Nicki Minaj | Biography, Albums, Songs, & Facts

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class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicki-Minaj">Nicki Minaj</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/biography/Nicki-Minaj">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref380869"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Nicki-Minaj#ref380869">Early life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref380870"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Nicki-Minaj#ref380870">Music career</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref380871"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Nicki-Minaj#ref380871">Acting career</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicki-Minaj/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Nicki-Minaj">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicki-Minaj/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/163068-050-349331AA/Nicki-Minaj-Hammersmith-Apollo-London-June-24-2012.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1904488/203673" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/163068-004-080A5C10/Nicki-Minaj-Hammersmith-Apollo-London-June-24-2012.jpg" alt="Nicki Minaj" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span 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href="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/163068-050-349331AA/Nicki-Minaj-Hammersmith-Apollo-London-June-24-2012.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1904488/203673">Nicki Minaj</a> <span><span>Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress Nicki Minaj, 2012.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Nicki Minaj</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">Trinidadian-born singer, songwriter, and television personality</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-18T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 18, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicki-Minaj/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Original name: </dt> <dd>Onika Tanya Maraj</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>December 8, 1982, St. James, <a href="/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago">Trinidad and Tobago</a> (age 41)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Onika Tanya Maraj</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Nicki-Minaj"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1224611"></span>Nicki Minaj</strong> (born December 8, 1982, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-James-son-of-Zebedee" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">St. James</a>, Trinidad and Tobago) is a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Trinidadian</a>-born rapper, singer, songwriter, television personality, and actress known for her flowing quick-spoken <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rap" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rap</a> style and for her provocative lyrics. She complements her <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">music</a> with a bold persona that includes colorful wigs and risqué clothing.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref380869"> <h2 class="h1">Early life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Maraj was about five years old when her family moved to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Queens-New-York" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Queens</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New York</a>, from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Trinidad and Tobago</a>. Her childhood was dominated by a violent drug-addicted father, and she spent time creating fantasies for herself that would allow her an escape from her <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="tumultuous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumultuous" data-type="MW">tumultuous</a> life. She adopted a new name, Nicki Minaj, from that practice. Other creative outlets included writing her first rap song when she was 12 years old and pursuing <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/acting" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">acting</a> at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New York City</a>’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref380870"> <h2 class="h1">Music career</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Minaj entered the music business as a backup singer for local aspiring rap singers in New York City. She included videos of her work on her <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Myspace" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Myspace</a> page, which was seen by a local record label. Minaj eventually came to the attention of rapper <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lil-Wayne" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lil Wayne</a>, and the two worked on some mixtapes (recordings), the first of which, <em>Playtime Is Over</em>, appeared in 2007. As other mixtapes were released, Minaj’s exposure grew, and the next year she was named Female Artist of the Year at the Underground Music Awards. In 2009 she signed with Young Money Entertainment, the label founded by Wayne; the label would release numerous hits by Wayne, Minaj, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Drake" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Drake</a>. She scored her first <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Grammy-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Grammy Award</a> nomination in 2010 for the song “My Chick Bad,” a collaboration with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ludacris" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ludacris</a>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/2010s-music-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/235602-131-C2F09EDC/Daddy-Yankee-and-Luis-Fonsi-Billboard-Latin-Music-Awards-2017.jpg" alt="(Left) Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez) perform during the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards and Show at the Bank United Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida on April 27, 2017. (music)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">2010s Music Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Her first album for Young Money, <em><span id="ref1269393"></span>Pink Friday</em> (2010), made it to the top of the <em>Billboard</em> 200 chart. It featured sexually explicit lyrics—which are common in her recordings—and Minaj embraced the shock value of her work. The title also reflected her preference for the color pink, a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="predilection" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predilection" data-type="MW">predilection</a> that she used in branding her albums and such later consumer items as her Pink Friday perfume and Pink Pill speakers. <em>Pink Friday</em> earned Minaj three more Grammy nominations, including for best rap album.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 2012 Minaj released her second album, <em><span id="ref1269390"></span>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</em>, which featured a number of pop songs, notably the hit single “Starships.” The following year Minaj became a judge on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/reality-TV" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">reality TV</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/singing" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">singing</a> competition <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Idol" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>American Idol</em></a>. She caused controversy with her blunt opinionated judging style and with her frequent disputes with fellow judge <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mariah-Carey" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mariah Carey</a>. After one season Minaj left the program. Also in 2013 she claimed title to a record 44 appearances—the most by a female rapper—on the <em>Billboard</em> Hot 100 chart.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Minaj’s third studio album, <em><span id="ref1269391"></span>The Pinkprint</em>, was released in 2014. It notably contained several breakup songs as well as “Anaconda,” which was a return to her earlier rap style. <em><span id="ref1269392"></span>Queen</em> (2018) featured collaborations with such performers as <span id="ref1269388"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eminem" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eminem</a> and <span id="ref1269389"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/the-Weeknd" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">the Weeknd</a>. In 2020, Minaj was featured on two songs that reached number one on the <em>Billboard</em> Hot 100 chart: “Say So,” a collaboration with Doja Cat, and “Trollz,” with 6ix9ine. Two years later she released “Super Freaky Girl,” a humorous and raunchy take on Rick James’s classic 1981 hit “Super Freak.” Minaj’s single <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="debuted" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/debuted" data-type="EB">debuted</a> at number one on the Hot 100 chart, the first song by a solo female rapper to do so since 1998. Its <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music-video" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">music video</a>, which depicted Minaj as a pink-haired suburban <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/femme-fatale" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">femme fatale</a>, won Minaj her fifth <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/MTV" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">MTV</a> Video Music Award for best <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/hip-hop" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hip-hop</a> video.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 2023 Minaj appeared on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Barbie-film" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>Barbie</em></a>, teaming up with rapper Ice Spice and sampling Danish band Aqua’s 1997 dance hit “Barbie Girl” for the song “Barbie World.” The song garnered two Grammy nominations. That same year Minaj released <em>Pink Friday 2</em>, a sequel to her 2010 studio album.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref380871"> <h2 class="h1">Acting career</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Minaj has also occasionally acted, and her movie credits include <em><span id="ref1269385"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Other-Woman-2014-film" class="md-crosslink ">The Other Woman</a></em> (2014) and <em><span id="ref1269386"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Barbershop-The-Next-Cut" class="md-crosslink ">Barbershop: The Next Cut</a></em> (2016). She lent her voice to the animated comedies <em><span id="ref1269387"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ice-Age-Continental-Drift" class="md-crosslink ">Ice Age: Continental Drift</a></em> (2012) and <em><span id="ref1285499"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Angry-Birds-Movie-2" class="md-crosslink ">The Angry Birds Movie 2</a></em> (2019).</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/rene-ostberg/12853185">René Ostberg</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":1904488,"pageLength":661,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Nicki Minaj | Biography, Albums, Songs, & Facts | Britannica