 19.
Career
Nicki Minaj’s debut album, *Pink Friday* (2010), topped the US Billboard 200 chart. Her single “Super Bass” reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified diamond by the RIAA. Her follow-up album, *Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded* (2012), also topped the Billboard 200 and included the hit “Starships.” In 2014, her collaboration “Bang Bang” with Ariana Grande and Jessie J became the first female collaboration to be certified diamond. *The Pinkprint* (2014) marked her return to hip hop, with “Anaconda” peaking at number two on the Hot 100. In 2020, she achieved her first US number-one singles with “Say So” (with Doja Cat) and “Trollz” (with 6ix9ine). In 2022, she earned her first solo number-one with “Super Freaky Girl” from her fifth album, *Pink Friday 2* (2023), which also debuted atop the Billboard 200. In 2024, Minaj embarked on the Pink Friday 2 World Tour, the highest-grossing concert tour for a female rapper.
Personal life
Nicki Minaj revealed in her songs “All Things Go” and “Autobiography” that she had an abortion as a teenager, a decision that has haunted her. In July 2011, her cousin Nicholas Telemaque was murdered in Brooklyn, an event she references in her music. Her father, Robert Maraj, died in a hit-and-run accident in February 2021, for which Charles Polevich was charged. Minaj described her father’s death as the most devastating loss of her life.
In terms of relationships, Minaj separated from longtime boyfriend Safaree Samuels in 2014, with several tracks on *The Pinkprint* reflecting the breakup. She dated rapper Meek Mill from early 2015 until January 2017, and briefly dated rapper Nas in 2017. In December 2018, Minaj began dating her childhood friend Kenneth “Zoo” Petty, marrying him in October 2019. Petty, a convicted sex offender and manslaughter convict, has served significant prison time. Minaj announced her pregnancy in July 2020 and gave birth to a son on September 30, 2020, whom she calls “Papa Bear.”
Legal issues
In 2020, Kenneth Petty, Nicki Minaj’s husband, was added to the California Megan’s Law database for failing to register as a sex offender, stemming from a 1995 attempted rape conviction in New York for which he served nearly four years in prison. In August 2021, Jennifer Hough, Petty’s victim, filed a lawsuit against the couple, alleging harassment, intimidation, and emotional distress, and discussed the lawsuit on the talk show *The Real*.
Minaj has not publicly addressed these accusations but claimed in a private court filing that she “never asked [Hough] to change her story” or offered her money for a statement. Hough later voluntarily dismissed the case against Minaj, while the case against Petty remains ongoing. Hough’s lawyers plan to refile the lawsuit in California due to jurisdictional issues, while Minaj’s lawyer dismissed the refiling as a frivolous attempt to avoid sanctions.
On May 25, 2024, Minaj was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, after marijuana was found in her luggage. She was attempting to board a plane for a concert in Manchester, England. Minaj was released the same day but postponed the Manchester show.
Feuds
Nicki Minaj has been involved in numerous feuds with other artists, particularly female rappers like Lil’ Kim, Remy Ma, Cardi B, Latto, and Megan Thee Stallion.
The feud with Lil’ Kim began over allegations of Minaj copying Lil’ Kim’s style. It escalated with diss tracks and public comments from both sides, with Minaj’s “Roman’s Revenge” believed to be a response to Lil’ Kim’s criticism.
Remy Ma and Minaj’s feud started with a verse in Minaj’s mixtape, which Remy Ma interpreted as a diss. It intensified with diss tracks from both sides, including Remy Ma’s “Shether” targeting Minaj.
Minaj’s relationship with Cardi B turned sour after a physical altercation at a fashion event. Both artists exchanged public insults, with Minaj accusing Cardi B of various misconducts.
A feud between Minaj and Latto sparked over Grammy Awards categorization issues, leading to a heated exchange on social media where both artists traded insults.
Similarly, Minaj’s rift with Megan Thee Stallion began after allegations that Megan tried to pressure Minaj into drinking while she was trying to conceive. This led to diss tracks and public attacks from both sides, with Minaj releasing a song called “Big Foot” aimed at Megan.
These feuds have been highly publicized and often involved diss tracks, social media spats, and public confrontations, adding to the drama and tension within the hip-hop community.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 100 million dollars